CATALYST
and communicating. Then add the potential
danger of not hearing someone coming up
behind you.”
CaringWorks manages the only Deaf or Hard
of Hearing (DHH) homeless program in the
“
based best practices. The program empowers
DHH men to maintain sobriety, address mental
health needs, and develop communications and
other skills that will assist them with
independent living.
I’d like to have good
health and maybe in
the future have a
nice home.
”
Donald B. came to the CaringWorks Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Program as an active alcoholic and drug addict.
Southeast, one of only four comparable
programs in the United States, though
estimates says thousands of individuals need
these basic services.
Based at Hope House in Atlanta, the program
offers culturally and linguistically competent
therapeutic services to DHH men with 12
beds designated for this special needs
population.
The men in the program are
primarily from Georgia but over the years some
have traveled from Alabama, Tennessee, North
Carolina and New York.
DHH staff members providing the services are
fluent in American Sign Language, competent
in Deaf culture, and trained in evidenced-
8
“Our
Watch his recovery story here .
work
through the Foundation’s
EmpowerHealth Grant Program
absolutely
helped us build our capacity to servce our DHH
clients,” says Peters. “We learned the
importance of telling our clients’ stories to
show how [CaringWorks] has been able to make
a positive difference in their lives in so many
important ways.”
Designing Solutions for Early County
One hundred and ninety miles south of Atlanta,
the EarlyCares coalition in Blakely, GA is also
trying to find ways to reduce housing
disparities in their community. Through
Healthcare Georgia Foundation’s Two Georgias
Initiative, community assessments conducted by
HEALTHCARE GEORGIA FOUNDATION