Barrier Free Living Holding Inc

Programs: See schedule oin the fall of 2016 the transitional housing program (th) began accepting msw students that were interested in completing their field place hours at barrier free living. Both program director and director of social services completed the seminar in field instruction which is required for master's in social work field supervision during this time. Thus far th has worked with students from both nyack college and lehman college cuny th continues to work diligently in placing our residents in to permanent housing. In 2016 th recorded 11 shelter resident move outs. For the year 2017 th recorded 11 resident move outs as of 10/4/17. In 2016 th opened a new position, the resident wellness coordinator. The resident wellness coordinator position is held by shaundel ciase who has proven to be a vital part of our team. The wellness coordinator is responsible for (but not limited to) assisting with following up on all hospitalizations and discharge plans for our residents; assisting with enrolling clients into community health clinics; and coordinating services with our partner independence care system. The resident wellness coordinator has been extremely supportive in advocating for clients' health care needs.

see schedule 0in 2017, secret garden provided counseling, case management, advocacy and referral services to over 150 survivors of domestic violence with disabilities in the 5 boroughs per month. Secret garden also has a robust occupational therapy program, utilizing interns to provide vocational and financial training and advocacy. The occupational therapy interns also run a weekly group related to self-care, lifestyle skills, creativity and movement. The secret garden provides social work and case management staff at the queens, manhattan, and brooklyn family justice centers and also partners with brooklyn legal services, the urban justice center, and legal aid. Staff regularly presented on the intersection of domestic violence and disability, trauma, and safety. This year, secret garden social workers implemented a new domestic violence support group for clients. In collaboration with freedom house, secret garden also received a grant from the manhattan da's office to expand our deaf services.

see schedule obarrier free living apartments supportive housing program opened in the summer of 2015. The two-building complex of 120 apartments provides safe, accessible permanent homes to families with a head of household who is a survivor of domestic violence and who has a disability. The complex also provides studio apartments for single adults with a mental health disability including veterans who are survivors of domestic violence. In-house support services include counseling, occupational therapy, child care and support groups for adults and children, a psychiatric nurse practitioner one day per week and a nurse two days per week. Our tenant advisory group organizes events for the tenants including a barbeque and events for kids when school is not in session. Obie winner david drake also ran a theater group for the children over the summer ending with a play that was a big hit for the kids, parents and staff. The bfl communications director won a grant that provides workshops and will provide scholarships for 10 tenants who want to pursue school or a training program that will foster financial independence.

in addition to accomplishments with the other ovw-funded collaborative partners, bfl's deaf-focused efforts during this period include:-continued to oversee activities of the new york county collaborative, a partnership of 5 agencies focused on the intersection of deafness and domestic violence and sexual assault. The collaborative, funded by the u. S. Department of justice, office on violence against women, includes: barrier free living, office of the new york county district attorney, harlem independent living center, connect and crime victims treatment center. -hosted forum of deaf residents at freedom house to understand how to increase accessibility of information about shelter policies and practices. -developed american sign language orientation video for newly arrived deaf survivors at freedom house, to ensure timely access to information about safety and confidentiality at the shelter. -nicolyn plummer presented on deafness and the needs of deaf survivors at the annual training of volunteer advocates at crime victims treatment center (an ovw collaborative partner) bfl was awarded a criminal justice investment initiative grant by the office of the new york county district attorney to expand services for deaf survivors at secret garden and freedom house.