Overview
An integrated mental health, life‑skills, and advocacy program that supports emotional well-being, builds practical independence, and helps participants navigate services, employment, and community life. Trauma-aware and culturally adapted for Liberia and the USA.
Who it’s for: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families/caregivers seeking emotional support, skills training, or advocacy assistance.
Key Activities
- Confidential Intake & Needs Mapping: mental health screening, social support, benefits, and vocational interests.
- Individual Counseling: trauma-aware, evidence-informed counseling tailored to cognitive and communication needs.
- Small-Group Therapy & Peer Support Circles: facilitated groups to practice coping skills, socialize, and build mutual support.
- Life Skills Workshops: money management, time management, meal planning, household routines, public-transport practice, and digital literacy.
- Vocational Readiness & Supported Work: job skills training, mock interviews, workplace behavior coaching, supported placements, and employer outreach.
- Advocacy & Navigation Clinics: assistance with benefits applications, housing referrals, legal-rights education, and accompaniment to appointments.
- Crisis & Safety Planning: individualized safety plans, de-escalation strategies, emergency contacts, and caregiver guidance.
- Family & Caregiver Education: communication strategies, boundary-setting, and supporting independence while maintaining safety.
- Transition & Relocation Support: coordinated planning for moves between services or countries, aging‑caregiver planning, and resource linkage between Liberia and the USA.
- Monitoring & Outcomes: goal-setting, progress notes, periodic reviews, and measurable indicators (emotional regulation, ADL completion, employment steps).
Format & Duration: Modular delivery (8–16 weeks per module). Counseling available ongoing; workshops weekly or as intensive weekend sessions; telehealth options where appropriate.
Expected Outcomes: improved emotional regulation and coping, increased independent living skills, successful navigation of services and benefits, higher rates of meaningful activity or employment, and stronger self-advocacy.
How to Join Contact intake for confidential screening and to identify the best module mix for the participant and family. Local schedules and language adaptations are available for Liberia and the USA.
Evaluation Plan — Measuring Success for Our Programs Overview This plan defines how we will evaluate Program A (Holistic Wellness & Adaptive Fitness) and Program B (Mental Health, Life Skills & Advocacy) in Liberia and the USA. Each country has tailored indicators, data sources, collection methods, targets, responsibilities, timeline, and ethical safeguards. Use this to track outcomes, improve services, report to stakeholders, and guide scaling decisions.
- Assess participant improvements in health, independence, and well-being.
- Measure access, uptake, and retention across programs.
- Evaluate fidelity, quality, and cultural appropriateness of service delivery.
- Identify barriers, facilitators, and areas for improvement.
- Demonstrate impact for funders, partners, participants, and communities.
- Key outcome domains
- Physical health & function (mobility, strength, balance, stamina, nutrition)
- Mental health & emotional wellbeing (mood, coping, social connectedness)
- Daily living & independence (ADL/IADL tasks, community participation)
- Economic & vocational outcomes (employment status, work hours, paid/meaningful activity)
- Service access & navigation (benefit uptake, referrals completed)
- Participant satisfaction & perceived quality
- Safety & rights (incidents reported, trauma-informed practice uptake)
- Mixed-methods approach
- Quantitative: standardized measures, service utilization data, simple performance metrics
- Qualitative: participant/caregiver interviews, focus groups, staff reflections, case studies
- Routine monitoring: attendance, dropouts, referrals, wait times
- Periodic external or peer review for validation
- Foundations — thematic fits
- Global health & development foundations (support cross-border health, community programs).
- Disability‑focused foundations (access, inclusion, adaptive services).
- Mental‑health & trauma foundations (trauma-informed care, counseling).
Suggested approach: Target grant programs with multi-year small-to-medium awards; tailor proposals to program outcomes and survivor-led leadership.
- Government grants & public funding
- US federal/state grants (CDC, SAMHSA, ACL/Administration on Community Living, Health Resources & Services Administration, state disability/behavioral health funds).
- International development agencies (USAID small grants, bilateral health programs) and the Liberian government/Ministry of Health partnerships.
Suggested approach: RFP monitoring, partnerships with local NGOs for consortia applications, and reimbursement/contract models.
- Multilateral & institutional donors
- UN agencies, WHO country programs, regional development banks (small grant windows), and international NGOs issuing subgrants.
Suggested approach: Align programs with country priorities (Liberia) and SDG targets; seek subgrants via local partners.
- Corporate CSR & workplace giving
- Healthcare, pharmaceutical, fitness, nutrition, telecoms, and companies with Liberia ties or diaspora connections.
Suggested approach: Sponsorship packages, in-kind equipment donations, matched giving campaigns, and employee volunteer programs.
- Diaspora philanthropists & major individual donors
- Liberian diaspora leaders, philanthropic individuals interested in health, disability, or survivor-led initiatives.
Suggested approach: Personalized cultivation, storytelling, impact briefings, and donor visits/virtual meetups.
- Community foundations & family foundations
- Regional community foundations in areas with diaspora populations; family foundations focused on health, youth, or human rights.
Suggested approach: Local pitches, match funding for pilot projects, and capacity‑building grants.
- Universities & research grants
- Academic partnerships for implementation research, program evaluation grants, and student-led support.
Suggested approach: Collaborate on pilot studies and co‑apply for research funding that includes program costs.
- Faith-based & humanitarian organizations
- Churches, mission funds, and humanitarian NGOs with community health or disability inclusion priorities.
Suggested approach: Emphasize community engagement, low-resource delivery, and caregiver training.
- Impact & program-related investments (PRIs)
- Social investors or foundations offering low-interest loans or PRIs for scaling program operations or social enterprises tied to vocational outcomes.
Suggested approach: Propose revenue-generating components (training fees, social enterprise) and repayment plans.
- Crowd funding & small donor campaigns
- Platform campaigns for specific items (equipment, scholarships), recurring donor programs, and events.
Suggested approach: Use compelling survivor-informed storytelling and tangible asks (e.g., fund X adaptive bikes).