These partner agencies have proven successful at providing health care, promoting disease prevention and delivering rehabiliation services
The Marc Center of Mesa provides assistance, supervision and related services to people with disabilities who require 24-hour support. Almost 42,500 days of Residential Services were provided this year, where the individuals learn life skills in order to increase their ability to live more independently.
Over 2,900 disabled people were assisted by the Advocates for the Disabled program of the Marc Center of Mesa, Inc. during this past year. This program helps clients expedite social security, VA and private funds requests for benefits. They advocate for people with serious disabilities who have been denied their rightful benefits, claims or appeal and provide other forms of assistance to ensure that they receive eligible entitlement benefits that contribute to a more stable and self-reliant living environment.
Special Olympics Arizona works to improve the lifestyles of Special Olympics athletes at event-based, competition, school-based programs and health screening activities while advocating for improved policies and programs for people with intellectual disabilities living in Mesa. One hundred and fifty individuals competed in one or more components of the Training for Life Continuum–Mesa program during the past year. Eighty-five percent of the athletes/families reported that they had gained the knowledge needed to live healthier lifestyles.
Seven hundred fifty children took home a backpack from school filled with food for the weekend provided by Arizona Brainfood. The Weekend Food Distribution Project assures that 100 percent of these children are properly fed, which strengthens both their bodies and minds during their time away from school.
Over 2,700 individuals were provided assistance by the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired during the last year. This included assessment, instruction, training, examinations, counseling and classes for individuals who are visually impaired. Eighty-seven percent of the cases handled by the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services Program were successfully closed or completed.
The families of 650 young people with blindness participated in the Infant/Preschool Program during this past year. This program of the Foundation for Blind Children provides training, support, education and treatment to help children develop their cognitive, developmental and behavior skills. The parents gain an increased awareness of the community resources for their child’s development. Preschool children are taught adaptive methods of learning so they are ready to enter the public school system. Ninety percent of the clients experienced positive change measured through parent, teacher and student participation.
Ninety-five young adults, ages 15-21, who are blind or visually impaired have been assisted by the Independent Living Skills Training program this past year. This program of the Foundation for Blind Children helps the clients to function independently in everyday life such as safely using white cane travel, bus, and light rail. Ninety-five percent of the participants demonstrated an improved ability to complete tasks required to function independently in everyday life and improved their ability to travel safely and independently.
Nearly 1,000 caregivers were provided with training, counseling and other support by the Desert Southwest Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association this past year. Over 93 percent of the participants in the Mesa Alzheimer’s Disease Program and Services initiative increased their understanding, awareness, knowledge and ability to handle being a caregiver, resulting in their being able to better assist with memory loss, and coping with their caregiver role.
Caring for Families Dealing with Life Altering Illnesses strives to help enhance the lives of both the participant and their caregivers with a proactive approach to identifying and implementing activities that meet their needs. One hundred percent of the caregivers stated that their stress has been reduced and their quality of life improved through their participation in this Sirrine Adult Day Health Services of Mesa program. A total of 256 Mesa residents were served by the program during the past year.
The Outreach Services program of East Valley Adult Resources educates older adults about community resources and assists them in accessing those resources to maintain their independent lifestyles, delaying or eliminating institutional care. During the past year, over 22,600 home visits, emails, walk-ins or phone calls have been made, keeping in contact and assisting these older members of our community. Ninety percent of them report that their Outreach Specialists have helped them remain independent longer than if they had not received this outreach assistance.
During this past year, almost 80,000 Home Delivered Meals were provided by East Valley Adult Resources to Mesa residents. This “Meals on Wheels” program provides a daily nutritious meal five days a week that enables older and/or disabled persons to remain in their homes, living independently. They are also regularly provided with health and wellness information along with their wellness check and a smile.