Season of Giving
If you would like to support our patients and families during the holiday season, please see below for a list of ideas and ways to give:Hospital for Children1.) If you are interested in doing something special for children at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children during the holiday season, or at any time of the year since the needs exist year round, please check out our "How To Help" website at http://www.umm.edu/pediatrics/help.htm for ideas on toy donations, community service projects, treasure chest donations, and more. For additional questions about donating toys or other resources to support children in the hospital, feel free to contact Shannon Joslin at 410-328-1241.
2.) Brian Roberts, 2nd baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, and his wife Diana have been passionate supporters of the University of Maryland Hospital for Children. Brian and Diana have routinely visited children in the hospital throughout the year and know first hand the positive impact a gift of a new toy can have on a child and family dealing with the stressors of hospitalization. In response, Brian and Diana have created a Toys R' Us wish list called "Onederful Wishes" as an avenue for interested individuals to gift a toy into the hands of a child in the hospital. When you purchase a gift on the registry it will be sent directly to the University of Maryland Hospital for Children and placed into the hands of a child. For more information or to check out the registry, please visit http://brianroberts1.com or go directly to the Toys R' Us wish list website at http://www.toysrus.com/wishlist/index.jsp and search by Wish list #28878597.
Division of Community Psychiatry - Safe Haven Shelter What is Safe Haven?
Safe Haven is a twenty bed, co-ed, non-traditional shelter for mentally ill men and women. Safe Haven’s mission is to enhance residents’ quality of life by providing a safe and therapeutic environment while assisting them to move from homelessness to more permanent housing. The goal of the program is to help residents return to living in the community by introducing them to a caring home-like environment and providing specific life skills training to ensure their success.
Who Are Our Residents?
All of our residents have a major psychiatric diagnosis, such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depression. Most also have a co-occurring substance use disorder. Ninety percent of the individuals entering Safe Haven resided in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, streets, and abandoned buildings, immediately preceding their admission. The remaining ten percent resided in emergency shelters or hospitals. Safe Haven accepts referrals from community outreach teams, mental health providers, and inpatient hospital units.
So What’s the Problem?
Since 1994, our annual grant amount has not changed. The amounts we have budgeted for food, gas, electric, salaries, and maintenance have not changed. But the cost of these things have. Fifteen years after our inception, we are operating at a $30,000 a year deficit – a deficit that has been covered by University of Maryland. However, the University of Maryland cannot continue to take such an ongoing loss, now more than ever with the current economic climate when healthcare facilities are being hit particularly hard. So we are asking for help from those who care about Baltimore City, who care about communities, and who care about the most vulnerable members of our society. At a time when more people than ever are facing the very real possibility of homelessness, closing doors to homeless facilities is not good for anyone. Smaller ticket items include the following:
• Light bulbs
• Toilet paper
• Food
• Curtains
• Extra long shower curtains
• Bath mats
• Craft supplies
• Socks and underwear
• Furniture –
o Chairs (to accommodate persons up to 350lb.)
o Couches
o Twin mattress and box spring sets
o twin sized bed frames and headboards
o 3-4 drawer dressers or chest of drawers
• Twin sized blankets & linens
• Towels
• Shelving
• Commercial cookware (serving/storage pans, utensils)
• Large capacity deep fryer
• Food warmer
• First aid supplies
• Cleaning supplies
• Garbage bags
• Security system with camera
• TV’s/DVD players
• Lamps
• Chair rails
• Wall art
• Throw rugs
For more information, please contact Barbara Wahl at (410) 328-1406 or bwahl@psych.umaryland.edu
If you would like to refer someone to live at Safe Haven, please contact Rae Smith at (410) 323-7896 or smithraec@hotmail.com
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