Community Thanks May 25, 2014

SKILLS: HECLA grant much appreciated

Trinity Group Homes, Inc., provides housing for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness through our four locations in Kootenai County. We extend our sincere appreciation to HECLA Foundation for their recent grant of $1,000 to help with our Life Skills Program. This program helps our residents learn to become independent, how to live with their mental illness, and to live effectively in a group setting. Trinity operates at no cost to the taxpayers; we receive no local, state or federal funds.

Residents attend weekly Skills Group meetings focusing on creating an environment of trust and support between residents, and a safe place to share with peers. Topics covered include assertive communication skills and conflict resolution, education about different mental illnesses, and basic shopping and money management skills. For many residents, outcomes are evident as they perform their normal daily chores and take care of themselves, plan and prepare meals, interact in social settings or manage their mental illness. Others may need frequent reminders or training to effectively remember to take their medications, schedule appointments and to live in a group home setting.

We will be using the HECLA Foundation grant funds to purchase expendable supplies our residents use in our Skills Group sessions. Our residents study the daily newspaper sale ads, learn to shop for economical food and prepare nutritious meals together. They have begun to build a nice catalog of recipes which they have prepared that get raves from the other residents!

Again, Trinity Group Homes wishes to compliment and thank the HECLA Foundation for their help for our residents, as they begin to learn new tools to live independently.

ROBERT S. RUNKLE

Executive Director, Trinity Group Homes, Inc.

Coeur d'Alene