2008 Grant Award Recipients
.

Programs awarded by the 501(c)3,  Friends of MHMRA of Harris County are:

  • To purchase exercise and fitness equipment that will improve the consumers’
    physical health, and reduce the high incidence of obesity that results in chronic
    illnesses.

  • To purchase employment training material and audiovisual equipment to aid the
    consumers by improving  their interviewing and job seeking skills, and  increasing
    their chances of employment.

  • To establish The Road to Independence, a partnership with
    businesses/organizations to create employment opportunities for consumers
    resulting in educated employers and a job fair for consumers.

  • To produce a comprehensive detailed guide that will help those consumers and
    families who do not have computer access to navigate through and access the
    MHMRA systems.

  • To design a brochure that highlights the MHMRA/juvenile probation services that will
    increase the engagement of parents and impact the recidivism rate of first time
    offenders.

  • To assess, develop, and implement a wellness component into the daily schedule of
    ADAPT/MR adult consumers which will target nutrition, physical activity, and enhance
    social and emotional functioning.

  • Implement a training program to enable the Consumer Advocate Council to assist in
    resolving patient complaints and concern.

This is the first grant award of many to come from “Friends of MHMRA of Harris County
due to the success of the annual fund raising events.  “We were not able to approve all of
the applications that were submitted; however, we were absolutely thrilled that we had
the tremendous response that we did. We ask those participants to be watching for the
next round and to please re-submit their proposals for the next cycle” said Marshenell
Sells, V.P. Resource Development.

Awardee, Claire Shynett says of the grant...”We were just elated to learn that we made
the selection. We know that this will serve the community that is most vulnerable and will
help to facilitate better understanding of our agency through the Road to Independence
project…”