Francis: A Home of His Own
"[Advocates has] shown me I can get through things in my life that are difficult."
Francis was 41 when he started experiencing auditory hallucinations that disrupted his sleep and daily living. At the time, he'd been living in his own apartment with support from Advocates Mental Health Division outreach staff but these new symptoms became too much to manage while living on his own.
He moved into a group home in Waltham in 2008 and worked hard on his recovery with Advocates staff for nearly two years. Thanks to these efforts—including the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) process and Person-Centered Planning—Francis, now 45, recently reached a major milestone: he moved into his own apartment in Newtonville in October 2010, where he is happily living with his fiancée Gloria.
"It is a great feeling of independence and brings with it the privileges of freedom,"says Francis. "It's shown me I can get through things in my life that are difficult."
Through WRAP and Person-Centered Planning, Francis worked with Advocates staff to come up with a with an action plan for his recovery, identifying life goals and aspirations and determining the supports he needs to achieve them.
Person-Centered Planning allowed Francis to take the reins and construct a team of support professionals to help him chart out his course. Already, he's reached several of his goals: managing his medication, living independently and maintaining a successful, long-term, romantic relationship.
By offering the tools and support needed to identify and reach his goals, Advocates provided the pathways for Francis to succeed. Meanwhile, staff helped him with the logistical considerations of moving, including obtaining a housing voucher, transportation and securing furniture. All the while, Francis was able to drive the process.
"It allowed him to build a stronger voice,"says Brendon Castle, clinical program manager and Person-Centered Planning facilitator. "Often, people in the mental health system can be oppressed. Fran had a tendency to be quieter and more laid back. His voice has become much stronger through this process."
Today, Francis is looking forward to marrying Gloria and enjoys spending time with her family, which Fran attributes to Advocates' support of his desire to be more outgoing and social.
Meanwhile, he is getting back into the workforce, accepting clothing and appliance donations at a drop-off center for Big Brothers Big Sisters a couple of days each week. Francis, who at one time worked as a quality control technician, would ultimately like to get back to using his technical skills. "Now, I'm easing back into the workforce. That's a good feeling."
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Advocates Inc., One Clarks Hill, Suite 305, Framingham, MA 01702
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Supporting you, your loved ones, your friends, Your neighbors...
Advocates provides support services for people with:
- Mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse
- Intellectual or developmental disabilities or co-occurring mental illness and developmental disability
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Autism and pervasive developmental disabilities
- Acquired or traumatic brain injury
We also provide support services for:
- Deaf adults with mental illness or a developmental disability
- Families who are supporting a family member with a disability
- Elders living in the community who may have a mental illness or substance abuse disorder
- Adults with a mental health diagnosis in jail or re-entering the community
- Youth in transition from foster care
- Individuals and families who are homeless or at risk for homelessness
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