Recreational Center for the Handicapped

The Janet Pomeroy Center

"The Recreational Center for the Handicapped"

Rowena Fontanos

SW350: Child Welfare

Vakalahi

Descriptions

"The Janet Pomeroy Center", also known as "The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" has been serving the residents of the San Francisco community for over 50 years. Founded by Janet Pomeroy on November 18, 1952 it has enriched the lives of over 17,000 individuals. It is a multi service center conveniently located off of Skyline Boulevard, over looking Lake Merced and directly behind the San Francisco Zoo. With a wide range of services offered, "The Janet Pomeroy Center" strives to provide recreation and vocational opportunities for the mentally and physically challenged, so as to create and instill independence, personal achievement, and a means for self expression for the disabled population.

Having a variety in age from the youth to the elderly, RCH's clients also have a wide range in the levels of physical and mental disability. They range from being mildly to severely mentally challenged. There are clients who can easily communicate verbally and others who rely on other methods to express themselves. These individuals also range in their physical disabilities. Some are in need of a wheelchair, where as others are able to easily get around. There are clients who violently have seizures, as well as those whose seizures are generally mild.

"The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" is unique in the fact that it also provides services to those who have had a head trauma. In collaboration with St. Mary's Hospital and the Department of Mental Health, RCH has started SF TBI NET, which stands for "San Francisco Traumatic Brain Injury Network." Imagine the tremendous impact it must be living one moment able-bodied, then the next moment, disabled. Imagine the impact an event like this would have on your loved ones. The individuals who benefit from the program were once able-bodied like us, but because of a brain injury, they now need help relearning their motor skills and being able to function in daily life. SF TBI NET also recognizes the strain a traumatic event like this can have on the entire family and provides help and relief to its members.

Rather than focusing on their weakness, the staff focuses on their client's strengths. Through the different recreational activities and services this multi service center provides, the interests and talents these individuals have are further nurtured. For example, having access to art supplies and instruction is a great benefit to those clients who are interested in further developing their art skills. The clients are exposed to all genres of artwork which include but are not limited to jewelry making, tile painting, ceramics, needlework, the making of holiday decorations, etc.

Fieldtrips to local museums are also taken so as to further cultivate their art appreciation. There is even a music and drama program called, "Theatre Unlimited" that teach more than 20 classes and help prepare the clients for upcoming performances for the community. With many of the clients having difficulty with memorization, there is no script. However, the client improvises the lines while remaining on topic, an art form that is very difficult for anyone to maneuver!

For many families who care for a physically and or mentally challenged individual, it can at times get overwhelming. Because of this growing request and need for the community, "The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" provides respite care services. It is one of only a few facilities in Northern California that offer weekend overnight care so as to relieve families for the weekend and give them the opportunities to get away and take a much needed vacation.

RCH currently has four large bedrooms with two beds per room, each with a private bathroom for each guest. Those who qualify must be between the ages 5 through senior. During the weekend stay the client staff ratio is at 1:4. The staff is trained to provide assistance with every basic need the client may have. A weekend day program is also available for those who do not need to stay overnight. Up to 15 clients are able to take part of the program, with 8 individuals throughout the weekend. Meals are included as well as recreational activities such as sports, cooking classes, and outings into the community.

Many of the clients enjoy the outings into the community, especially outings into wilderness. Because of the growing interest with the outdoors, "The Outdoor Education Program" was started. The clients in the program are involved in activities and/or trips dealing with nature. Some of these trips include backpacking, fishing, hiking, kayaking, river rafting, etc. These activities help to promote independence as well as teamwork when working with others. Many of these activities I hadn't had gone on myself and was a bit shocked and caught off guard at how active this community actually is.

To further integrate the clients with mainstream community, RCH offers the opportunity for registered members of the center to use the only 90-degree therapeutic pool in San Francisco with the clients of RCH. The Herbst Pool attracts thousands of people per year. From infants with their mothers to the elderly who suffer from arthritis, the pool provides a relief to the community as well as introduce and encourage interaction with the clients.

The pool has become a haven for those who suffer from arthritis. The warm water has been proven to be therapeutic for the achy joints, enabling those who suffer from arthritis the luxury to freely move around in the water. Other than the soothing water, the Herbst Pool is unique in the fact that it is also wheelchair accessible. So as to easily accommodate those who are wheelchair bound, there are ramps leading up and down the pool that utilize special wheelchairs designed to bring clients in to and out of the water. This has provided to be very convenient because up until the Herbst Pool was created, it was very difficult to lift someone out of the water. Because of wheelchair accessibility, all genres of the community, children, teens, and the elderly alike, are able and welcome to use this service side by side.

Over 150 children and teens are annually enrolled in the programs at the center. Ranging in ages from 5-22 years, they are split into groups based on their ages so as to better develop age appropriate programs. The severity of their disabilities widely ranges from each group with some clients clearly more