Plan of Action

As you can see our dream is starting to take shape with God's help. I must say that Britt Figueroa of Monkey Love http://www.monkeylovessi.com/ has been a huge huge help in getting us started and giving us support. She is an exceptional woman. Please visit her website and support her company anytime you can. Here is the future of Loving Harbor and a new future to families that live with mental illness.

Loving Harbor – A Promise of Hope

* Who are we? We are advocates for families suffering the effects of mental illness.

* What do we do? We offer support to families coping with mental illness.

* How do we do this? We offer a camp for children to stay at, while the consumer seeks treatment. We offer monthly support groups for children in a fun environment. We offer monthly support groups for the spouse/significant other (at the same time as the children’s)

* What will the children do at camp? During their time at camp, children will learn:
** About their parents (guardians) illness and how it affects them.
** How to cope with the issues raised in the family due to the illness.
** How to deal with their feelings resulting from the changes in their life caused by the consumer’s illness (i.e. guilt, anger, and embarrassment).
** Learn that they are loved and they are important; this is done through a Christian based program "Confident Kids"
** Most importantly they will have fun and connect with other children in similar situations.

* How is visitation handled? We offer a family-dining atmosphere. We encourage the parent /guardian to join their child/children for dinner. We feel it is important for the child not to feel abandoned, and encourage the parent to visit whenever possible. We also feel it is important for the child to know the consumer is okay and will arrange for visitation if the family desires it.

* How is education handled? We will work with your child/children’s school policies. We work with area schools and tutors to make sure your child’s/children’s education is uninterrupted.

* How long can my child remain at camp? Your child can stay as long as you wish.

* How does the camp benefit me the spouse/significant other of the consumer? It allows the spouse/significant other to:
** Continue to work without worrying about the welfare of their child.
** Visit the consumer.
** Attend any therapy /meetings with the consumer that are needed.
** Address the needs of the child/children

* How does the camp benefit my family? It treats the child at the same time the consumer is receiving treatment, allowing the entire family to heal and make a fresh start, verses picking up where everything left off. Lessens the stress on the child, hopefully preventing any problems for the child in the future (i.e. depression, anger)

* How does the camp benefit the consumer? It allows the consumer to seek treatment without the worry of losing their child/children. We teach the child about the consumer’s illness according to the child’s age. We give the child a support network of peers. We take a potentially frightening situation for the child and turn it into a fun, learning, coping experience. We appreciate the bonds between the consumer and child and work to strength them.