A conversation with Azucena Rocha Vielma, Team Lead, EDGE House Supportive Living
“The biggest work here for this program is to not just connect the clients back into the community, but it’s life skills. A lot of the individuals that are facing mental health, it happens that their life skills decrease, so it is giving them their power back. And we’re not giving it to them, we’re just participating in the development and we’re just part of it. So the idea is that when they are going back in the community, they are capable to live in a completely independent environment with life support, and they’re connected with community where they can succeed.
We start from the beginning. For instance, creating a schedule for them like waking up early in the morning and taking medication, the idea of being in constant contact with a clinical support, or different supports in the community. It doesn’t have to be just a clinical support. It could be going to school, attending Money Matters…whatever it is that’s going to help their own journey. All of this is with the client in mind.”