BIS 343: Community Psychology

ElderHealth Northwest is about community. We help frail adults to remain living in their own homes with their families. Our adult day centers themselves are small communities, where our staff members and our participants feel a genuine affection for one another. Our supported living homes are an alternative to skilled nursing and assisted living facilities; our residents and staff together turn a house into a home.

Lifelong AIDS Alliance is committed to preventing the spread of HIV, and to providing practical support services and advocating for those whose lives are affected by HIV and AIDS.

Lifelong does whatever it takes to improve the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS. We provide health insurance so that people can get the care they need. We cook and deliver healthy meals. We ensure that people have a safe place to live. And our caring case managers help people every step of the way

Our mission is to improve the bodies, minds and spirits of children and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted therapy and to be an inspiration and educational resource to the therapeutic riding profession, both regionally and nationally.

Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center provides therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities who live in the Puget Sound area. Classes take place in an environment that emphasizes abilities rather than disabilities. Little Bit is about overcoming limitations "leaving crutches, wheelchairs, and fear behind and learning to ride. Riding a horse gives something very powerful to a person with disabilities "that sense of control which is often missing from their lives. The feeling of achievement that comes from riding and maneuvering a 1,200 pound horse is strong medicine. It turns defeat into victory and self-doubt into self-confidence.

Northshore YMCA: Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.

The ROOTS Young Adult Shelter (RYAS) serves homeless young persons between the ages of 18 and 25. We provide shelter 7 nights a week, and are the only shelter program in the city specifically addressing the needs of homeless young adults. These young people are too old to access youth shelter programs but often feel unwelcome or threatened in emergency programs serving mostly older single adults. Each night, we
provide:

* Safe emergency overnight shelter to street-involved young adults,ages 18-25
* Clean bedding and sheets
* Snacks, dinner, and hot breakfast
* Opportunities for personal hygiene (including laundry and showers)
* On-site case management and referral to other support and transitional services