The Danray Home

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

In November 2013, Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Serivces (HAMHDS) created a new level of residential programming for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. The Danray Home provides housing and support to five adult male clients who have expressed an interest in living independently, but who currently lack the skills and abilities to manage without the support of staff. The unique component of this program is that rather than having staff present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, staff is present at critical points throughout the day to provide support and education. These critical points typically occur early in the morning when residents are waking and again in the evening when residents are settling in for the night. Staff focus on teaching skills related to medication management, cooking, budgeting and housework. During other parts of the day residents live independently giving them an opportunity to practice the skills they are learning. The primary objectives of this program are to increase residents’ independent living skills and to encourage integration into the larger community. This new level of residential support has resulted in decreased operating costs, and more importantly, improved outcomes for residents of The Danray Home.