Sacred Heart Council 822
• 413 E South Street • Shelbyville, IN, 46176 • 317.398.9914 •
Gibault News
Gibault Shelbyville Group Home currently has five clients. We continue to be licensed for Group Home placements and Emergency Shelter/Respite Care (maximum capacity of ten clients). All clients attend public school and receive counseling services through Gallahue Mental Health. The clients also receive services provided by a case manager and advance practice nurse through Gallahue.
One of the focuses of residential living at the Gibault Shelbyville Group Home is on independent living skills, for all clients age 14 and up. Independent living skills such as money management, budgeting, employment responsibilities, academic achievement, as well as nutrition and health have been recently taught to the residents. Clients fill out an Independent Living Skills checklist upon admission to indicate their ability to perform specific independent living skills. Clients participate in weekly residential groups that focus on: Independent living skills, life skills, goal-setting, individual treatment planning, and Community Council.
Family involvement is an integral part of the programming for residents at the Gibault Shelbyville Group Home. Families are encouraged to participate in at least twice-monthly family therapy with the youth's therapist. In addition, families are encouraged to visit on the weekend from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm. Extended visitation is possible if approved by the youth's placing agency.
The clients placed at the Gibault Shelbyville Group Home are encouraged to participate in community events to practice social skills and become invested in the community in which they reside. Clients are eligible to attend weekly outings on Friday and Saturday nights. In addition, special events occur monthly. Recent outings have been weekly trips to the library, movies at a local theatre, shopping at the mall, a movie at the IMAX theatre, and St. Joe's festival.
The Shelbyville News again featured the group home on the front page of the newspaper to feature a grant received from the Blue River Community Foundation. Zach Pies from the Terre Haute campus and Melissa O'Connor, Director Residential Services, Shelbyville, met with the Blue River Community Foundation in August 2005. During this meeting, possible funding sources from grants were discussed. Mr. Pies completed an application to the Blue River Foundation for a start-up grant, which were awarded in March 2006. The grant is to be used to support first year operations at the Shelby County facility. The grant will cover partial compensation for items including: Office supplies and expenses, staff training equipment and materials, staff travel, building maintenance, provisions for kids and recreation/special events for kids. Gibault is very grateful to the Blue River Community Foundation and its donors for this grant.
Jeremy O'Connor
Gibault Envoy
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