THE CHALLENGE OF HEALING THOSE WOUNDED YOUNG.

The program addresses three components of rehabilitation -- ACCESS to RESOURCES, SELF-SUFFICIENCY and ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY/SOCIAL CONDITIONS.

The St. Camillus Community-Based Rehabilitation Program primarily facilitates the accessibility and availability of resources towards the effective rehabilitation of children with disabilities. It has successfully surveyed, identified and registered all households in Marikina City and all nearby environs having children with disabilities aged 0 to 25 years. At present, the program carries out individual rehabilitation planning. The physical and social rehabilitation of these children with disabilities are effectively facilitated through a network of referral centers and existing rehabilitation resources.

As a tool for self-sufficiency, the program also actively undertakes the formation, education and organization of persons with disabilities and their families into an effective Persons with Disabilities Organization (PDO). The program initiates barangay level consultations, focus group discussions, small group trainings for parents of handicapped children and other similar activities. It hopes to link the created PDO with existing institutions in Marikina City and nearby environs.

The program also engages in the training of special education teachers in public elementary and high schools that the handicapped children attend. It also renders individual vocational training for persons with disabilities over 18 years old.

Hand in hand with access to rehabilitative resources and human formation efforts, the Community-Based Rehabilitation Program of Camillus MedHaven also assists in alleviating the poverty of persons with disabilities and their families and advocates for the equalization of economic and social opportunities.  Households having children with disabilities are assisted in income generation and entrepreneurial skills development towards poverty alleviation.