Our Help in the Home Story

It’s no surprise that we get asked how Help in the Home started. What happened? What was the reason? Why did two women go against the grain to create something that was missing in our community?

 

In 2008, Rayetta Michael and Stacy Derrick recognized a missing piece in the care of residents in group homes and psychiatric rehabilitation programs. Families were outsourcing parts of their loved ones care to agencies without mental health expertise and not providing the level of support people deserved. Finding a solution started it all!

The timing could not have been more perfect. Rayetta always wanted to own her own business, and Stacy enjoyed solving problems. There was a need to be met, and together, they created Help in the Home, LLC in November of 2008 to build a dedicated team of caring professionals unlike any other agency in the region.

 

Joy and Heart since the Beginning

We began with two houses, four clients and five staff. Vilma, our Client Service Administrator, has been with us from the very first day. She was praying for us before we even started! We are so thankful for Vilma and our staff who are like family and grow with us throughout the years. For example, Walter Alvarado, our Supervisor for SLC Managers, joined us as a volunteer in 2016 and has been with us for over two years. And Maura Kelly who started with us four years ago and has worked through the ranks as a part-time overnight staff, full-time care coordinator, and now as our Care Coordinator Supervisor.

All of us here at Help in the Home nurture and create life – it’s at the heart of what we do! We support beautiful, joyful, and meaningful lives out of what others might consider a less than ideal situation. This is the feminine energy that most people are afraid of, but we embrace it! We offer relief for parents by stepping in to take on many of the tasks and responsibilities they have been carrying for years. We educate caregivers on the best ways to regain positive interactions that are not centered around the mental illness – and so much more. Ultimately, we manage your loved one’s responsibilities and care so you can enjoy your relationship with them.

 

Because People Still Matter

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou

People with serious mental illness matter, too. We see the uniqueness of each person, and we care for each person as an individual. After ten years in business, we are still here to demonstrate that people with serious mental illness can share their lives, build a community where they belong (and feel loved!), and bring joy to their lives and their families. We are making a difference in our community and with our clients, and that is so rewarding!

Our Help in the Home story is of a group of caring people who saw a need within our community and created a solution. It’s a story of humble beginnings, of providing love and care to those typically marginalized in our society. We are a story of determination to give joy and heart to all that we do. Thank you for letting us share our story with you!

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