Flame Tree Freedom Center focuses on helping persons with disabilities in pacrticular individuals with mental illness and/or intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as other high risk populations, by creating opportunities for them to live productive lives. Flame Tree Freedom Center provides Program Management Services and direct delivery of educational, independent living skills-training, vocational, rehabilitation and residential programs for persons with disabilities. Our mission is to provide:
Fundamental Life Applications to Motivate and Empower individuals with disabilities with the aim to achieve independence and integration in the community through Treatment/training, Rehabilitation, Education and Employment
We will accomplish our mission through the implementation of the following objectives:
1. Client Services
Flame Tree Freedom Center aims to provide:
- Shelter;
- Daily living skills;
- Education and training for clients on real life experiences (e.g. social skills, money management, medication management, etc);
- Vocational training and assistance in finding gainful employment;
- Assistance in treatment planning; and
- The necessary supports to help them succeed in becoming more independent.
2. Business Sustainability:
Flame Tree Freedom Center intends to become JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations) accredited within one year of operation.
Brief History
Flame Tree was created and locally incorporated as a non-profit organization on Guam in 2009. In 2012, Flame Tree received 501C3 status from the U.S. Treasury.
The President, Eddy J. Reyes has experience helping individuals with disabilities in other working capacities as the Managing Member of EDR Enterprises, Inc, Co-Owner of Pacific Tyre, Operations Manager for Ukudu Housing Solutions and Administrator for the Latte Treatment Center, where he has provided vocational training opportunities that have led to numerous placements, where DVR consumers are fully integrated into the workforce. He also served as the Director of the Guam Military Build-up, Deputy Director of the Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse and Executive Manager for Business and Consumer Services for IT&E Overseas, Inc.
The Treasurer and Secretary, Dawn Reyes, has experience as an Educator and Administrator for Guam Department of Education, the Quality Control Director for the Latte Treatment Center, a merchandising manager for J.C. Penney, Inc., and practicing visual artist. Dawn’s experience as a Counseling Resources Teacher with the Guam Department of Education in developing and facilitating the implementation of Individualized Education Plans has been extremely useful in advocating for individuals with disabilities.
Our combined experiences provide a unique combination of knowledge and thought processes. Aside form having experience in business management functions, leadership and creative problem solving skills, each of us know the issues in dealing with and advocating for persons with disabilities, and efforts required to crumble barriers for everyone to live a life of dignity, respect and freedom in the community. On a personal level, we are directly responsible for a family member who is a consumer with a diagnosed mental illness. This experience provides us with the passion and empathy necessary to help others in need.
With the forecasted surge of work, especially related tot he military expansion on Guam, Flame Tree Freedom Center sees its role in the community as an important support system to ensure Guam has a trained and certified workforce. Therefore, Flame Tree Freedom Center is prepared to train newcomers to include persons with disabilities. As the Operations General Manager for Ukudu Housing Solutions, Flame Tree has access to a multitude of different roles (e.g. housekeeping, security, laundry, food and preparation and serving transportation, store operations, etc). This facility provides the perfect training ground of individuals with disabilities.
Flame Tree will ensure the delivery of services is safe and in the best interest of the consumer based in their Individual Plan for Employment. Flame Tree trainers/job coaches will have experience in working with individuals with disabilities and will be trained in Safe Crisis Management and behavior management techniques.
Flame Tree trainers/job coaches will directly support the consumer in fully the job requirements, liaise with the employer, advocate for the consumer, intervene as required, and any other requirements as needed to ensure a successful transition in the workplace.
Program objectives for the type of training
Given the varied needs of our consumers, Flame Tree Freedom Center is committed to providing the supports necessary to develop employment skills based on their interests and abilities and will ensure safe practices are administered and that it will be a sensitive and empathetic to any disability.
Flame Tree offers a range of services to include work exploration ,trial work experience training, vocational training work adjustment training, occupational skills training, on-the-job training service and personal care attendant services by working with and in coordination with other business partners in the community. Flame Tree staff will provide support to consumers to help maximize the opportunities for an enriched job training experience, with the aim to place consumers in the positions they have selected as part of their IPE goal. Flame Tree will consistently evaluate its program through a Quality Assurance/Control Director to provide constant feedback and recommendations to improve the process.
Facilities
Flame Tree Freedom Center office location will be in the village of Mangilao, which will be the centralized location to conduct administrative matters and training. The office will be located on the second floor of the Pacific Tyre building. The amount of space required is approximately 500 square feet. Power and other utilities are already available on site. General office equipment such as computers, printers, copiers, and consumable supplies will be needed. Electrical wiring has been installed to support this equipment. Furniture has already been acquired, to include desks, work cubicles, chairs, work tables and a sofa. The office is equipped with a full bath and a small utility room with a sink. A large training room is adjacent to the office and available for use when needed at little or no cost to the business.
Since Flame Tree Freedom Center will collaborate with the University of Guam as a practicum site for psychology and social work students, Mangilao is an ideal location. The only drawback with this location is that it is not ADA compliant; however, the residential homes can be used to satisfy reasonable accommodations.
The actual delivery of services will be delivered in residential group homes situated throughout the island in residential settings, with the aim to blend in with the surroundings and be integrated in the community. Most group homes will range from three to five bedrooms to accommodate requirements and meet demand, as required by a contract. In most instances, the facilities will be or will be converted to meet ADA compliance. The office hours will be from 0900 hours – 1700 hours, while the residential group homes will be a 24-hour operation.