Arbors Center, established in February 1990, and Arbors North, established in January 1998, are psychosocial rehabilitation programs that provide education and in-vivo activities to educate individuals with long-term mental illness. Education focuses on medication, mental illness, independent living skills, economic self sufficiency and consumer integration, as well as vocational training. This service is offered to consumers who reside in the counties we serve.

Both locations continue to grow to meet the needs of the consumers. A senior group was started in February 2003 called the Sterling Silver Set. In this group, issues that concern the senior population are discussed. Examples include social ties, nutrition timeline for health, stress check, fitness goals, sleep schedule and holiday blues.

Wellness Recovery Action Planning Groups (WRAP) was another group that started this year. WRAP is an educational group. Individuals in the group are people who experience psychiatric symptoms. The WRAP is a two hour a week, twelve week group. The group covers empowerment and responsibilities, taking responsibilities for wellness, stress reduction and relaxation methods, building self-esteem and self-confidence, developing and keeping support and developing a wellness recovery action plan that is individualized.

Consumers continue to be active in our communities throughout the Southern Network. Some of the committees that are involved in included: Continuity of Treatment, Employment Steering, Housing Consumer Conference, Advisory Council and Consumer Voice. The consumers are also involved in the agency's Housing and Governing boards at both PSR programs. Several consumers have completed a series of training's provided by Dr. Kathleen Volger on Wellness and Motivational Interviewing. The First Aide and CPR trainings were completed by Frontier Community College. Consumers also attended Prevention Preview as well as the Consumer Conference.

Both Centers sponsored or participated in several community education projects such as the Olney Bicycle Classic, Annual Spaghetti luncheon and Annual Soup luncheon, volunteering at the animal shelter, Salvation Army and nursing centers. They also participated in the Noble May Day, Olney Christmas and White Squirrel parades, the Senior Expo and Random Acts of Kindness day. We feel the community is a vital part of our program, therefore; we work hand in hand with several locations and also deliver our appreciation to the local businesses during the holiday season.

The vocational components of PSR are going strong with individuals working at several volunteer sites such as the Olney Care Center, Olney Greenhouse, Flora Health Care Center, Salvation Army and Humane Society. Some clients are attending local community colleges and working on their GED.

The Arbors Center skit players, Stigma Busters, participated in many consumer education projects throughout the southern part of the state. They presented skits and personal testimonies at community colleges and universities and to local organizations within our catchment area.

Consumers participated in many activities throughout the year such as: attending two ball games in Saint Louis, MO, Balloon Fest in Centralia, IL, Rock Home Garden in Arcola, IL, the circus in Salem, IL and shopping in Terre Haute, IN.