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New Hope's holistic, physiological approach to the treatment of chronic mental
illness is the first of its kind. No other program promises the gift of lifelong
support system and safety net for the least understood and most neglected of the
handicapped.
<p>The New Hope program represents decades of collaboration between parents of
the mentally ill and respected medical professionals. They have worked to develop
a strong program for the treatment of psychosis which is defined as "a
severe, persistent form of mental illness characterized by withdrawal from reality,
hallucinations, delusional thinking and, in a minority of cases, lapses into
violence." New Hope advocates a holistic approach for dealing with the
physiological basis of many symptoms that are diagnosed as mental illness.</p>
<p>Two basic principles support the program. First, even in the midst of severe
psychosis, patients often display a desire for normalcy, an urge to get well.
The second principle is that the treatment of psychosis can succeed only if
it addresses all aspects of the problem - physiological, psychological and spiritual.</p>
<p>Families and the patients continually search for promising alternatives, but
never has there been an option like New Hope. From the first day, this residential,
year-long program works toward achievement of a stable, self-supporting existence.
After "graduation," a unique, life-long support system and safety
net is available. </p>
<p>New Hope, sponsored by the non-profit New Hope Foundation, is the culmination
of a vision - and also a beginning. A lovely rural property only an hour from
downtown Washington, DC is the focus of new construction and renovation planning
featuring environmentally clean buildings. New Hope will open in the fall of
2001 to accommodate the first 16 of an annual 48 participants.</p>
<p>Since its inception, New Hope has been headquartered in greater Washington,
DC area, receiving approval as a<br>
501(c)3 non-profit organization in 1991.</p>
<p>Key Issues<br>
Surgeon General David Satcher's December 1999 report on mental illness confirms
the challenges and opportunities that have generated the New Hope program. In
brief, the report asserts that "There is no scientific reason to differentiate
between mental health and other kinds of health," stressing the physiological
nature and causation of mental illness. Highlights from this report include:</p>
<p>Five percent of the American public (approximately 13,000,000 people) suffer
from a serious, persistent mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
severe, chronic depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.</p>
<p>Fifty-two million Americans, 20 percent of the population, experience some
type of mental disorder each year.</p>
<p>Mental illness is the second leading cause of disability and premature death
in the United States.</p>
<p>The mental health system is increasingly knowledgeable about how to help people,
but "increasingly unable to reach those who need help the most.</p>
<p>Diversity<br>
Mental illness affects the general population with little or no discrimination
as to racial, cultural or economic differences. New Hope is committed to serving
diverse populations. The program seeks to diminish the debilitating impact of
mental illness upon participants and their families.</p>
<p>Mission<br>
New Hope's mission is to provide individualized treatment and life skills training
for those who are burdened with chronic mental illness, assisting them to recover
and move on to constructive, self-supporting lives in the community; and to
offer "graduates" a lifelong support and safety net. </p>
<p>Objectives<br>
New Hope's innovative, replicable three-stage program focuses on the development
of healthy living habits, the life skills and vocational attitudes essential
for graduates to achieve independence in the broader community - both socially
and economically. The program is designed to support residents in recapturing
- or perhaps even discovering for the first time - a zest for living.</p>
<p>With the medical program as the foundation, New Hope will reinforce the acquisition
of practical, skills that support good health and independence. The program
integrates techniques proven effective in dealing with serious mental problems,
for the first time bringing them together under a single umbrella. Each day
will begin with an inspirational session focusing on the celebration of life
and opportunities for overcoming adversity.</p>
<p>Program Structure<br>
Several features set New Hope apart from existing programs: </p>
<p>New Hope recognizes that psychosis is a "whole body" illness, basically
physiological in nature. The treatment protocol in each case will be based on
the results of comprehensive testing to identify all physical dysfunctions:
food and chemical allergies, disorders of sugar metabolism, nutritional imbalances
and deficiencies, hormonal disturbances and other conditions known to support
serious, persistent mental illness, referred to as psychosis. </p>
<p>All New Hope buildings will be constructed to a very high standard of chemical
cleanliness. </p>
<p>Each participant will receive individualized treatment.</p>
<p>* Under current projections, the project will be ready to receive participants
by October 1, 2001. This date assumes that contributions and pledges will fulfill
New Hope's construction and start-up budget of $2,760,501 in a timely fashion.</p>
<p>Founders<br>
New Hope is the product of the experiences and observations of John and Daphne
Stegmaier who have dealt with chronic mental illness in their own family for
nearly 30 years. Their youngest daughter became ill while the family was living
in Japan. Returning to the United States, the Stegmaiers spent years exploring
treatment options. </p>
<p>In 1980, they had her admitted to a special 9-bed unit in a large Illinois
mental hospital where her doctor treated mental illness primarily as a manifestation
of food allergies combined with other physiological disorders. At his request,
parents stayed with their children every day and frequently at night to guarantee
adherence to the strict nutritional and medical program. The Stegmaiers' daughter
remained in the hospital for eight months, followed by five additional months
in the doctor's outpatient clinic. During this extended period, the Stegmaiers
observed overwhelming evidence that detection and aggressive treatment of underlying
physiological disorders often result in dramatic improvement and, in many cases,
full recovery from chronic mental illness.</p>
<p>This experience left the Stegmaiers committed to the creation of a residential
and therapeutic program that would<br>
address the root causes of mental illness and also provide vigorous retraining
to allow mental patients to adjust socially and vocationally to life in the
broader community.</p>
<p><br>
Organizational Structure<br>
The organization is guided by a thirteen member Board of Trustees representing
medical professionals in the mental illness field, corporate executives in both
allied and non-allied businesses, nutritional experts, educators involved in
mental illness research, a representative of the community in which the New
Hope facility will be built and members of families whose adult children suffer
from mental illness. A twenty-nine member, highly qualified, national committee
of Advisors provides a wide range of resources for program planning and implementation.</p>
<p><br>
Program Development<br>
The original, landmark New Hope planning paper was written by Stanley R. Platman,
M.D., M.A. Dr. Platman is a former Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and
Addictions for Maryland, and currently Co-Director of the Counseling Center
at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at
the University of Maryland and long-time New Hope Trustee.</p>
<p>Janet Aiken, Ph.D., a nutritional psychologist, will systematize scientific
outcomes studies of New Hope's performance with the results to be distributed
to other interested organizations.</p>
<p>Robert J. Hedaya, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University and
author of Understanding Biological Psychiatry (insert name of new book - Daphne
will find it) will oversee the psychiatric and medical aspects of the program.
Dr. Hedaya comments that "There is absolutely no existing program that
evaluates and treats the multiple body systems (e.g., nutritional, immune, hormonal,
toxicologic, gastrointestinal) involved in the genesis or exacerbation of (mental)
symptoms. It is my firm belief that a program combining a stable, supportive
atmosphere, follow-up monitoring of compliance, and the Whole Psychiatry approach
will result in a very significant improvement of outcomes..." </p>
<p>Residential and Rehabilitative Outline</p>
<p>Three 4-month residential stages, plus the Graduate Level, independent but
"connected" and living in nearby<br>
communities. 16 new participants every 4 months. A maximum of 48 residents at
any one time. </p>
<p>Stage I<br>
The first four-month stage emphasizes adherence to medical and nutritional regimens
and habits of personal cleanliness. Participants will learn to prepare well-balanced
meals for themselves and will improve their social skills through staff-directed
group activities.</p>
<p>Stage II<br>
The second stage concentrates on preparation for employment with emphasis on
how to apply for and hold a job. Instruction in marketable skills ranging from
typing and word-processing to outdoor activities like organic farming will be
offered. Qualified residents may enroll for selected courses at a nearby community
college.</p>
<p><br>
Stage III Residents will assume more independent roles while still living on
the New Hope campus. They will work in the neighboring community or at New Hope
itself in preparation for regular employment following graduation.</p>
<p>Throughout the three stages, the New Hope staff will work closely with the
residents in identifying aptitudes and<br>
interests. Staff will provide support in finding appropriate employment for
Stage III and beyond.</p>
<p>Graduate Level: Lifelong Support System and Safety Net</p>
<p> Graduates will be eligible for low-rent, New Hope-owned apartments in the
local community. New Hope's professional staff will be available to provide
occupants with, and as needed, lifelong counsel and support to minimize the
homelessness, suicide and recidivism characteristic of mental patients. The
terms for such assistance will be negotiated by the Parent Association and New
Hope, which will share operational responsibility for the apartments. New Hope
will work effectively against the "revolving door" syndrome broadly
characteristic of today's mental patients. The program will also provide an
appealing answer to the question that worries parents of the mentally ill:</p>
<p> 'What will happen to our child when we are gone?"</p>
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