#GivingTuesday with PJ Murray: Marrakech is Going To Be There For You.

‘Alacrity’ isn’t a word you hear very often, but it’s one of the values that drew PJ Murray to Marrakech.  “It’s really about being approachable,” he says.  “I can’t think of one person in this organization who you couldn’t go to or who wouldn’t help you.  Whether you are staff or consumer, Marrakech is going to be there for you.”

The organization offers a wide range of programs, including housing, employment, training, education, and community participation services.  Marrakech employs almost 900 people throughout the state of Connecticut, and remains committed to its mission in good times and in bad.  “The funding in human services is always a challenge.   We’re constantly struggling with that, and it can cause a real strain on direct care staff, on supervisors, and on the agency as a whole,” PJ says.  “Yet Marrakech is still actively pursuing growth.  We’re not stagnant.  We’re constantly coming up with new ideas and programs.”

Increasing Awareness

As Director of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Services at Marrakech, PJ has seen that growth make a direct impact on the people he supports.  “We do terrific things with many different demographics, but I’m most proud of our ABI program,” he says.  An acquired brain injury is brain damage that results from events after birth.  Strokes, seizures, and motor vehicle accidents can all cause an acquired brain injury.  “There’s been a tremendous increase in concussion awareness,” says PJ.  “More people are starting to realize that there are a lot of people out there who need assistance because they have a brain injury.”

Those injuries can lead to changes in a person’s physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning.  “Everyone in our program had a different life before their brain injury,” says PJ.  “I had one consumer who was with us for years.  He was a banker before his brain injury.  There was a total change in his life, in where he was at and what he was doing.  But knowing him and his story was very memorable for me.”

Person-Centered Care

Treating every person with respect and dignity is essential to providing person-centered care.  Marrakech works hard to incorporate consumers’ strengths, goals, and interests into program planning.  This approach has helped expand the organization’s services and has given both staff and consumers opportunities for new and different experiences—some related to program goals, and some not.

“Every summer I take some of our consumers to Camp Harkness for a weekend.  Most of these individuals live in New Haven, in busy and loud neighborhoods.  They don’t necessarily have the chance to go camping, to experience the outdoors and the silence at night,” PJ says.  “We have a blast.”  He adds, “I’ve been able to take an active role in this agency.  I can’t imagine going anywhere else.  I’ll keep doing this until I can’t do it anymore.”

 

Please consider supporting Marrakech’s commitment to providing person-centered care:

·         A $10 donation to Marrakech pays for First Aid/CPR training for our staff.

·         A $15.00 donation to Marrakech lets a consumer buy a Special Olympics Team t-shirt.

·         A $40 donation to Marrakech pays for a consumer to attend Camp Harkness.