|
Welcome To Woodley House, Inc.
Woodley House was established in 1958 as a residential facility to house eleven persons suffering from mental illness. The original residents were recent discharges from a psychiatric hospital who worked with caring staff and eventually returned to the D.C. community to live independent lives.
Today, more than 50 years later, Woodley House provides a nationally-recognized program based on a unique, community-based residential care recovery approach. We offer a range of mental health services to over 300 consumers each year. A compassionate continuum of care, Woodley House leads the way in returning people suffering from mental illness to productive and independent lives.
As a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, Woodley House relies upon contributions from individual donors to provide services to some of Washington's most needy citizens.
Today, 50 years later, Woodley House is a series of nationally-recognized programs based on a unique residential care recovery approach. Woodley House provides varying mental health services to over 300 consumers each year. A
compassionate
continuum of care, Woodley House leads the way in returning people suffering
from mental illness to productive and independent lives.
As a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization, Woodley House relies upon contributions from individual
donors to provide services to some of Washington's most needy citizens.
Founder Joan Doniger
Joan Doniger, founder of Woodley House, was working as an occupational therapist at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in the mid 1950’s when she first became aware of the ‘revolving door’ scenario for many people suffering from mental illness who, after being released from St. Elizabeths, repeatedly re-entered the hospital after spending brief periods on their own. She realized the need for a community-based residence that would provide care and support and reduce the need for hospitalization. After intense study and consultation, she opened her own home in 1958 and began one of the first community-based residential programs for the mentally ill in the United States. A true pioneer, she recognized that proper care and attention to the individual psychological needs of the mentally ill could break the discouraging and debilitating cycle of continued re-institutionalization. Our programs adhere to the principles Ms. Doniger first championed - stressing respect, dignity and individual care. Woodley House carries on her tradition, helping consumers understand and live with their mental illness without returning to a hospital setting.
|
|
