Ribbon Cutting with the Wausau Chamber of Commerce
RANDLIN ADULT FAMILY CARE HOMES INC. HISTORY AND PROGRAM
Randlin Homes was founded in 2001 by Linda Larson Schlitz – Marathon County Job Center Employment and Training Counselor, Gary Albrecht – Local Area Veterans Representative, Ralph Schlitz, Jr. – Resident Program Manager, and Heather Schreiner - Pharmacy Technician. The founders saw those with chronic mental illnesses, and/or dependency problems and related criminal involvement that were falling through society’s cracks in disproportionate numbers. Since the inception of Randlin Homes, the founders have shared their confidence in the responsiveness of others to this need and have continued to agree with Psychiatrist Dr. Karl Menninger when he said that “There exists the potential for people to change and have the ability to make a positive contribution to society.”
In 2001 residents were placed at Randlin Homes by Premiere Recovery alcohol and drug recovery unit and the agency was paid $1200 per month per resident. Most residents were there for at least 3 months and the Schlitz family volunteered most of their time to make ends meet. One by one staff members were brought on that had personal experience with being homeless and/or were recovering from alcohol and/or drugs and were paid a small stipend in addition to their room and board. The first of several VA Per Diem Grants was written and was denied but the DAV Charitable Trust became our biggest supporters.
In 2003 the first transition home was opened for two residents who were ready to move to the next level but had realized their need for ongoing supervision and support. More apartments were opened as residents left the licensed home on 10th Avenue and eventually we began transitioning people directly off the street or from the salvation army, jail and prison cells, hospitals and detox centers into our new apartments.
In 2005 Randlin Homes received the donation of a historical home that would not have been best utilized as a transitional home so it was sold and the income was used to purchase a 6 bedroom. By the end of 2007 the agency was operating two 6 bedroom homes and 5 apartments but as the job market waned and funding became even more difficult to come by, the agency began looking at ways to become self-sufficient. Business enterprises became the saving grace of our Reintegration Assistance Program. We were able to purchase a 20 bedroom home which houses the student/residents that operate the businesses which has enabled us to maintain the 46 beds in the six homes that we have today.
THE REINTEGRATION ASSISISTANCE PROGRAM (RAP)
In addition to becoming self-sufficient as an agency, the intentions of the RAP Program and Enterprise Businesses was to serve as a one year education and training program designed to provide the student/residents social, educational and vocational skill development that will offer the best chance at recovery and long term self-sufficiency. We believe it takes at least a year to “get well” after returning from war or having spent many years living on the streets, in homeless shelters, jails or hospitals. This program gives them a chance to rediscover their personal assets, find a sense of purpose in a very positive environment, give back to the community and most importantly develop HOPE for the future.
The RAP program first evaluates each student’s interests, abilities, skills and values to determine a career path to consider as well as a treatment program for those with mental or physical health illnesses or substance abuse issues. This is an “each one teach one program” and we utilize professional volunteers and minimally paid staff and the residents themselves as “life coaches” to provide support in their recovery. Our goals and previously observed results have indicated that this program has had a positive effect including:
1) Increase in self esteem and HOPE
2) Improvement/maintenance of both mental health and sobriety
3) Compliance in probation and parole orders
4) Development of new skills that have and will continue to prepare them for self-sufficiency to include a minimum of:
Customer Service & Sales
Cleaning and Home Care
General Remodeling & Home Repair
Snow Removal
Landscaping and Yard Care
Inventory & Quality Control
Accounting and bookkeeping
Personal cares
Furniture refinishing and repair
Cooking and operation of a concession stand
Business and supervisory skills
Improvement in academic skills
Marketing and promotions
Online sales and networking
Jewelry making, painting and other crafts
Small engine repair
Sewing, embroidery
Woodworking
Ceramics, sculpting etc
Greeting card, stamping
Transportation services including moving
Frame making
5) Academic achievement evidenced by pre and post tests and attainment of the Employability Skills Certificate from the North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board and the National Career Readiness Certificate offered by ACT. Initial training of the NCRC will be evidenced by improvement on the KeyTrain online program.
6) Self sufficiency either through the acquisition of a new job or disability benefits
THE ENTERPRISES
In 2008 Randlin Homes began selling hot dogs and bratwurst around the area and several months later bought the Hot Diggity Dog Concession Stand.” Several of our residents had previous food service and trained others to work in the stand making $7000 before selling it to graduate Troy Johnson in 2010.
In the fall of 2008 we began raking leaves and doing yard care and by 2010 when we began turning those accounts over to the residents themselves we had made over $8000. Our snow removal business has brought in over $11,000 before we relinquished that as well to individual residents for their own businesses. The needs and requests for more of these services continue but without proper equipment and valid drivers we had to give up the businesses which are now being operated by previous residents.
Our first estate donation came in November of 2008 along that was consolidated with the three garages full of previously donated furniture and goods. The concept of a training program took shape and the Reintegration Assistance Program was born with the opening of the HOPE Thrift Store and Training Center in March of 2009. By August we were already overflowing that building into a warehouse donated for our use by a local community member. What started as a few months of use has turned into 2 years of sales combined with the other store of nearly $270,000 which includes several thousand from the proceeds of our newly developing moving company that grew out of our pick-up and delivery services.
All of this is being done presently with 1.5 paid staff members and a couple of project positions. The 40+ student/residents all volunteer along with the many community service workers and other volunteers. We have expanded capacity and provided on the job training for 10 Title V Senior Aides workers over the years who provided customer service, office support and merchandising for 20 hours a week each. We have also had 8 welfare to work program participants for 30 hours a week, and have given nearly 100 community service workers through the department of corrections an opportunity to regain a positive reputation.
Our President/CEO is a volunteer and provides all the grant writing and oversees, marketing and promotion direction and much counseling for the residents as well as supervising an ongoing stream of counseling interns. One of the major criticisms we have received is not having adequate staffing to maintain continuity in the program. There is so much more we could do if we had more paid staff and the hope is that with a new direction in our enterprise programs and having more visibility in the community, we will be able to generate enough funding to maintain adequate staffing.
A FEW OF OUR VETERAN and OTHER PROGRAM SUCCESSES
Rebecca Epperson received the Red Cross Health Care Hero of the Year in 2008 just prior to getting her service connected disability. She bought a house and is helping other veterans in her own home
Vietnam Veteran Troy Johnson graduated and bought the Hot Diggity Dog Stand becoming the first African American owned business in Wausau, WI with “Sgt, Troy’s Veteran Hott Doggs”
Niron Bonitz is in his 2nd year at Northcentral Technical School working to complete his Associate Degree as a Computer Support Specialist
Shane Mertes has achieved the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certificate, the Psychology Certificate and will be completing an Associate Degree in Human Services in the next year. He transitioned into his own apartment with graduate Patrick Frasher who is also going to Northcentral Technical College for a Human Services degree.
Norbert Rausch is now the Manager of “The Barracks” Randlin’s transitional home on Wausau’s West Side
Gregory Torrence reconciled with his family and was able to get his daughter out of foster care. He has since had another child, moved, gotten a good job and is buying his first house with his family intact.
Jack Bruehling has taken over some of Randlin’s lawn care and is self-sufficient
Greg Simonis started his own furniture and woodworking business in our Gallery of HOPE
Troy Kaczor earned his GED
8 of our student/residents attained the National Career Readiness Certificate
Nathan Paquette was recovering from open heart surgery when he and his family became homeless. They moved into one of Randlin’s transitional homes and he has been able to get his painting business started again
Many others have gotten disability or jobs and have moved on as well to be more of an asset than a burden to our communities
Geno Kressel became disabled, is now living independently and is helping Randlin Homes by counting furniture and antiques
AGENCY SUCCESSES
Randlin Homes went from one home with 6 beds in 2001 to 46 beds in 2011.
Ralph and Linda Schlitz received the Red Cross Hometown Heroes of the year Award in 2010 as well as “The Light” Award by the Marathon County AOD Partnership for the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse in the community and “The Edge Award” nomination for North Central Wisconsin for going over and above to help the community.
Linda Larson Schlitz received the Athena Award in 2010 for outstanding service to girls, women and the community through her volunteer work at Randlin Homes
We have provided alternatives to incarceration for over over 100 offenders saving the county hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions of dollars in fees.
Randlin Homes is a 501(c)(3) that has had little to no city, county, state, federal or VA funding. We have survived through the generous donations of our community, various foundations and our homeless people who have been willing to give of themselves to both learn new skills and give so others can receive after them.
About the "Randlin Homes" Name
Randy & Linda Thompson "The Inspiration for Randlin Homes Name"
Named after Phoenix Arizona's Christian Recording Artists Randy and Linda Thompson, founders Ralph and Linda Schlitz, hoped to follow the Thompson's ministry, by believing that if they provided the love and care that God had led them to give to their residents, donations and funding to keep the doors open would follow...and it has.
RANDLIN HOMES BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Linda Larson Schlitz M.S. - President/CEO
Co-Founder, Volunteer Grant Writer/Fund Raiser, Social Worker. Linda Larson Schlitz has a Master's Degree in Counseling, is a Certified Independent Social Worker, and Professional Counselor with 16 years experience working with a broad range of people with mental illness, chemical dependency, personality disorders, and other types of disabilities. She has worked for the State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development as an Employment and Training Counselor since 1998.
John Blahuta - Treasurer
John is a Vietnam Era Veteran and Honors Graduate of the Army School of Finance. He has spent his career in corporate finance, and spent 15 years as an auditor for SNE Corporations. John has been with Randlin Homes since 2007 and serves as the treasurer and Chief Financial Officer.
Marianna Walley
Retired professional with over 40 years in the field of working with people who have mental, emotional and chemical dependency diseases. Managed various non profit organizations, successfully building capacity with programs that had state and national recognition. Marianna is helping to review policies and develop our Volunteer Programs.
Pastor Ron Bergin
Dave Suelzer
Dave Suelzer brings over 40 years experience as an
AODA and pastoral counselor. He is involved with the Treatment Instead of Prison
Program and the Church Collaborations NAOMI that seeks to make a positive
difference in our community in the lives of those with legal problems, mental
health or physical health problems. He also serves on the AOD Partnership Council in Marathon County.
Beth Ann Richlen
Attorney Beth Ann Richlen is a Staff Attorney and Development Director at Wisconsin Judicare Inc., a LSC funded non-profit law firm dedicated to providing equal access to justice for northern Wisconsin residents. Beth Ann is a member of the Marathon County Bar Association and the State Bar of Wisconsin. She is currently the Chair of the Public Interest Law Section of the Wisconsin State Bar and serves on the Leadership Development Committee of the Bar. Her practice areas are Social Security, public benefits, health insurance, consumer and landlord-tenant law.
Attorney Richlen joined Wisconsin Judicare after working at the Milwaukee office of Legal Action of Wisconsin Inc. Attorney Richlen received her B.A. degrees in Political Science and French from the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point (UWSP) where she graduated magna cum laude. While at UWSP she received the Letters and Science Distinguished Achievement award, the Albertson Medallion, the highest university honor for leadership, academic achievement and community service, and served as the student body president.
Attorney Richlen received her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. While attending Law School she participated in the Elder Law Clinic, the Center for Patient Partnerships and was active with the Public Interest Law Foundation. Attorney Richlen also completed a public interest fellowship with the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups and served as a legal intern with ABC for Health, Inc. In addition, Attorney Richlen was a member of the UW System Board of Regents while attending law school. While with the Regents she sat on the search and screen for the current UW System President in addition to her duties on the Education, Teaching Awards and Student Appeals committees. She continues to have an interest in higher education law and financing.
Attorney Richlen is active in the Wausau Community through her work with the Marathon County Disability Network, The Emergency Housing and Food Assistance Fund and Randlin Adult Family Homes Inc.
Management Team
Resident/Program Manager - Ralph Schlitz Jr. is going to be working with program development and participating in our comprehensive assessments to develop individualized education, employment and treatment plans with each student-resident.
Financial Manager - Treasurer - John Blahuta is overseeing the financial integrity of the organization
and will chair the finance audit committee.
Education and Training- Linda will be working to coordinate the assessment team to ensure each resident is assessing career plans and addressing barriers to employment and self sufficiency.
Randlin Homes is a faith based 501(c)(3) non profit organization providing comprehensive services to homeless veterans, and others with substance abuse or mental illness in a home-like environment. Providing alternatives to incarceration, providing education and training, is a focus to assist in reintegration and self-sufficiency.
