The Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Civitan Home was recently recognized for providing “outstanding” services to the deaf community.

The center was awarded the COSDA (Council of Organizations Serving Deaf Alabamians) Employer of the Year award for its group home, the Civitan Home.

The award was accepted by employees of CSMHC at the annual COSDA Awards Luncheon in Florence in June.

The Civitan Home, located at 8th Ave. N. in Clanton, is a deaf services group home that specializes in assisting those who are deaf and have a mental illness.

According to Clinical Director Kathy Crouthers, CSMHC wanted to create a “deaf environment” and decided to hire only deaf individuals as the home’s staff.

“We only hired people who could sign and communicate well with other deaf individuals,” Crouthers said. “In doing that, we helped the people who came to us needing services, and we also created more employment for the deaf community.”

The home is only one of two group homes in the state with a completely deaf staff, Crouthers said. And its uniqueness is likely a factor in the home’s success.

“Not only has this organization provided a professional, high level of services to our consumers who are deaf with mental illness, they have also provided a welcoming work environment for our deaf community,” Office of Deaf Services Coordinator Sereta Campbell said in a reference letter.

In addition to the Employer Award, Civitan Home employee Anita Moore also received the Employee of the Year honor for her commitment in serving the deaf community.

“She is an awesome person,” Crouthers said of Moore. “She puts her heart into what she does.”

Moore said she was “shocked” to find out that she won the COSDA Employee of the Year award.

“I just want to give our residents the best possible care, a sense of security and knowledge so they can move into the community one day and continue to be successful,” Moore said.

Moore said her days are often filled with doctor’s appointments, shopping trips and outings, which prepare residents with “basic living skills.”

“Every day is different. It is never the same,’ Moore said. “I go in with 100 percent effort to make the day complete and make sure the residents of the home are happy and safe.”

In addition to her daily duties, Moore also takes time to train other members of the staff in effective communication and signing.

“I also work with the staff to help them learn to help them resident, and feel safe in the group home,” Moore said.

For Moore, her busy days are more than worth the struggle, as she compares nothing to the pride she feels when the residents learn to do things on their own.

“Seeing the individuals in our group home who are deaf overcome small obstacles puts a smile on my face,” Moore said. “It makes them feel good about themselves and they learn to believe in themselves.”

For more information on the Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center or the Civitan Home, call CSMHC at (205) 668-1327 or visit the website at www.chiltonshelby.org.