Guma’ Mami is a 501 (c) 3 federally tax-exempt private non-profit organization fully qualified to provide twenty-four hour residential and support services for individuals with physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities. Guma’ Mami takes pride that its doors have been open for the last 26 years serving the community of Guam and assisting people with varying disabilities.

Prior to the 1970’s on Guam, there were no residential alternatives for adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. It was not until October, 1980 that a group of 23 people consisting of parents with a member in their family with a developmental disability and professionals in the field of disabilities gathered together to discuss the lack of housing alternatives on Guam. For years, many of these families struggled to find a government agency that would take on the responsibility for developing housing options and other support services programs for their family members. Finding no solution, in May, 1981 the group formed a non-profit corporation, “Guma’ Mami, Inc.”.

In the beginning, Guma’ Mami experienced many hardships and tribulations. After much community education and persistent advocacy, Guma’ Mami opened Guam’s first community-based home in Leyang Barrigada called the Independent Group Home for four pioneering residents with significant developmental disabilities and/or mental retardation in 1983. Later in May, 1986, Guma’ Mami expanded its services for four more residents and moved to Mongmong-Toto-Maite to accommodate all the individuals. In the eight-bedroom home in Mongmong, the home was sparsely furnished and tucked away in the back roads. A rickety old table, a couch, and some chairs furnished the room used by the residents. Except for picnic tables and benches in the eating area, there were not enough seats for the individuals residing in the home. However over the course of the years, Guma’ Mami continued to strive for quality training and assistance services for its residents. In 1998, because of the need for a supportive housing structure and to ensure that the home met requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, secure, and safe from potential hazards, a newly built home in Mangilao was constructed to secure a stable home for the participants of the Independent Group Home. Guma’ Mami owns the home and funding for the construction of the home was provided by the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 1998, with the support of the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities, Guma’ Mami was able to decrease the number of individuals with severe developmental disabilities and/or mental retardation residing in the Independent Group Home to prevent mini-institutionalization, overcrowding, and respecting the privacy and dignity of the individuals supported, which falls directly in line with the Olmstead vs. L.C. Decision.

In 1990, Guma’ Mami began advocating and working with local policy makers to develop services and supports to meet the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental retardation with severe behavioral challenges. However, while the proposal was being prepared, the community experienced the traumatic loss of a woman with developmental disabilities and/or mental retardation with significant challenging behaviors. As a direct result, Guma’ Mami established the first home for individuals with significant challenging behaviors and initial funding for the home was provided by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. The home was named the “Mary Clare Home” in memory of a resident with challenging behaviors. Mary Clare was tragically killed by a hit and run driver by the old Rainbow Store in Mangilao. The home supports individuals with similar needs as Mary Clare. The tragic loss of Mary Clare also raised the consciousness on our island community for the need of housing alternatives for persons with developmental disabilities and/or mental retardation and challenging behaviors. With the assistance of the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in 1999 Guma’ Mami was also able to construct a supportive housing structure for the participants of the Mary Clare Home that meet the ADA requirements and safeguarded that the residents live in a stable home.

As a part of Guma’ Mami, Inc.’s efforts to assist other individuals who live in the community, Guma’ Mami also provides supportive services through its Comprehensive Case Management Program. The Comprehensive Case Management Program is an anchor program which provides important supportive services to consumers with developmental disabilities and their families and this program has been provided by Guma’ Mami for twenty six years. This program focuses its approaches towards 1) Advocating, organizing, coordinating, and sustaining networks of formal supports (i.e. Welfare, Food Stamps, Social Security, other mainstream services, etc.); 2) Fostering self-determination and self-sufficiency by teaching the participant how to make healthy decisions and problem-solving skills; and 3) Monitoring and follow-up of the Consumer Driven Support Plan and its effectiveness, to name a few. In addition, a strengths assessment is also conducted to assess areas of the participant’s life including, housing, recreation, employment, social, financial, medical care, mental health care, etc. In terms of assisting individuals, Guma’ Mami’s Comprehensive Case Management Program also assist with donated food, clothing, supportive counseling, transportation, and linkages to various mainstream services, locating and advocating for suitable housing and other necessary services.

Guma’ Mami initiated a program in 1992 that was initially called the Independent Living Skills Training Center (ILSTC) and renamed the Independent Living Program. The Independent Living Program was a pilot project funded by the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council with emphasis on independent living, employment preparation, recreation and leisure, and various life areas. Through Guma’ Mami’s leadership, the organization worked closely with the Guam Legislature to secure long-term funding for this program. Through Guma’ Mami’s advocacy efforts and leadership to locate long term funding, this program to date is called the Community Habilitation Program which is currently under the auspices of DISID. The Community Habilitation Program is a program that was a model program established by Guma’ Mami in 1992 resulting from the lack of alternative services for persons with disabilities and a testament of community contribution with long-term sustainability.

From 1997 to 1998, Guma’ Mami operated the Emergency Shelter and Transitional Program which was funded by the U.S. of Department Housing and Urban Development, Emergency Shelter Grant Program. The funding was used to provide emergency and transitional shelter services to adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities who were homeless or at risk of being homeless. Essential Services for this program included community outreach, permanent housing linkages, social service linkages, nutritional counseling, employment assistance, community independence, and other types of independent living services. During the initial funding cycle, this pilot project proved to be a viable resource for the community. Although this program was closed due to limited funding, there were over ten (10) individuals who successfully transitioned to a home of their choice and continue to receive the necessary support services through Guma’ Mami to maintain their independence.

In March 1999, Guma’ Mami was awarded a grant for a 6-month project through the Guam Developmental Disabilities Council to examine the expansion of residential and community living options for persons with developmental disabilities. As a result of this grant, a concept paper was developed with consumer, family, and service provider input and disseminated on Guam to the major stakeholders, the Government of Guam, various housing support providers, and statewide Developmental Disabilities Councils. Through its research and the development of the concept paper entitled Restructuring Supports: A Partnership Approach for Housing and Supportive Services, Guma’ Mami has strongly influenced the movement from group home models of care to the development of consumer-driven systems and person-centered programs, where persons with disabilities make the choice to live in their own homes with the necessary supports.

As an organization, Guma’ Mami is a progressive entity that encompasses evidenced-based and state-of-the-art concepts in terms of its mission. Prior to the Olmstead vs. L.C. Decision, Minimum Care Requirements, and the Permanent Injunction, the organization transitioned 20 people from its supportive housing programs to homes of their own and has moved forward with its mission of moving persons with developmental disabilities from dependency to autonomy. These individuals are living in the community with follow-along services such as home visits, phone contacts, and other services provided by the Comprehensive Case Management Program. In addition, a majority of the individuals receive Section 8 certificates and other benefits and have remained in permanent housing for over 5 years. The progress of these individuals is attributed to the skills acquired through the Supportive Housing and Case Management Programs. The Supportive Housing and the Case Management staff also ensures that consumers continue to remain, obtain and retain permanent housing, increase consumer skills/income, and achieve greater self-determination through intensive supports offered through the programs.

In May 2005, Guma’ Mami opened Guma’ Isa, a program funded by the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities to provide residential, case management, and therapeutic services for up to six (6) individuals with dual diagnosis of mental retardation and mental illness. Various professional services are also provided which include behavioral supports, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing services, speech/language services, individual/group therapy, and other types of independent living services.

At a national level, Guma’ Mami is recognized in the United States Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 107th Congress, Washington D.C. as an organization that provides a “positive and proactive impact in the lives of persons with disabilities through community involvement, service excellence, and advocacy efforts” (Volume 147, No. 71).

In 1999, in partnership with the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities (DISID), Guma’ Mami provided technical assistance to DISID and was the primary writer for a personal assistance services grant to improve Guam’s system of consumer-driven personal assistance services funded by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services. Since October 1, 2001, the project entitled “Inadanñá para Tinilaika - Partners for Change” has been used to develop and implement an Individualized Budget Pilot Program incorporating the development of the necessary infrastructure representative of the needs and choices of persons with disabilities and their families. To date, this project continues as a local initiative.

In May 2002, Guma' Mami was awarded funding by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in collaboration with the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority under the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program entitled Guma Hinemlo’. Guma Hinemlo’ is a twenty-four hour permanent supportive housing program that provides supports and services to seven (7) homeless adults with serious mental illness in a typical home environment using the “surrogate family milieu”. This program utilizes a person-centered model focusing much of its approaches on the abilities, preferences, and skills of the individual with mental illness being supported. In the four years and seven months that Guma’ Mami provided the care worker services and supports at Guma’ Hinemlo, thirteen (13) adults with serious mental illness resided at the home. Of the thirteen consumers seven individuals transitioned to homes and living situations of their choosing.

To bring additional support for persons with disabilities, in October 2001, Guma’ Mami was awarded funding by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse through funding in part by the Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Block Grant to support adults with mental illness who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. From October 2001 – November 2006 Guma’ Mami operated Sagan Mami, a drop-in center for individuals with mental illness that is open five (5) days a week (except holidays) between 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. To date, Sagan Mami is a member-driven program that now is located in the community. Sagan Mami has expanded to include the Sagan Mami Enrichment Center, which is a community resource center for individuals with mental illness and those interested in learning more about mental health issues. This program is open from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Similar to the needs of the Community Habilitation Program, Guma’ Mami provides a Supported Employment Program and a Peer Mentorship Training Program. The Supported Employment Program and Peer Mentorship Training Program are Sagan Mami’s newest progressive developments.

With limited local funding for programs for persons with disabilities, Guma’ Mami is cognizant of the need to expand existing programs and services. Through a concerted collaboration, Guma’ Mami was awarded funding in November 2001 by the Governor’s Community Outreach Federal Programs Office, Office of the Governor through the FY 2002 Violence Against Women Act. The grant entitled, STOP Violence Against Older and Women with Disabilities, places emphasis on prevention, awareness and capacity building activities, legal services, as well as training law enforcement in the dynamics of domestic violence and in ways to more effectively assist victims of domestic violence. Currently, Guma’ Mami provides educational workshops regarding sexual abuse awareness and support groups for men and women with disabilities and their families. The aim of the workshop is to bring sexual, physical, & emotional abuse awareness to persons with disabilities and to have them acquire skills to define and detect these types of abuse and the available resources in the community for them to access.