Amelia Bomar

Amelia Bomar, Director(205) 752-2689

Amelia Bomar, Program Coordinator with the Mental Health Association said, "We are expanding our programs to provide services to the surrounding counties.We are now offering Kids on the Block to schools in Pickens County.Our first performance will be at Gordo Elementary on Thursday, May 8."

The puppeteers performing at Gordo Ele-mentary School are juniors from Gordo High School.They have been practicing after school with Amelia for two months and have become very skilled at operating the puppets.
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Amelia mentioned that they are looking for anyone who has some time to give back to the community to become a puppeteer."It only takes about three minutes to an hour every week to practice and the performances usually last approximately 10-15 minutes.It is not a difficult skill to learn and it is a lot of fun."This would be a great opportunity for high school students, college students and stay-at-home moms.

They are already scheduling performances beginning in September for the new school year.If you would like to have Kids on the Block perform at your school or speak to someone about becoming a puppeteer, please call Amelia Bomar with the Mental Health Association in Tuscaloosa County at 759-2276.

Amelia Bomar, program coordinator, said the bonds formed with the volunteers are special for this reason.

"For many of them, they don't have family and friends here, or if they do, they've been pushed aside," Bomar said.

"The Compeer friendship provides the support network that the consumer needs to re-enter society after being institutionalized, or to prevent going into an institution.This is their way of re-entering society and offering some hope."

Residents of mental health facilities also participate.Bomar encourages anyone who has a loved one who could use a Compeer to contact her for information.

People in the program have a range of conditions.Volunteers may request to be paired with people with disorders they feel most comfortable with.

"There's always a match for everyone," Bomar added.

An application, background check and extensive interviews are conducted before matching volunteers with their friends, in an attempt to ensure the success of the relationship.The patient's psychiatrist or therapist gives the final approval.

An educational workshop and orientation session provides volunteers with information on what to expect and how to handle situations that might occur.

"We like for people to understand that mental illnesses are treatable with medication, just like a heart attack is treated with medication," Bomar said.

"And the success rate with our consumers is usually greater."

Volunteers agree to spend at least an hour a week for a year with their new friends, but Bomar said the bonds that are formed are special and most exceed that minimum.

"In most of the friendships, if they're matched well, they will last much longer," she said.

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Bomar added that volunteers plan and schedule whatever activities they choose, but her office sends regular suggestions to them.

"We want the relationship to work," she said.

"The Compeer relationship helps reduce the stigma of people with mental illnesses in the community.In that way it begins to foster more acceptance."

And in Moman's case, her new Compeer friends have settled into a special place in her heart, rewarding by its existence.

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A relationship like theirs is the reason for the Compeer program's existence, according to Bomar."That's what it's all about," she said."Being a friend."

LABOR

"It's an educational troupe of puppeteers that go into elementary schools to teach children about other children with disabilities," Program Coordinator Amelia Bomar said."And the style of puppetry is very unique."

Derived from the Japanese form Bunraku, the puppeteers dress completely in black and wear a black hood and gloves.They stand behind the puppets and talk for them.

"The idea is that the puppets come to life when they do the skit, and the audience soon forgets they are there," Bomar said."The children get so involved by the end that they begin interacting and asking questions.And/safter we leave, the school counselor has a group discussion about the subject with the students."

Last week, the troupe visited Faucett Vestavia Elementary School and told students about the importance of understanding and talking about their feelings.
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Bomar said the local organization is working to expand to Pickens County, but a need for more volunteers of all ages in Tuscaloosa is hindering further growth of the program.

"Once Pickens and Tuscaloosa are running full force, we will spread into other rural counties in the area," she said.

The puppeteers also perform for educational organizations like school boards and parent//steacher associations.

Reach Tiffany Lacey at tiffany.lacey@tuscaloosanews.com or 722-0230.

Interested?For more information on how to volunteer or how to request a puppet performance, contact Amelia Bomar at 759-2276.

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