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Press Releases
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Sam Gil
Camillus House
305-374-1065 ext. 328 (office)
samgil@camillus.org • www.camillus.org
CAMILLUS HOUSE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES CHANGES IN THE ORGANIATION’S SENIOR STAFF
MIAMI (July 10, 2007) --- Dr. Paul R. Ahr, President & CEO of Camillus House, is pleased to announce the promotions of Ms. Karen Mahar as the Chief Operating Officer of the charity’s Institute of Homeless Studies (IHS) and Ms. Kathy Garcia as the Director of Programs for Camillus House.
Dr. Ahr stressed the importance of these positions in advance of Camillus House’s relocation to a new site. “As we prepare to nearly double the organization’s ability to treat & rehabilitate persons who are chronically homeless in Miami, it’s critical that we have strong leaders in place who passionately support our mission,” explained Dr. Ahr. “I am confident that both Ms. Mahar and Ms. Garcia will continue to excel in their new positions.”
Ms. Mahar has been with the organization for 13 years in various leadership roles and most recently held the position of Director of Program Planning. As COO of the Institute of Homeless Studies, she will be developing and overseeing a variety of innovative research, training, and educational initiatives relative to chronic homelessness. The Institute was established in 2005 to focus the organization’s experience, knowledge, and resources on issues surrounding the elimination of chronic homelessness.
Ms. Mahar is Board Member of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, as well as the Miami Coalition for the Homeless and the Allegany Franciscan Foundation. Previously, Ms. Mahar is a graduate of the Miami Fellows Initiative, a leadership project of the Dade Community Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. She is also a past co-chair of the Coexistence Miami initiative, helping to bring an international art exhibit promoting tolerance and diversity to the Miami community. Currently, Ms. Mahar is working on her PhD in Comparative Sociology, with a focus on homelessness at Florida International University.
Ms. Garcia has been with Camillus House for 10 years and most recently was Director of the Institute of Social and Personal Adjustment, the charity’s highly successful mental health treatment program. An experienced clinician in mental health and addiction counseling, Ms. Garcia will direct Camillus House’s complex range of social and clinical programs including the agency’s substance abuse, mental health, job training, outreach and emergency services.
Ms. Garcia has a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling from St. Thomas University. She is licensed by the State of Florida as a mental health counselor, a certified addiction professional, and a qualified supervisor in the Mental Health field.
About the Institute of Homeless Studies
The primary goal of the Institute of Homeless Studies is to increase the capacity of the South Florida community to end chronic homelessness, through training and education and the dissemination of research and best practices. The Institute’s mandate encompasses four major programming areas including (1) training and education, (2) media and publications, (3) research and evaluation, and (4) customized consultation services. IHS will also be working with the Miami community and its network of homeless providers in the development of innovative program models to serve as a laboratory from which communities across the country can learn and apply the plans it will develop.
This year, the Institute will undertake several projects including:
1) Publishing a study/ book/ DVD titled “40 Nights and 40 Days” which will be an in-depth look at the lives of persons who are chronically homeless in Miami
2) Convening a national symposium presenting the latest in research on homelessness
3) Developing a "Homelessness Certification" curriculum aimed at training persons who work the front line positions within homeless organizations
4) Developing its website as a clearinghouse of information on local homeless data, as well as national trends and best practices research
5) Initiating opportunities for partnerships with local universities to conduct research on homelessness issues
6) Producing a series of videos/DVDs to educate persons regarding causes, solutions, and specific provider practices aimed at ending homelessness
About Camillus House
Camillus House has provided humanitarian services to the poor and homeless populations of Miami-Dade County, Florida for more than 47 years. Established by the Brothers of the Good Shepherd in 1960, Camillus House has grown steadily over the years from a small soup kitchen into a full service center offering a comprehensive “continuum of care” for persons who are poor and homeless.
