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Texas non-profit leader who restored lifesaving adaptive medical equipment and services to people with disabilities in the aftermath of Katrina receives $120,000 Special Leadership Award
Boston, MA – It was hard enough for able-bodied people to find basic necessities after Katrina hit. For people with disabilities and their families, it was almost impossible. Foremost among their concerns was gaining access to the adaptive medical equipment many need for their survival, but which in many cases had to be abandoned or was destroyed during the hurricanes. Elise Hough came to their rescue and she and her staff became their guardian angels. They never gave up in finding wheelchairs, lifts, walkers, hospital beds and other equipment for people with disabilities of all ages. With the help of numerous disability organizations, she turned United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Houston (UCP-GH), where she serves as executive director, into the central coordinating group for Katrina evacuees with disabilities.
Hough has been chosen as one of five recipients of the special Gulf Coast Community Health Leadership Award for outstanding work in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina by the Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program (CHLP).
Hough’s limitless energy has led her to successfully attain 1,000 pieces of assistive technology for storm victims. Her tactics? Some include sending her staff to the Astrodome as food servers, social workers and therapists to find families that needed help immediately after the storm, relying on the United Cerebral Palsy Association network of 100 affiliates, the United Way’s leadership in coordinating efforts and contacting other national organizations such as Family Voices, which helps children with disabilities, to provide donations, and requesting grants and in-kind support from foundations and corporations across the country.
Her efforts didn’t stop there. Hough applied her can-do spirit to making sure the equipment received was properly prescribed. With the help of her staff, she reached out to organizations such as the Red Cross, United Way, and the Office of Emergency Management, San Jose Clinic, Faith Ministries and attained not only shelter or medical care for many people with disabilities, but also vitally needed electricity for people with equipment such as ventilators or other assistive devices. She created a two year plan, which is currently in effect, to address housing, job placement, and social service issues for those displaced by Katrina who came to Houston, as well as to examine and help the larger effort to improve emergency planning on a national level for people with long-term disabilities.
Hough accomplished these feats with help from many other individuals whom she motivated to join her cause. “Elise inspired our staff to take on the additional work needed in shelters and in finding, collecting and distributing medical equipment, providing access to health care and housing in addition to their normal heavy workloads,” said Linda Latimer, a UCP-GH Program Director.
“The 2005 hurricanes brought into focus for all Americans the gaping holes in this country’s safety net,” said Catherine Dunham, Ed.D, CHLP’s Program Director. “It reinforced what we know to be true; that local leaders taking the initiative are really the first and best responders. They deserve this special award as recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the recovery effort.”
Hough and the four others from the Gulf Region will be honored on Thursday evening, October 12 at CHLP’s annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. Other recipients of the special award are Joe Dawsey, Executive Director, Coastal Family Health Center, Biloxi, Miss., Kimberly Dilosa, Executive Director, YOUTHanasia Foundation, Inc.; New Orleans, La; Vien Nguyen, Pastor, MQVN Community Development Corporation, New Orleans, La; and Beverly Wright, Executive Director for Environmental Justice, Dillard University, New Orleans, La. Each will receive $105,000 to further the work of his or her program and a $15,000 personal award.
CHLP also awards $1.2 million each year to health leaders who have surmounted personal and other obstacles to help Americans gain access to health care and social services. Since 1992, the program has distributed 140 awards in 47 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Those chosen are nominated by civic leaders, health professionals, government representatives and others inspired by their efforts to provide essential health services to their communities. For more information, visit www.communityhealthleaders.org
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 30 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org
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