Rise to Life
Residential and community support
Advocacy
We are committed to being a part of our residents journey while making them experience community inclusion and leading them to a higher quality of life. Our programs are designed to value and respect our clients choices while providing a safe environment to all.
Nowhere will you find a highly educated and experienced front line team like ours!
Get to know us
We are a team of people from different backgrounds who consider community and solidarity to be paramount. We strongly believe in providing exceptional living conditions to individuals in need to better assist with personal and collective growth.
Rise to Life was founded to create positive community impact in the heart of our city and provide support to make a difference in individuals life.
Our mission: To provide support and promote emotional well-being, independence and connectedness for our individuals to achieve their full potential within the community.
Our vision: To help individuals attain a holistic heathy lifestyle.
Our values: Trust, Integrity, Respect, Security, Empathy, Humanity
Our Founders & Front Line Team
Our founders play a vital role in the program and service delivery in Rise to Life’s homes by working front line to ensure our vision and standards are being met
Emmanuel Dam is a Co-Founder of Rise to Life. He has over 16 years of experience working with people who have developmental disabilities, as well as people with high-risk behaviour. Emmanuel completed Police Foundations, a Diploma Program at Humble College before moving to Edmonton. He also attended the University of Alberta, where he took Political Science and a history-minor. He is the founder of Elders and Angels, a non-profit organization that provides support and works with seniors who live independently within their own homes in our community. Emmanuel continues to work with private and non-profit organizations that support high-risk behaviour individuals. He believes that everyone is born with inner good and if we all can activate the goodness within us and support others, the world will be a better place.
Veronika Szadowiak is a co-founder of Rise to Life and a certified life coach. Her background is in childcare with a focus on early childhood development and business management. Her notable work experience includes working as a program director for a children’s developmental centre and as a business analyst for the government of Alberta. Veronika has been successfully running her private coaching practice for 2 years, with a strong focus on practical goal setting and sustainable approaches to improving daily habits. She believes people are capable of anything they desire and is passionate about assisting people in becoming the versions of themselves they want to be. As a born and raised Edmontonian, Veronika aims to further her community by supporting populations who face the most barriers in the heart of our city.
Valerie Marcil is a co-founder of Rise to Life and a registered psychologist. Her work experience is very diverse, she has worked with various populations including youth and adults of all genders in settings such as hospitals, prisons, halfway homes, group homes, addiction centres and in private practices. Valerie’s passion is to help others while using her personal experiences and knowledge to support and advocate for individuals as best as she can. Her notable work includes addiction counselling and supporting individuals with eating disorders, which are areas of focus in her career. Valerie now runs her own support group for individuals with eating disorders and continues to educate herself to better understand and support her clients.
Emmanuel Dam
Veronika Szadowiak
Valerie Marcil
Rise to Life Doesn’t Leave Anyone Behind, We Share Our Journey
What Makes Us Different
A team that makes all things possible
Our Front Line Team
The Rise to Life team consists of a leading expert in high risk and disability care, a registered psychologist and a certified life coach. Together, our resources and strengths are utilized to work towards our common goals. We all come from different backgrounds and speak multiple languages. Nowhere will you find a front line team like ours.
Experience & Training
Our team has over 15 years combined experience in the mental health field, disability care management as well as supporting individuals with high risk behaviors.
On top of our teams educational background, our staff completed mandatory trainings in: trauma informed care, service and medication delivery, crisis and suicide intervention (including mental health first aid), harm reduction and abuse prevention, positive behavior supports and conflict resolution, diversity and sexual inclusion.
Quality Control Program
Providing a high quality service to us means having a quality control program where staff are observed regularly and randomly checked to ensure they are meeting Rise to Life standards. We talked to families and individuals, we heard your voices, this program is designed to prevent neglect and to further promote individual rights. Our management team frequently meets with residents, guardians and other stockholders to address concerns and resolve challenges prior to escalation. We welcome all conversations and feedback from families, residents and concerned citizens.
Programs
Shared Living
This program is for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our focus with this program is community inclusion, creating an opportunity for our individuals to feel safe while enjoying the benefits of shared living. Residents are taught and supported to grow life skills such as cooking and financial management. Our homes are staffed 24/7 and designed to support the individual needs of our residents to create a living experience like no other.
Specialized Supports For Independence
This residential program is for individuals who struggle with homelessness, substance use, incarceration and mental health issues. This harm reduction program is designed to meet people where they are at and respect their decisions while reducing adverse consequences. Highly trained staff offers psychological support and provides prevention strategies to meet these goals. Individuals are not required to be sober to be a part of this program.
Services
Residential and community services
Rise to Life provides intentional housing and consistent care for individuals with developmental disabilities. We create individualized plans that will meet their goals in the community and achieve their full potential.
Promoting health and safety
We create a culture of safety through our guidelines and policies that staff must follow and enforce.
Positive support to teach replacement skills for challenging behaviors
We encourage and redirect behaviors that interfere with individuals’ daily life.
Teaching daily living and social skills
We create a welcoming environment that encourages people to learn new skills, promote choice and decision making to achieve self- determination as well as personal development.
Provide leisure activities
We promote increased participation of people with disabilities in recreation, leisure and sports activities and provide support to ensure equal access to participate in those activities.
Encourage active lifestyle
We help identify healthy habits such as eating nutritiously, sleeping well, managing stress, being physically active and staying connected to others.
Rise to Life Advocacy
All advocacy services are offered at no cost
Psychological Consultations
Rise to Life’s registered psychologist will help you determine what your needs are for disability care, mental health support and/or substance use reduction.
PDD & AISH Admission Evaluation
Our team will review your situation and needs, and will assist you to determine whether funding is the next step for you and your family.
Advocacy for Funding
Individuals who have no government-issued identification or birth certificate will be assisted to source the appropriate documentation needed for funding applications. Should our clients get denied funding, Rise to Life will assist with the appeals process.
Housing Consultation
Our team will help your family explore housing options such as shared living and supported independent living while informing you of all possible options.
Funding Consultation
We can assist you with completing your PDD and AISH applications by explaining the process and being by your side every step of the way. Information about funding categories will also be discussed.
Psychiatry Referrals
Our team can refer you or your family member to psychiatrists for a diagnosis to complete your PDD & AISH applications.
We Create A Living Experience Like No Other, With A Team Like No Other
Admission
For admission or for more information please contact our office directly
We are currently operating 24/7 PDD funded residential services in the Edmonton region under the Family Managed Services category. Delivering personalized, highly effective care, medical administration and front line care. Individuals who are interested in our residential services are encouraged to contact us.
Currently we have spaces available in both of our programs.
Contact Us
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