Clubhouses Offer Social and Vocational Opportunities to People With Mental Illness Robert suffers from chronic mental illness. For most of his adult life he lived in a boarding house for people with a variety of severe disabilities, relinquishing all but five dollars of his monthly disability check for room and board and sharing a small, institution-like living space with two other men. Every aspect of his daily life reinforced what the mental health system told him and what he believed about himself: He could not engage in meaningful vocational or social activities. He needed close supervision and was unable to make decisions about where to live, what to wear, or when and what to eat. He needed to be cloistered from society; his zombie-like appearance, shuffled gait, and intermittent mutterings would frighten the citizens of his community.
	Five years ago, Robert was referred to a Clubhouse, a vocational rehabilitation program for individuals with mental illness. He arrives weekdays at 8:00 a.m. In the mornings he brews coffee, serves breakfast and attends meetings to plan the daily work of the Clubhouse. In the afternoon he participates in a Temporary Employment Placement (TEP), delivering interdepartmental mail at a local corporate building. He lives in his own apartment with minimal supervision. Once silent and withdrawn, he enjoys many friendships and social outings with other Clubhouse members and staff. He has blossomed in this enriching environment called a Clubhous
How did Robert transform from an isolated, hopeless outcast to a socially engaged and vocationally productive member of society? Robert is not a real person, but he is a composite of the hundreds of members I have met while visiting and learning about Clubhouses over the past six months. To understand the phenomenon of Robert and countless other Clubhouse members around the world, one must look at a few of the unique characteristics of the ICCD (International Center for Clubhouse Development) certified Clubhouse: The program revolves around the work-ordered day, which parallels normal working hours. Members, even those suffering symptoms of their mental illness, work side by side with staff to complete the work of the Clubhouse each day. From cooking lunch to keeping records, to reconciling the accounts of a Clubhouse member bank, to answering phones - members make their recovery by working together in a supportive environment. The Clubhouse focuses on strengths, talents, and abilities; therefore the work-ordered day is inconsistent with medication clinics, day treatment or therapy programs within the Clubhouse. Members are not paid for any Clubhouse work, nor are there any artificial reward systems. Members and staff engage equally and side by side in all aspects of Clubhouse operations. Decision making is consensual, with input from both members and small enough to make carrying out their responsibilities impossible without member involvement. Members choose the way they utilize the Clubhouse and the staff with whom they work. Membership is voluntary and without time limits. There are no agreements, contracts, schedules, or rules intended to force participation. Participation levels are amazingly high because each member is wanted and needed every day. The Clubhouse enables its members to return to paid employment. A TEP (Transitional Employment Placement) enables members to fill jobs in the community on a part-time, time-limited basis. These jobs, recruited and developed by staff and members, are available to members regardless of success or failure in previous placements. The TEP is advantageous to community businesses and agencies; the job is guaranteed to be performed every day. Staff members learn all of the TEP jobs and fulfill the obligation if a member is unable to do so. If a Clubhouse member feels ready for independent employment, he/she is offered full support and assistance. Because the Washington County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Board has received a grant from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse/Mental Health Services Administration) to develop a Clubhouse over a three-year period in Washington County, mental health consumers and professionals have visited ICCD certified Clubhouses in Ohio and South Carolina to gain planning ideas and insight into the Clubhouse model. We believe that all people gain a sense of self-worth and purpose in life when they are offered the opportunity to engage in meaningful activity, when they can achieve a sense of belonging and of being an essential part of a community. People who live with chronic mental illness are no exception. We believe that this community will support us in our efforts to offer this valuable program to the many citizens of Washington County who need to know that they are significant and need hope for recovery from mental illness.