Clubhouse Model Reaction Paper

Tina Groch

April 15, 2017

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Principles & Practices

Professor Veronica Carey

Reaction Paper Clubhouse Model

I found these two chapters to be extremely interesting. I believe that the development of the Clubhouse Programs has given people dealing with mental illness hope and purpose for their lives. According to Pratt, Gill, Barret, & Roberts (2014, “During the late 1940s, a group of ex-patients from Rockland Psychiatric Center in New York City State formed a support group called WANA (We Are Not Alone), which met on the steps of the New York City Public Library in Manhattan.” I feel these people connected together to form this group to show one another support. A private social welfare group, the National Council of Jewish Women, noticed WANA and started supporting their cause. Elizabeth Schermerhorn helped WANA purchase a building on West 47th Street in New York City to establish a clubhouse. There was a fountain located in the backyard of the building, which influenced its name, The Fountain House. In the beginning, the house was solely ran by their members. These members identified themselves as members, as opposed to patients.

        In 1955, Fountain House decided to hire nonconsumer staff to help operate the program. During this time, the Fountain House still retained its clubhouse atmosphere. After many failed attempts of hiring directors to help run the Fountain House, a social worker named John Beard was hired. Luckily, John Beard was hired and changed this social club into a comprehensive psychiatric rehabilitation, which became the model for the clubhouse movement. This clubhouse started out to improve the quality of life of its members by giving them a place to socialize and support one another. The Fountain House did not focus on medical treatment of its members in contrast, it focused on the member’s quality of life issues like their basic needs: housing, work, socialization, and recreation. The members did not have a time frame on how long they could attend. They were life time members. They did not have to worry about termination from the program if they improved like what you see in partial hospitalization programs. Clubhouse members are considered members for life, which I believe must be a unbelieveable relief. I found the information on John Beard fascinating. I am going for my Master’s in Social Work and I hope I am able to help a portion of the people he helped. He is someone I strive to be like. He made such a difference in people’s lives, and I hope to do the same in some capacity. I work in a residential treatment center and I will be using what his leadership has provided. Pratt, Gill, Barret, & Roberts (2014) stated, “Dignity where there was shame, Belonging where there was alienation, Empowerment where there was helplessness, Self-respect where there was self-denigration, Hope and opportunity where once there was only despair.” (2014) If I am able to give just a few people a chance at these things, I will accomplish what I am looking for in this field I’m going to school for.

        These Clubhouses biggest emphasis is on work. Working with members to find work in the community gives them purpose and hope that they are able to live as a productive member of society. Many members enter these clubhouses with little to no purpose and most have little faith that they will be able to work as other people in society can. These Clubhouses help members work on their skills and establish a better working manner. They do this by performing day-to-day operations at the clubhouse itself. They teach members basic skills such as: custodial tasks, making meals, record keeping, and even hiring new staff.

        According to Pratt, Gill, Barret, & Roberts (2014), “The clubhouse emphasizes work, through both its work-ordered day and its transitional employment (TE) service.” This program was designed as a time-limited employment experience for members. TE is intended to incorporate outcomes for members like empowerment, increased self-esteem and confidence, and a sense of self-efficiency. It is intended to lead to competitive employment outside the clubhouse. TE was created as a component at Fountain House to provide members with jobs that are acquired by employers from the vocational services agency. These agencies are managed by agency staff and they take full responsibility of these jobs. In the TE program, members are trained, then placed in these jobs with guidance and support from the agency for them to succeed. It’s very interesting that these members are placed in these jobs from three to nine months and then replaced by another member. I found that beneficial to help each member find what job is best for them and what they strive to do. I also thought it was a great idea that these employers knew that no matter what that position will be filled, whether it’s with that member or an agency staff. This allows the employer to have the confidence that if they hire someone that position will always be filled. This brings more opportunity for the members to obtain employment. I know how important it is to work and feel that I am making a difference, so I can see how this can benefit these members that are dealing with low self-esteem and worth. I really enjoyed Carl’s story and how the clubhouse never gave up and worked with him. They could of easily of just thought he was a lost cause and given up. I really enjoyed reading that he was considering returning to college and how he was able to regain some confidence from his part time summer job as an art teacher. I also loved that his old art teacher took the time out to help him gain the confidence he needed to move forward and see he had a purpose in life. I truly believe that it can only take that one person that believes in someone to make a difference in that person’s life.