Groundbreaking Ceremony

Friends in Action had a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Clubhouse on December 9th. The new building will be located in Farmington, MO close to the BJC Behavioral Health building. Many Clubhouse members and employees of BJC came to celebrate the monumental occasion. The new Clubhouse will be open Spring 2017. We want to thank everyone who helped in the process of building a new Clubhouse and can't wait to help out members and people in the community!

Art book donation

Shout-out to Dan Graven for donating 27 art books valued at approximately $285! Dan wanted to add that Albert Einstein was once quoted saying “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination.”

December 2016 Birthdays

Brenda & Tonya Complete Two Week Clubhouse Training

Clubhouse members Brenda and Tonya recently completed two weeks of International Clubhouse training in St. Louis, MO.  The training  was in depth and covered  all aspects of the Clubhouse model. Here is an article by Brenda F. to  explain her experience with the training.

"The Independence Center members were welcoming and friendly and easy to talk to.  I had long days of going to the Independence Center and studying late in the night for the next day.  Between discussions of membership, functions of the house, work, governance, relationships, education, space, TE and etc.  I worked in the Upscale Resale shop. I sorted and priced items, typed donor letters, ran the cash register, and whatever else needed to be done.  The group discussions of six different clubhouses were informative and interesting. We took a tour of Swiss and Barnes and met the TE workers and their bosses that were very nice.  Lastly we visited two group homes where the members live independently with community space. I will talk more about my experience at the House and Standards meetings. I want everyone to know I had a great time!"

Art Fundraiser

The Friends in Action Clubhouse currently has a wide selection of framed and un-framed art décor for sale at their center in Park Hills, Missouri. All money goes directly to the non-profit Clubhouse fundraising. The price range starts at $15 and goes up from there. Custom art can be requested by our artists and custom frames are available. All the art in this flyer is currently for sale. Please visit us online at ww.facebook.com/fiaclubhouse or contact us at the Friends in Action Clubhouse at 573-431-9620 for more information on the pieces.

 

Meet a new member - Cy B.

Name:  Cy B.

Hobbies: History buff, reading, walking, movie

Amount of time attending clubhouse: One Month.

Favorite Movie or Show: Requiem for a Dream, Apocalypse Now

Interesting fact about you: My name Cy comes from a movie my mother enjoyed. I’ve been sky diving twice. I’m originally from Dallas, Texas.

First impression of clubhouse: I thought it was awesome, chill environment, great people.

Favorite activity at the clubhouse: General store

How the Clubhouse is helping to change your life: Anxiety, getting out of my shell, Clubhouse seems to be helping.

Is there anything else you want to add? Iron sharpens iron.

Congratulation to Jasmine D. who graduated her DBT course

Congratulations to Jasmine D. who graduated her  Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) course.  This course was a large step in the right direction for Jasmine and  has helped her to achieve much in her life.  Jasmine has become more independent and learned coping skills from attending the class.  Jasmine has applied the skills she learned from DBT to help get and maintain a job, get her own apartment, and even meet new friends! We are glad that Jasmine achieved one of her goals and would like everyone to know that there are courses at BJC to help just about everyone. We cannot wait to see what goals Jasmine tackles next, and wish her all the best in her future decisions. If you have any questions about different courses offered at BJC simply ask a staff member or call today!

Meet a new member -- Mindy P.

Name:  Mindy P.

Favorite Movie: I’m a movie buff, but my favorite movie has to Titanic. It made me cry.

Hobbies: Reading mystery and romance, listen to new or dance music, walking at the park, my son Myles.

Interesting fact about you: I’m originally from Los Angeles California and moved to Missouri when I was four. I went to live with my aunt and uncle who raised me.

Amount of time attending clubhouse: First full day at the Clubhouse.

First impression of clubhouse: Everyone was really friendly, I liked that. This is great place to get away from home and meet new people.

Favorite activity at the clubhouse: Meeting the new members here.

How the clubhouse is helping to change your life: I want the Clubhouse to help me find a job that I can enjoy.

Is there anything else you want to add: With God all things are possible.

Meet a New Member

Name: Carrie E.
Favorite TV Show: Law & Order SVU
Hobbies: Drawing birds as well as gothic illustrations
Favorite activity at the clubhouse: I’ve only tried cooking so far, but it will probably be causing trouble!
Interesting fact about you: I’m into Celtic/Irish hobbies be-cause of my ancestry.
Amount of time attending clubhouse: This is my very first day! I’m so excited!
First impression of clubhouse: It was a very new and odd experience for me.
How do you want the clubhouse to help improve your life: I want to meet new people because sometimes I suffer from social anxiety.
Do you want to add anything else: Nope

Employment Spotlight

We have several Transitional Employment (TE) placements available to help people get back in the work force. These temporary jobs last 6 months and are part time. Members can use these skills to get jobs outside of the clubhouse. Recently Letitia D. got a job as a receptionist at East Missouri Action Agency in Desloge, Missouri. It isn’t a TE job, but her attendance at the Clubhouse helped her get the position. Here is an interview with Letitia to shine some light on her responsibilities and how she is enjoying it. If you have any questions about open TE positions or want help getting a job outside of the clubhouse, don't hesitate to contact the Clubhouse or check the bulletin board.

Name: Letitia D.

Job: Receptionist at East Missouri Action Agency

Time There: 4 Months

Schedule: Part time around 20 hours a week

Duties: Answer phones, provide people with information about the agency, greet customers, create a comfortable environment, and make sure everyone we see signs in.

Favorite duty: Talking on the phone, I have the gift of gab.

What is your opinion about it so far? It’s a wonderful job and by far the nicest job I have ever had! All of my co-workers are supportive and the hours are perfect for my schedule.

How did Clubhouse help with your current job status? I would say that going to the clubhouse and doing jobs gave me the skills and confidence I needed to make a proper transition

New Member Spotlight - Kevin M.

Meet a New Member

Name:  Kevin M.                   

Favorite Movie: Matrix                          

Hobbies: Baseball, My Daughter

Favorite activity at the clubhouse: Answering  the phone

Interesting fact about you: I’m a cool guy, very positive, speak my mind

Amount of time attending clubhouse: This is my first week

First impression of clubhouse: Hope everything works out

How the clubhouse is helping to change your life:

Main goal is to get a job to help everything else fall into place.

This is a shout out to all BJC BH caseworker and case managers. There are a lot of mental health clients that needs your help and our help! What I mean is simple. “The Friends in Action Clubhouse” that I have been a member of since October 2015 is a place that has turned my life around. With the help of the other members and staff, they have helped me through some rough and trying times. The members and staff are the most awesome people I have ever met. What I’m saying is that if you have a client that you would like to come to the Clubhouse. Please bring them! Unit team member Mike conducts a “Lunch and Learn” on the 1st Wednesday and 3rd Thursday of each month. Believe me he loves to talk about the Clubhouse!!! If you can’t talk your client into coming and you believe they could benefit from it, just call unit team member Tonya and she will have the mobile outreach contact them.

Please, let us help you; help them. Their life may depend on it!
Kenny O

Hey You GUYS!!

Listen to me, I have been a client of BJC-Behavioral Health for two years now. I have been depressed and at times suicidal. I have been with three total caseworkers at BJC. It took my current caseworker putting me in the hospital over my third attempt at suicide for me to find what I needed.

My current caseworker knew my situation *skit-chee-ay-shun*, but had never mentioned this place called Friends in Action Clubhouse, that’s right BJC-BH has a Clubhouse. My situation was that I was stuck out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do except to think about bad things. I had nowhere to go… ANYWHO… While driving home one day me caseworker asked “Hey, have you ever tried the Clubhouse?” I replied “WHAT? We have a Clubhouse?” She stated “Yeah, it’s amazing. It will give you a place to go; you will get to visit with people who have mental illness.” “Really?” I was intrigued, but a little unsure.

So she made a phone call and BAM,I’M IN. For real what I am trying to tell you here is if you are stuck “la la land” with nothing to do and nowhere to go, you MUST try the Clubhouse. The people here are amazing. They do not treat you like a client here, you become like family. I have spent three holidays with Friends in Action Clubhouse, we are like one big family.

It will cost you nothing, but time. No way to get there? They will pick you up and take you back home. Living in an RCF? We teach you the skills you need to live independently. For real, check it out! Do the “truffle shuffle” on over and check us out. Ask your caseworker, they will hook you up!!
-Kenny O

Employment and Education in the Clubhouse

For many of the members at Friends In Action, personal goals which include employment and/or education may feel as though they are out of reach. Due to unfortunate circumstances in life, many have had a long break in work history or no work history at all. Many of our members have had difficulty holding a job due to their mental illness. Many feel as though they are forever resigned to a life of disability. Many have been told that they cannot or should not strive for employment. Many have felt the stigma associated with mental illness while seeking employment.
Through the Friends In Action employment program some of our members have been able to return to paid employment in the community. Employment is a right of membership for any member of our clubhouse. Assistance is offered through transitional employment, supported employment and independent employment. The employment program assists our members in exploring various job fields, build strengths and have a work history.
The transitional employment (TE) program is an important first step for many members that wish to enter the work force. An accredited clubhouse should have TE placements for 20% of the average daily attendance. Through the TE program the clubhouse develops relationships with businesses in the community. These businesses provide the clubhouse with a job position to keep filled. The length of a TE placement for our members is usually 6-9 months. There is no competitive interview process. The selection and training of the employee is the responsibility of the clubhouse placement manager. The clubhouse member then becomes a regular, albeit temporary, employee of the participating business. All TE placements should be entry level and part time positions that require no special skills. The only requirement for participate in the TE program is a desire to work. Placement opportunities for our members should continue regardless of previous success in TE placements. Members that are working in a TE placement work at the employer’s place of business and are paid prevailing wage. There should be NO TE placements within the clubhouse. The clubhouses auspice agency can have a TE placement, but they must be off site from the clubhouse and meet all other criteria. There are NO segregated clubhouse enterprises or sheltered workshops. The characteristic of the TE program that differentiates it from other employment programs is that the clubhouse guarantees coverage on all placements. If the member needs to call out for their shift it is the placement manager’s job to cover their shift at the place of employment. At times the placement manager will also work with the member during their shift if they need additional support due to the symptoms of their mental illness or with their job performance.
Supported employment (SE) is the most logical next step for a member that is on the road to independent employment. With the SE program the clubhouse maintains a relationship with the member and the employer, but does not guarantee coverage. The clubhouse member and unit staff work together to determine the type and frequency of support. According the Clubhouse International standards 12.5 % or the clubhouse average daily attendance should have started supported or independent employment in the past 12 months (including jobs they no longer have).
When a member is engaged in independent employment he/she will continue to have clubhouse supports available to them. They will be able to attend the work ordered day and evening, weekend and holiday events when possible.
Sometimes education is more important to a member than employment. They say that education is the work of the youth. Clubhouse assists members in taking advantage of educational opportunities in the community. Members at The Friends In Action Clubhouse are currently engaged in GED classes, college classes and technical programs. Clubhouse utilizes the talents and tutoring skills of members to assist others with homework, etc. Members that are engaged in these educational programs are encouraged to attend clubhouse work ordered day and event, weekend and holiday events when possible.
The employment and education program at Friends In Action assists our members in improving their self-esteem, which in turn assists them in reaching their other goals. A member reaching their goals and becoming more independent is what the clubhouse is all about.

“I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.” –Oprah Winfrey

New Year's Resolution

Don't forget the importance of keeping up with your New Years Resolution! Some people simply fall into a slump. They’ll have a bad day and think that one bad day destroys everything they’ve work on so far. This is simply not true. We need to stick to our goals and encourage others to stay positive so they stay on track and do better the next time.

Trying something new for lunch today.

Today at the clubhouse we are trying somethhing new called 'tater taco skins'. This unique treat was different and everyone was egar to try. Iit's sure to be a hit for everyone who tries it! What is your favoirte kitchen mash up meal?