My name is Tina W. Myself and two other clubhouse members, Letitia D. and Lisa P, attended a weekend training in Jefferson City for the NAMI facilitator training. NAMI is National Alliance on Mental Illness. We arrived around 5pm Thursday and training started Friday at 9 am.
We learned to run a support group for people like myself with a mental diagnosis. We learned that the most important thing is to have compassion and understanding and let them know they are not alone. We learned about “AIDS Us” which stands for “affirm, inquire, direct, understand, support.” We learned that while dealing with group members’ emotions or situations, there are not always clear cut right or wrong answers.
All three days of the training was very informative and intense. The trainers were very patient, helpful and supportive. In our free time in the evening we were able to do some sightseeing and shopping. The hotel staff was courteous and very helpful. The three of us look forward to helping others in the monthly NAMI groups with our shared knowledge.
Please join us every Thursday evening from 7-8:30 PM at Mineral Area Hospital for the NAMI Peer to Peer Support Group.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Accreditation Prep
Friends In Action Clubhouse, accredited by Clubhouse International…. I like the sound of that. It has been a long road and is not quite over. This has been a time of change and we are all in it together. The accreditation audit for Friends in Action to become an accredited clubhouse will be January 12-15, 2015.
We have been working hard to comply with the clubhouse standards in recent months, but now it is crunch time. We have implemented the work ordered day, the evening weekend and holiday social program, the wellness center and numerous other improvements. We no long offer coping skills groups at the clubhouse, but they are offered at our auspice agency. There have been arrangements made so that members are able to have transportation from the clubhouse to the groups. Staff and members have gone over many clubhouse articles as well as the Clubhouse International standards, individually and as a group. The purpose of this is so that we can understand the reason for changes that must be made.
There are still several items on our to-do list as well. We currently have one Transitional Employment position, but are striving for one more. We continue to work on the member handbook, making updates to reflect the changes that we are making. The resource center is up and running for the members, but we would like to expand our educational opportunities. We would like to form a relationship with the local community college and perhaps the vocational training center. We have a good start on the outreach program, but it is a work in progress. The self study is underway as well as the Clubhouse Profile Questionnaire. These are vital to take an honest look at the things that we have accomplished and the areas that require attention.
There are many other things that we have done and are planning to do, but these are just a few that come to mind. We are working towards this accreditation, because we feel that it is in the best interest of Friends In Action. As an accredited clubhouse we will continue to be able to provide our members with many beneficial services and opportunities as well as new ones.
Mike H.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
We are Family
My name is Letitia and I am a very proud member of the Friends in Action Clubhouse. I look back on my life sometimes and I don’t know if I have ever had so many wonderful opportunities grow from one simple question. “How do I become part of that?” I asked this question of Kathryn Green at the first NAMI meeting, I attended back in August of 2013, when I met some of the clubhouse members that were in attendance.
Do you like to paint? Are you interested in touching up or learning computer skills? Are you willing to put in an apron and explore new recipes in the kitchen? Would you be more comfortable checking the vans to see if they need oil? How about planting some green tomatoes and then helping fry them up for lunch on a day when you feel like trying something new? There are so many things to do at F.I.A Clubhouse. It is a place where you are always needed, always welcome if you are good at something or even if you are not. If you are not, you will be encouraged to try. We have a floral department where you can help create beautiful floral arrangements. You can take part in the art classes and help with paint, sketching, etc. you can help the drivers take care of the vans. You can be part of Cooking with Friends catering service and help cook and deliver delicious meals to Life Center, Agency meetings, etc. no two days are exactly alike here at Clubhouse.
If you are a BJC client and are looking for place where you feel like you are a part of something and want to work on improving your social skills, then the Clubhouse is the place for you. We are one big FAMILY! Here at Clubhouse no job is too small to have meaning. No person is too independent to need a shoulder to lean on. No day is one where your absence will not be noticed. On top of all that, you can get the best cup of coffee in town for free!!!
By: Letitia D.
Do you like to paint? Are you interested in touching up or learning computer skills? Are you willing to put in an apron and explore new recipes in the kitchen? Would you be more comfortable checking the vans to see if they need oil? How about planting some green tomatoes and then helping fry them up for lunch on a day when you feel like trying something new? There are so many things to do at F.I.A Clubhouse. It is a place where you are always needed, always welcome if you are good at something or even if you are not. If you are not, you will be encouraged to try. We have a floral department where you can help create beautiful floral arrangements. You can take part in the art classes and help with paint, sketching, etc. you can help the drivers take care of the vans. You can be part of Cooking with Friends catering service and help cook and deliver delicious meals to Life Center, Agency meetings, etc. no two days are exactly alike here at Clubhouse.
If you are a BJC client and are looking for place where you feel like you are a part of something and want to work on improving your social skills, then the Clubhouse is the place for you. We are one big FAMILY! Here at Clubhouse no job is too small to have meaning. No person is too independent to need a shoulder to lean on. No day is one where your absence will not be noticed. On top of all that, you can get the best cup of coffee in town for free!!!
By: Letitia D.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
2014 Real Choices Real Voices Conference
The 2014 Real Voices Real Choices conference was amazing! The attendance this year was over 900 people. It increases close to a hundred people every year.
There were so many great classes, that is was hard to decide which one to attend. Some of the classes were: Learning Social Skills, Dealing with Grief and Loss, and Healthy ways of eating and so very much more. Anyone who attends always brings back information to pass onto members and staff.
They also have some fun stuff going on. There was a talent show, pizza party and karoke, something on every night we were there.
You make new friends every year you go as well as seeing the friends you have made in previous years. It's delightful to catch up on things going on in someone else's life. It feel's like going to a reunion.
Every year they have lots of door prizes to give away. This years grand prize was a 40" Flat screen TV.
I encourage anyone who would like to attend to do so. You learn so much and is a "Wonderful Experience!".
Carol R
There were so many great classes, that is was hard to decide which one to attend. Some of the classes were: Learning Social Skills, Dealing with Grief and Loss, and Healthy ways of eating and so very much more. Anyone who attends always brings back information to pass onto members and staff.
They also have some fun stuff going on. There was a talent show, pizza party and karoke, something on every night we were there.
You make new friends every year you go as well as seeing the friends you have made in previous years. It's delightful to catch up on things going on in someone else's life. It feel's like going to a reunion.
Every year they have lots of door prizes to give away. This years grand prize was a 40" Flat screen TV.
I encourage anyone who would like to attend to do so. You learn so much and is a "Wonderful Experience!".
Carol R
Thursday, August 28, 2014
RVRC Consumer Conference Part 1
On August 17th-19th one staff and 6 members from the clubhouse attended the 7th Annual Real Voices Real Choices Consumer Conference at Tar-Tar-A resort in Osage Beach, MO. Below is an article from one of this year’s attendees.
Brent shared, “The Real Voices Real Choices Conference was good. This was my first year attending. It was a really neat experience for me. While there, I learned from one of the sessions that the role of a Crisis Intervention Officer is to prevent injuries to themselves, family members and the individuals in mental health crisis. There was a session on “Hunting, Fishing and Other Outdoor Activities.” I learned there are certain kinds of equipment designed for people in wheelchairs to ski and shoot guns and also enjoy the outdoors like people without a disability.
Brent M.
More articles to follow from other attendees
Brent shared, “The Real Voices Real Choices Conference was good. This was my first year attending. It was a really neat experience for me. While there, I learned from one of the sessions that the role of a Crisis Intervention Officer is to prevent injuries to themselves, family members and the individuals in mental health crisis. There was a session on “Hunting, Fishing and Other Outdoor Activities.” I learned there are certain kinds of equipment designed for people in wheelchairs to ski and shoot guns and also enjoy the outdoors like people without a disability.
Brent M.
More articles to follow from other attendees
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Upcoming Events
Thursday, August 21st, 2014
A marketing group from St. Louis arrived today. They are going to assist us in seting up a new web page for clubhouse and put us on facebook also. There is going to be a new clubhouse logo for all BJC clubhouses.
We have been working on the calendar for 2015, we have several pictures turned in already. They took some pictures of the BJC Friends in Action clubhouse calendar that might be later used in a brochure for marketing purposes. The pictures on the calendars seem to be getting better every year. We have several new artists that are contributing to the calendar. We have several returning artists that have outdone themselves this year. So we hope to be able to sell more calendars this coming year than before. Because we are going to try to do better advertising for the calendar.
We are having a contest to design a poster for the holiday season. See Betty for entry forms to be filled out and attached to each picture that is entered in the contest. The size has to be 8.5” x 11” and we have card stock that is that size and its stronger than regular paper so its better for the poster. They have to be turned in by september the 10th to Betty or take them to the Farmington office to give to their case worker. If you win you get a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
Editing Done By:
Matthew Queen
Betty Wood
A marketing group from St. Louis arrived today. They are going to assist us in seting up a new web page for clubhouse and put us on facebook also. There is going to be a new clubhouse logo for all BJC clubhouses.
We have been working on the calendar for 2015, we have several pictures turned in already. They took some pictures of the BJC Friends in Action clubhouse calendar that might be later used in a brochure for marketing purposes. The pictures on the calendars seem to be getting better every year. We have several new artists that are contributing to the calendar. We have several returning artists that have outdone themselves this year. So we hope to be able to sell more calendars this coming year than before. Because we are going to try to do better advertising for the calendar.
We are having a contest to design a poster for the holiday season. See Betty for entry forms to be filled out and attached to each picture that is entered in the contest. The size has to be 8.5” x 11” and we have card stock that is that size and its stronger than regular paper so its better for the poster. They have to be turned in by september the 10th to Betty or take them to the Farmington office to give to their case worker. If you win you get a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
Editing Done By:
Matthew Queen
Betty Wood
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Clubhouse Update 8-8-14
We are still working on improving our word order day. Some people like it and some don’t. Jeremy C, a 34 year old consumer, likes all the new changes that have been made and approves of all new jobs he gets to do. He has been coming to clubhouse since 2008. He said that he didn’t care much for the groups and meetings we had before. He enjoys being helpful to other consumers at the clubhouse. If there is anything or anyone he can help, he is always ready to help do whatever needs to be done. He is very helpful with the older consumers who have walkers and need help getting them in and out of the vans. He often just rides along on the vans so that he will be there to help if he is needed.
He also likes having the holiday celebration on the date of the holiday instead a week ahead or before the holiday, one of his favorite jobs is putting the group into the computer that needs to be done daily. He also help keep our vans clean, empties the trash and any other job that needs to be done. He has signed up to be one of the consumers that are picked to live in one of the new apartment complex, Friendship House. We hope he will be accepted and move into one of the apartments. He is a great person and always has a smile and a helping hand. We really appreciate him and his continues support of our clubhouse.
August 7th Anna drove a van to Jefferson City to the NAMI Facilitators Training. Letitia D, Lisa P, and Tina W are the three consumers that are attending the training seminar. Since this is a ‘ Peer to Peer’ group Anna plans on getting some work done while the ladies are attending the group, and we know that she is only a phone call away. They will be returning August 10th. And hopefully will give us a good report about some of the things they have learned
The ladies will attend work sessions ever day and when they are done they will be able to hold meetings for the NAMI group. One of the reasons more facilitators are needed is at the present time there is only one group for all to attend. Two groups are needed one for only consumers and one for family and friends of the consumers, Peer to Peer groups are only able to be attended by the consumers and no staffs are allowed to attend.
The clubhouse is offering a place for the two separate groups as we have two separate areas for both meetings to be held at the same time. This would be better for our consumers and we hope the offer will be accepted.
As our clubhouse works toward a ‘work order day’ each success leads us more and more to be an accredited clubhouse. Some of our consumers miss the way it was before but a lot like Jeremy are really are happy about all the changes. Some of our new consumers who have not know the old ways of doing things are really fitting in. But some of the older people who have been here longer really miss the awesome auction, and shopping trips. So on we grow.
Betty W.
He also likes having the holiday celebration on the date of the holiday instead a week ahead or before the holiday, one of his favorite jobs is putting the group into the computer that needs to be done daily. He also help keep our vans clean, empties the trash and any other job that needs to be done. He has signed up to be one of the consumers that are picked to live in one of the new apartment complex, Friendship House. We hope he will be accepted and move into one of the apartments. He is a great person and always has a smile and a helping hand. We really appreciate him and his continues support of our clubhouse.
August 7th Anna drove a van to Jefferson City to the NAMI Facilitators Training. Letitia D, Lisa P, and Tina W are the three consumers that are attending the training seminar. Since this is a ‘ Peer to Peer’ group Anna plans on getting some work done while the ladies are attending the group, and we know that she is only a phone call away. They will be returning August 10th. And hopefully will give us a good report about some of the things they have learned
The ladies will attend work sessions ever day and when they are done they will be able to hold meetings for the NAMI group. One of the reasons more facilitators are needed is at the present time there is only one group for all to attend. Two groups are needed one for only consumers and one for family and friends of the consumers, Peer to Peer groups are only able to be attended by the consumers and no staffs are allowed to attend.
The clubhouse is offering a place for the two separate groups as we have two separate areas for both meetings to be held at the same time. This would be better for our consumers and we hope the offer will be accepted.
As our clubhouse works toward a ‘work order day’ each success leads us more and more to be an accredited clubhouse. Some of our consumers miss the way it was before but a lot like Jeremy are really are happy about all the changes. Some of our new consumers who have not know the old ways of doing things are really fitting in. But some of the older people who have been here longer really miss the awesome auction, and shopping trips. So on we grow.
Betty W.
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