The daily activity of a Clubhouse is organized around a structured system known as the work-ordered day. The work-ordered day is an eight-hour period, typically Monday through Friday, which parallels the typical business hours of the working community where the Clubhouse is located. Members and staff work side by side, as colleagues to perform the work that is important to their community. All of the work in the Clubhouse is for the Clubhouse and not for any outside agency or business. There are no clinical therapies or treatment-oriented programs in the Clubhouse. Members volunteer to participate as they feel ready and according to their individual interests.
The work of Pathway Clubhouse is distributed among four units: Communications, Business, Retail, and Food. Members choose the unit where they want to work in and can change their work units at any time. This gives members the ability to explore all the different opportunities to get involved around the Clubhouse. Members choose their own destiny at the Clubhouse and are encouraged to determine their own working habits.
The Communication Unit works together to produce weekly social media posts, monthly newsletters, and event flyers. Being a part of this unit offers members the opportunity to collaborate with a team, learn about new technology, and manage various social media pages.
Examples of Communication Unit tasks include:
The Business Unit helps members with administrative services, attendance, outreach, and more. Being a part of the Business Unit offers job skills for the members who wish to gain paid employment.
Some opportunities offered in the Business Unit include:
The Food Service Unit provides food service for all clubhouse meals and activities. This unit is an exciting place to learn how to cook a new dish, work with others in the kitchen, and provide the Clubhouse with nutritious meals!
Opportunities to participate in the Food Service Unit include:
The Retail Unit works together to run the shop inside of Pathway Clubhouse that sells jewelry, bags, t-shirts, books, and many other treasures.
Some of the tasks in this unit include:
In addition to work opportunities, Clubhouses provide evening, weekend, and holiday social and recreational programming. Members and staff together organize structured and non-structured social activities. These activities are scheduled outside of the work-ordered day. Holidays are celebrated on the day on which they fall. Activities are scheduled both at the Clubhouse and in the community.
Members and staff work side by side doing the necessary work to run the Clubhouse. In addition, to satisfy the need for meaningful activity, the Clubhouse offers Supported Employment positions in the community and Transitional Employment Placements which are 6- to 12-month long job positions. The Clubhouse supports members in obtaining and sustaining independent employment.
All staff is guided by an agency code of ethics and, if professionally licensed, the current ethical code applicable to their license. This includes guidance related to conflicts of interest. Staff will encourage your growth and development, foster your well-being, promote your well-being, promote your independence and recovery, and respect your rights.
Clubhouses are a powerful demonstration of the fact that people with mental illness can and do lead normal, productive lives. Clubhouses are local community centers that provide members with opportunities to build long-term relationships that, in turn, support them in obtaining employment, education and housing, including: