For over 25 years Racine Friendship Clubhouse, Inc. has been dedicated to assisting people with serious mental illnesses (SMI) such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression achieve their social, educational, and vocational goals. This unique program is structured based on the Clubhouse model of psycho-social rehabilitation including the Work-ordered Day where participants naturally engage in a working community of peers. Symptoms caused by SMI can include paranoia, hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and severe depression leading individuals to withdraw from society and isolate. The Clubhouse disrupts that negative trajectory by providing a safe environment, supportive relationships and soft skill education to help individuals with serious mental illness move forward and have meaningful lives with purpose. We believe that our members (often referred to as clients or patients in other settings) are partners in their own recovery, rather than merely the passive recipients of treatment.
Through the Work-ordered Day, members have the opportunity to shape the future. All activities and meals are decided on and carried out by the members with assistance from the staff. Members choose work departments they volunteer in and staff members they work with. Participation in this peer led program leads to increased overall health and well-being, resulting in reduced incidence of relapse and better maintenance of symptoms.
At Racine Friendship Clubhouse, members build a firm foundation for personal growth. They learn coping strategies, wellness habits and communication skills. They follow a schedule and understand the importance of following through on appointments and commitments. These skills are proven to lead to improved quality of life and employment opportunities.
Departments where members can choose to utilize their skills or learn new ones include:
Building Maintenance may include: sweeping, mopping, dusting, vacuuming, light cleaning, and general building tasks.
Reception may include: greeting members and guests, providing tours, answering phone calls/taking messages, utilizing the paging system, tracking attendance hours, and making bank deposits.
Garden/yard maintenance may include: planting, weeding, harvesting the garden, keeping the yard clean and maintaining plants and flowers. In the summer months, helping mow the lawn and in the winter months, shoveling and salting the ramp/stairs.
Culinary department may include: grocery prep and shopping, lunch prep and cooking, kitchen maintenance such as washing dishes loading/unloading the dishwasher, and food inventory.
Hours of operation for the Work-ordered Day, Monday – Thursday 8am – 3pm and Fridays “member adventures” times vary (see calendar for details). To schedule a tour or learn more about the Racine Friendship Clubhouse, contact the Clubhouse staff at 262-636-9393.