New & Noteworthy New and Note worthy
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MOUNTAIN HOUSE CONTINUES FOUNTAIN HOUSE LEGACY
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare is pleased to announce that, after years of effort, the Mountain House Clubhouse Program has moved to 2708 Liberty Road, NW. The new location, renovated to meet program needs, will allow greater access and accessibility for member participants. In operation since 1987, Mountain House has been steadfast in offering support based on Fountain House in New York City. Fountain House, the first and best-known Clubhouse program, originated in 1948 when a group of former patients from a New York psychiatric center got together informally and formed a ‘club’. It became so successful that its model of operations spread worldwide as an effective practice in the field of psychiatric rehabilitation. The clubhouse is a place where individuals who wish to maintain and increase their recovery from a mental illness can meet during a semi-structured day to join a community. Within that community, they become a valued participant, a colleague, and a contributor, with the goal of participating in the larger community as a valued individual.
For the vast majority of people with a mental illness, the opposite has been true. They have been called a mental patient, the disabled, a consumer, a client, etc., and this may become how they define themselves, devalued and segregated by the rest of society. Clubhouse members, with the support of staff, work to reverse society’s judgments and stigma by letting every individual know through socialization and the work of the day that they are welcome, wanted, needed and expected. Staffing is minimal – active member participation is both a requirement and an expectation - but staffing is maintained at a level sufficient enough for all members to have access to staff throughout the day. The model affords even the most severely ill individual successes that are tangible and fulfilling, while still allowing them the assistance and support they require.
Clubhouse members share ownership and responsibility for the success of their organization. Mountain House members own a mini-business that allows them to earn and spend money as the membership and staff deem appropriate. Fundraisers and donations are main sources of income at this time. Shared decision making and governance exists; members take an active role in program operations. The membership of Mountain House elects advocates, and responsibilities for these elected representatives include interviewing potential staff for the program. Members volunteer to work with a variety of committees. Close relationships develop due to the nature of interactions among members, peers and staff. While it is important for staff to maintain healthy and appropriate boundaries, the relationships among peer members at Clubhouse become much like those of family and friends.
Mountain House is a place for members to practice pre-vocational skills such as arriving, taking breaks, and departing on an agreed-upon schedule. Support staff work alongside the members in the “units” that comprise the program, and members develop valuable skills in areas like meal preparation and dining room set-up and cleanup; housekeeping and maintenance tasks; and administrative office duties. Clubhouse members also have access to employment assistance through the on-site participation of a counselor from the Department of Rehabilitative Services.
Arguably as important as those tasks already listed, Mountain House members reach out to other members, checking on their status and encouraging attendance if they have been missed. This is done in several ways – making and sending cards to those who’ve been absent, making phone calls to provide encouragement, or arranging a visitor’s day where past, present, and prospective members can meet with each other. Social and recreational activities are a vital part of a community and are included at a Clubhouse, as member’s engage in group celebrations of holidays and take advantage of recreational opportunities. Last but not least, if community housing is not available, members and staff assist in the search for housing opportunities for members in need.
Maintaining the integrity of the model is becoming more and more challenging, and primary among the challenges is the lack of funding for individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid coverage. History tells us, however, that a rehabilitation effort employing the clubhouse model has been a successful tool in reducing costs to society, while vastly increasing the quality of life for many. BRBH aims to continue that effort, and has invested in the new Mountain House site for that very purpose.
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VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT CLINICAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (VICAP)
The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) requires that individuals seeking Medicaid Children's Mental Health Services have an independent assessment completed by a licensed Mental Health Professional. DMAS has designated local Community Services Boards as the agency to conduct these evaluations. Please open and read the attached flyer for important information about this new requirement.
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GROUP HOME VACANCIES
Currently there are five vacancies in the Community Living homes. 3 of these are at the Hazelridge residence, where we offer one-floor living, a rental subsidy, and multiple staff on-duty at all times. 1 vacancy is at the Sunnybrook residence in North Roanoke County, and 1 is at the Niagara residence in Vinton. All of the homes offer private rooms and are located in safe and quiet neighborhoods. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply. If interested, please contact Nancy Hunter at 540-353-8130 for further information.
HOST HOME OPPORTUNITIES
The Community Living program of Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare offers individuals the opportunity to live in family settings with support from trained staff who open their homes to provide safe and secure housing. “Host Homes” are family homes licensed by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) as Sponsored Placements. These homes provide a family-like environment to individuals eligible for services under the Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver. Individuals and families interested in this type of residence should contact Pam Adams at 540-266-9200, Extension 3433 for further information.
HOST HOME PROVIDERS SOUGHT
Individuals interested in contracting with Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare and opening up their homes to care for individuals with intellectual disabilities by providing Host Home services through the Community Living program should contact Pam Adams at 540-266-9200, Extension 3433 for further information.
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare (BRBH) is the public community services board (CSB) serving the cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of
Botetourt, Craig, and Roanoke.
