Initiative seeks to revive Clubhouse tradition for mental health support
This post was provided by News Now Warsaw
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — The Clubhouse is a concept that supports those struggling with mental health issues and has been around nationally since the 1940s.
There used to be one in Warsaw, but Live Well Kosciusko is seeking to revive that tradition.
Chris Fancil began working on the project six months ago after leaving his position as director of CARES, which is part of the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory.
Fancil and others want to create a Kosciusko County Mental Health Clubhouse, and will host a call out inviting anyone wanting to get involved to attend a meeting from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday at The Gathering Place in downtown Warsaw.
They specifically want to attract people who have struggled with mental illness to come out and learn more and consider getting involved.
Organizers want to gauge the level of interest and then report back on future plans.
Fancil said there used to be a Clubhouse in Warsaw years ago and wants to revive it.
“Clubhouse International is all over the world. There are hundreds of Clubhouses (and) there are quite a few around us already,” Fancil said.
Other communities, including Elkhart and Goshen, have their own Clubhouses and see significant participation. Fanceil said that, given Kosciusko County’s population, he thinks there is enough potential support for one in Warsaw.
The idea is to bring people together, create a sense of unity, and operate a clubhouse.
It’s intended for adults who would still live independently on their own and it’s not a group home.
House tasks such as cutting the grass and chores, would be expected to grow a sense of unity.
“But we do all these tasks together. We’re one group. The clubhouse belongs to the members. It’s all voluntary. But you’re all one group doing the same goal,” Fancil said.
“We would offer them resources if they wanted to go back into the workforce, work with local employers to offer them what’s called transitional employment,” he said.
Kosciusko County Mental Health Clubhouse has received some financial support from Health First Kosciusko.
While Thursday’s meeting is at The Gathering Place (123 S. Buffalo St.), the long-term plan is to become certified and find a separate location somewhere in the Warsaw area so that they have a central location in the county, Fancil said.
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