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After reading Tyrone Garrett’s article in New York City Voices fall 2007 edition titled I'm a Clubhouse Believer. I found the necessity to write this article to show that choosing an ICCD (International Center for Clubhouse Development) certified clubhouse is beneficial.
I have been an active member of a clubhouse called Sky Light Center of Staten Island, an ICCD Certified Clubhouse, since 2002. Like Tyrone, I had heard of the clubhouse model in the past. However, in 1997 I did not believe that clubhouses would help me. Now, I know that participating in a clubhouse program has had a profound effect on my life. The choice of an ICCD certified clubhouse along with my medical treatment team has helped me maintain stability.
In addition to being a member of Sky Light Center, I am on the clubhouse’s board of directors and an active faculty member for the ICCD. It is my opinion that when choosing a clubhouse you need to determine if they are an ICCD certified clubhouse. There are four elements that allow you to determine if they are an ICCD clubhouse:
1. ICCD certified clubhouses follow the 36 internationally accepted standards of the clubhouse model. You can find them on the ICCD website www.iccd.org. A team of ICCD faculty members, who provide an objective peer review of the clubhouse based on these standards, thus providing a quality assurance to its members, certifies all ICCD certified clubhouses;
2. ICCD certified clubhouses follow the Work-Order-Day that simulates daily work life;
3. ICCD certified clubhouses have a Transitional Employment (TE) Program that allows the members to explore employment opportunities; and
4. ICCD certified clubhouses have the four guaranteed rights of membership:
a. A right to a place to come;
b. A right to meaningful work;
c. A right to meaningful relationships; and
d. A right to a place to return to.
If you have read Tyrone’s testimony about the clubhouse model, I submit that it has had a very similar and positive effect on me. I truly believe we all need a place where we can meet, develop relationships and engage in meaningful work. That is why I strongly urge those considering a clubhouse to consider an ICCD certified clubhouse. Please note that the ICCD is recognized by the United Nations and enjoys consultative status.