Mayor Scott Hosts Press Conference at B’More Clubhouse!

 

On July 6^th, B’More Clubhouse had the honor of providing our space for The Mayor’s office’s press conference regarding the first round of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant awardees. Part of the reason why we were selected as the location for the press conference is because B’More Clubhouse was one of the first-round recipients of the ARPA funding. We received a $500,000 grant for the purpose of assisting individuals with mental illness maintain recovery and stability, and lessen their use of public behavioral health resources, especially emergency services.

It was remarkable to receive this funding! It will provide opportunities for B’More Clubhouse to grow our program and to continue providing essential services to our members.

Clubhouse colleagues were so excited for the press conference. We all worked hard to prepare our space, and many colleagues attended as well. We gathered some feedback from colleagues about their experiences:

Nikita: “I wasn’t able to attend the press conference in person, but I did watch it virtually, and it was a proud moment for me!”

Doug: “I liked how we set everything up for the press conference, especially the snack bar. It was well and clean, and I liked how everyone practiced how to greet the Mayor.”

Mary W: “I learned a lot and it was my first time at a press conference!”

Pete: “It was a good press conference but I couldn’t see anything because a plant was in my way!”

Cusa: “It was a wild experience. I really liked seeing it. It felt inspiring to watch.”

Mairi: “I thought it was a nice press conference. I felt like this is the best building to hold a press conference in.”

Francesca: “It was nerve-wracking to stand next to the Mayor at the press conference. I felt super awkward, but also honored to represent B’More Clubhouse. I hope everyone noticed my B’More Clubhouse t-shirt!”

Stay tuned for more updates about how B’More Clubhouse will utilize this funding to grow our program!

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Clubhouse Model

by Ben A. and Yaniz S.

 Clubhouse COVID-19 Facts

1. Clubhouses were able to remain operating despite pandemic challenges. Many Clubhouses pivoted to hybrid or virtual programming to maintain an intentional community and provide members with essential supports. Virtual activities included the Work-Ordered Day, reachout, transportation coordination, and social activities
2. Clubhouses expanded the types of communication used to maintain connections with members. Clubhouses increased use of virtual conferencing/meeting tools such as Zoom and WebEx. Some Clubhouses provided members with devices such as tablets, laptops, or mobile phones and increased texting, emailing, and the use of social media sites to help members remain connected.
3. Clubhouses provided a significant amount of reachout using email, telephone calls, social media sites, and virtual conferencing tools. Over 700,000 reach out contacts were made by 149 Clubhouses. Members who were inactive rejoined the Clubhouse. 94 percent of clubhouses had members who were inactive become active during the pandemic.
4. Physically distancing restrictions due to the pandemic affected members in a variety of areas including increased social isolation, decreased mental health or well-being. There were also increases in substance use, suicidality, and hospitalizations. Members had decreased participation in education and employment, particularly Transitional Employment. A lack of transportation was also an issue.

Summary of Article by Clubhouse International and iSPARC from University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

 
The COVID-19 Pandemic has posed some challenges to the traditional Clubhouse Model. Clubhouses from around the world had to rapidly adjust to using technology to provide virtual or hybrid services as opposed to the traditional face-to-face programming. According to a study by the UMass Chan Medical School on Clubhouse programs, a majority of Clubhouse buildings were closed to regular in person participation by members at some point between 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on Clubhouse funding varied widely due to the location of the Clubhouse. For example, Clubhouses in the US that have Medicaid as their primary funding source may not have been able to bill for services that were provided virtually until legislation changes approved telehealth service billing. During the pandemic Clubhouses began providing virtual support and services to members including a virtual Work Ordered Day (WOD), meal delivery, medication delivery, transportation coordination, evening, and weekend programming, and other community support services. Clubhouses also expanded their reach out efforts during the pandemic by increasing the number of reach out calls, email and text messages, use of social media outlets to communicate, increased use of FaceTime, Google Duo, Zoom, WebEx, and others. Many Clubhouses even provided members with electronic devices to use during the pandemic to maintain the line of communication with the Clubhouse community open. According to the article by Clubhouse International: “Reach out to members who were not able to physically attend the Clubhouse provided a crucial link enabling people to access the benefits of the Clubhouse participation and helping prevent them from becoming isolated in the larger community during the pandemic.”
Some of the impacts of the pandemic on Clubhouses included a reduction in the average daily attendance and active members, a scaled back support system for Transitional and Supported employment for working members, and members having difficulty with attending the Clubhouse remotely. Some of the negative impacts of the pandemic and the restrictions due to COVID-19 on members included: decreased mental health or wellbeing, increased hospitalizations, increased social isolation, increased substance use, financial reductions or poverty, decreased participation in education and employment, reduced income, loss of housing, lack of transportation, increased suicidality, decreased safety, food insecurity, and other.
Despite the challenges, Clubhouses were able to maintain operations and support members during the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing their modes of communication and meeting the basic needs of members such as food, medication, transportation, and financial assistance. Increased levels of virtual engagement with Clubhouses were also positively correlated with member physical and mental health wellness. Many Clubhouses continue to use some of these strategies as Clubhouses return to in person operations at full capacity such as providing virtual access for people that cannot attend the Clubhouse in person and continuing to provide community support.

 

Article Link (PDF File): https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1183&context=pib

Disability Pride Month

 By Ed H.

The Disability Pride Month was established in July 1990 after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed.
Disability Pride Parade defined their mission in three ways: “To change the way people think about and define “disability,” to break down and end the internalized shame among people with Disabilities, and to promote the belief in society that Disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities can take pride.”
The Disability Pride Flag was created by Ann Magill, a disabled woman, and each of its elements symbolizes a different part of the disability community.
The Black Field: this field is to represent the disabled people who have lost their lives due not only to their illness, but also to negligence, suicide, and eugenics.
The Colors: each color on this flag represents a different aspect of disability or impairment.
Red: physical disabilities
Yellow: cognitive and intellectual disabilities
White: invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
Blue: mental illness
Green: sensory perception disabilities

To help better understand Disability Pride Month Ed H interviewed four members of BMore Clubhouse  asking for their personal experiences with stigma, self  acceptance  and being proactively assertive to convey facts about living with disability to improve acceptance for disabled people.
Jeffrey M said: I like the BMore clubhouse because I have a lot of friends here and taking my medication helps with my disability.
Shakira H said: I experience stigma from family as well as the general public. My family treats me like I'm less than, I feel like   they play the blame game on me and disapprove of my desire to be successful on my terms independent of them.  People underestimate me, they don't understand where I'm coming from.  
Cusa L said: My disabilities are invisible. People talk around me. They speak unkindly about people with disabilities. I feel frustrated with this but it gives me an opportunity to challenge their preconceived notions and incorrect perceptions. I like to be a great example respecting people for their basic humanity discovering and developing their unique abilities and achieving their dreams.
Tavone L said: I like being able to come and go freely, socialize, and build relationships with other people. I really like Saturday brunch too.
Ed H said: My disabilities are not physically obvious so I frequently experience stigma in numerous ways. One example is sometimes when I put my bike in the rack on the bus , greet the driver using my senior/disability, I get looks and sometimes harsh comments or big attitudes. I suspect because I'm well groomed, well spoken and upwardly mobile I shouldn't be using a disability bus pass.
To sum it up, Disability Pride month is about acceptance of our disabilities as well as ourselves. To discover and develop our unique abilities and to gently and positively affect change in people through educational awareness. Thank you for your support and understanding. Ed H