By Mairi and Yaniz
When attending a social event, it’s hard to get to know people around you, but when you work to prepare for a social event you can make relationships because you work together and the work is needed. According to Susan Omansky, as quoted in the article: The Work Unit: The Heart of the Clubhouse, …” you cannot give a person self-respect by friendliness alone…I treasure the relationships I develop at Fountain House, but I also need to engage in something from which I can derive my own sense of pride, accomplishment and self-satisfaction from the inside.”
In the article, “Building the Work Ordered Day”, Nancy Emory notes that it’s important for staff to engage in all work activities to motivate and involve members in the work ordered day. However, that doesn’t mean staff does all the work.
When we work together, we create an environment where we care about others and others feel cared for. “When we eat lunch, we enjoy our meal so much better when we are waiting instead of standing in line at a school cafeteria or an institution. The waiter feels good because they have to care about someone and we feel good because we are cared for.”
We take pride in the culinary unit; each small task builds to a functioning unit. For example, choosing to serve food rather than waiting in line for it, chopping fresh food instead of buying canned goods, and using real plates and silverware instead of disposable.
The way we organize our Work Ordered Day makes an impact in how we build relationships and adds purpose and meaning to the work we do. To bring programs to the Clubhouse, such as community resource support, career development, and others, “members and staff need to work together to provide this opportunity to the clubhouse”
Everything we do exists to build relationships whether it’s member to member or staff to member. When we work together, we are not only building relationships, but the work is done more accurately, is more pleasant, and is more likely to get finished. “Many members make such an effort to get to the clubhouse each day. They want something to do. The worst thing we can ask our members at a unit meeting is, “Let’s come up with things to do.” Instead, members and staff need to identify the massive amount of work that needs to be done.”
It’s important to identify work that needs to be done without taking away too much time from the work ordered day. We all know that relationships at the clubhouse are built around the work day and we often struggle with how to have a day full of meaningful work. It can be hard to keep the work ordered day vibrant but it is possible to do this from start to finish. We can do this by, 1. Developing member roles. 2. Providing organization and structure and 3. Preventing staff from hiding their knowledge from members.
- Member Roles-The staff are not meant to teach specific skills but rather identify member talent and potential which they can use to contribute to the clubhouse.” When members feel confident and take responsibility for needed clubhouse work, staff can focus on providing opportunities and organizing and structuring the day.”
- Organization and Structure-Organization and structure help members have a stable routine and know what to expect each day. This organization and structure of the work ordered day provides reassurance to those members who don’t come to the clubhouse each day or struggle with assuming a role.
- Staff Hiding Expert Knowledge-Members need to feel ownership in their units and be able to find everything they need. It’s dis-empowering when staff do all the work as it takes away the opportunity for member ownership and responsibility of their unit.
- Staff are meant to facilitate the work not delegate.-“The needed work in a clubhouse never stops and the relationships we build remain with us for a lifetime. Being productive is healthy. At the end of our busy day, we can go home and feel a sense of pride, accomplishment and self-satisfaction. We can develop the self-respect that only meaningful work can provide. And along the way, we can develop some good friendships. This becomes a wonderful way to spend our life!”
What to expect here at B’More Clubhouse?
Through community support, meaningful relationships and a focus on strengths during the work ordered day, members get an opportunity to focus on their recovery and reintegration back to the community.
Work Ordered Day
B’More Clubhouse follows a structured work ordered day to give meaning and purpose to the daily workings of the Clubhouse. We have a meeting every weekday at 9:15 AM and 1 PM.
Unit meetings are a great way to come together, check in, share and organize the day. Members choose the unit and task of their choice during the meeting.
There are two units with four different work teams.
The Membership team provides administrative support with tasks such as data entry, scheduling tours and orientations and facilitating reachout.
The Culinary Team is responsible for planning and preparing daily meals for lunch and social events in a way that fosters education about healthy living, teamwork and safety (and is also delicious).
The Communications Team creates marketing materials about the Clubhouse through publications in our blog, social media pages, and flyers. They also work on reaching out to organizations in the community to develop partnerships.
The Career Development team works together to assist members as they work towards their employment and educational goals. Our intention is to meet our members where they are and provide support accordingly. Different levels of support include: Transitional Employment, Supported Employment, and Independent Employment.
