Philosophy

The National Institute of Mental Health Fact Sheet reports that an estimated 22.1 percent of Americans ages 18 and older—about 1 in 5 adults—suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.[i]  When this is applied to the 2000 US Census data for Allen County it translates to over 54,000 adults suffering from mental illness in our area. 

 

In Fort Wayne, many people with mental illness still spend years attending the same group therapy sessions and going in and out of the hospital or jail.  We believe that people are capable of more; that people can stay out of the hospital, move into less restrictive environments, go back to school or work – we believe that people can “get better.”

 

The Carriage House was founded in 1997 with this singular mission; to assist people in their recovery from mental illness and reintegration into the community.  To achieve this end, we use the internationally replicated and remarkably successful Clubhouse Model of psychosocial rehabilitation.   In a “real world” setting, “members” work side by side with staff, accepting and sharing responsibility for their recovery in ways that are unheard of in traditional day treatment. 

 

Through shared meaningful work, we create a culture of trust and respect in which hope and self esteem grow and flourish.  Hope and self esteem, while difficult to quantify, are accepted as two of the bedrocks upon which recovery is built.[ii] 

 

At the Carriage House members of the program have the opportunity to get assistance through four main programs. These include the “work-ordered day”, the employment program, the education program, and case-management services.  All of these services are provided by 8 full time and 3 part time staff.  We are also fortunate to be supported by the Fort Wayne chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness with a consistent volunteer base of more than 40 people.

 

The Work Ordered Day:

When you visit the Carriage House, you are surrounded by people with severe mental illnesses.  Many visitors are surprised to find that these same individuals are hopeful, intelligent and busy.  Unlike traditional treatment, you find members and staff working side by side entering data into computers, preparing food in our two commercial kitchens, writing the nationally distributed newsletter, hiring and evaluating staff, and performing literally every other task done by the clubhouse.[iii]  We call this structured activity the ‘work ordered day.’  As psychiatrist Jay Fawver has said, “Complementing [psychiatric medication], the clubhouse provides the practical, day-to-day processes of socialization, productivity and scheduled activities that allow an individual to 'get well.'” 

 

The Employment Program:

Employment is the single most normalizing activity in which a person can engage; it is the glue that binds us to society.  It is not surprising that employment is also the most widely accepted indicator of recovery.  In the clubhouse model, employment opportunities do not only indicate recovery but drive it - in this way, employment supports at the Carriage House are inherently therapeutic.  We assist people to return to paid employment in the community in a variety of ways.  From the very intensive Transitional Employment program to the more casual support of Supported Employment and Independent Employment, we assist people wherever they are in their recovery.

 

The Education Program:

Like employment, education is an indicator of, and motivation for, recovery.  Members and staff together coordinate our education program.  Courses are offered in Math, Reading, Geography and Writing as well as Drivers Education and Conversational Spanish.  Moreover, members receive a wide variety of assistance with college and career centers.  Carriage House has helped with university tours, finding funding, tutoring and liaising with disability programs.

 

Case-management Services:

Members use the Carriage House to get assistance navigating bureaucratic systems of support and overcoming the barriers to living independently.  This support includes getting help finding and moving into better housing, dealing with benefits issues, setting up a budget, finding good medical and psychological resources, handling Medicaid and food stamps, and any other community support needs.  Outreach, including phone calls and visits to members who are in the hospital or isolating at home, plays a central role in the community support function.  These services differ from traditional case-management in their reliance on peer/ staff teams to provide all of the services.  Further, because case-management at the Carriage House is a natural outgrowth the supportive and trusting relationships established during the work ordered day, members are more able to accept help when it is needed.