iCRV Radio Interview on Doing Amazing Things

Tune in to our recent radio interview on iCRV Radio’s Doing Amazing Things show with host Linda Reilly-Blue. Discover the incredible journey of Infinite Horizons Clubhouse and join us as we discuss the origins and vision behind this empowering community for individuals overcoming mental health challenges. Listen below or visit iCRV Radio to be inspired by stories of recovery and achievement.

Transcript

00:00
Music

00:09
Welcome to another edition of Doing Amazing Things. My guest today is Francine Stier, who is one of my dearest and oldest and loveliest friends in the world. And she’s here today to talk about her tireless work in establishing Infinite Horizons Clubhouse in the greater Hartford area.

00:37
So welcome Francine, so happy to have you here with me. I’m so happy to be here. Oh, good, good, of course. So for all our listeners, let’s start with a mission and mandate of Clubhouse International. And then we’ll get into the specific things about the Greater Hartford Clubhouse that is still underway and trying to get, you know, that last push to be able to open.

01:07
So our mission is to provide a place for people struggling with mental health challenges to come and be productive, to come and learn how to work, how to be part of the work day. And in doing so, they choose jobs within the clubhouse. That’s a safe area. They walk in the door.

01:36
no diagnosis that’s left behind. Nobody knows what their diagnosis is, and they come and there’s lots of people there with mental health challenges that are also trying real hard to get back into life. Right, right. And can you tell us some of the history of Clubhouse International? Oh, sure. It started with a group of family members in the 1940s,

02:05
family members were in the state hospitals in New York state that were locked down facilities and they might have been there for many, many years. And then all of a sudden they get kicked out of the hospital and the family has to take care of them. So the families got together and decided to make support groups with each other and with the family member with the illness. And

02:36
It just evolved into a thing called Fountain House in New York City, which is the flagship clubhouse that started this amazing evolution in 1994, I believe. And since then, Fountain House has spawned 350

03:03
clubhouses around the world. There’s about 230 in America, and the rest of them are all over the world. I remember when you went there and what it was like. Can you tell our listeners just a little bit about it, just because it’s so interesting? Fountain House is on 47th Street in Manhattan. It’s five stories with elevators. It serves 500 people.

03:33
day serves lunch. And the people that create the lunches and serve the lunches and clean up after the lunches are the members themselves. There’s very few staff members, but the members learn how to do this process. 500 people. There’s a huge dining room in the basement. And then there’s five stories of different things. In this fountain house, there’s a yoga room.

04:02
There’s a library. There’s an arts and crafts room. There’s a printing press. They make their own newsletter daily. And it’s all the members that are working in each part of that fountain house to get things going. And you know what? I want to, I think, Worcester with you. Genesis House. Yes, and it was so impressive.

04:31
Yeah, we had a great time there. So tell our listeners What was the impetus for you to decide that greater Hartford needed one and we do have a couple in Connecticut Bridgeport and Torrington, is that right? Bridgeport Torrington is no longer part of Clubhouse International. Okay. Okay But so why did you think greater Hartford needed one? Okay. Well the story is that

04:59
I have a family member that became challenged with mental health issues and somehow wound up in Massachusetts. And because he was in Massachusetts and there’s 36 clubhouses in Massachusetts, he after he came out of the hospital began volunteering with NAMI. And after a while, the NAMI executive director said,

05:29
I think you should try going to a clubhouse near your house, near where you live. Well, tell our listeners what NAMI stands for. NAMI is the National Alliance for Mental Illness. And it’s a world, well, actually, it’s a big organization in America advocating for mental health with legislators and all of that. It’s very, very active. And they do education and support. So they suggested that

06:00
He’d go to a clubhouse. And he went to the clubhouse near him. Right. Walked in the door, was welcomed immediately, sat down at the table. And they asked him, what would you like to do in the clubhouse? And he said, well, I used to be chef at my house. And I think that I can work in the kitchen. And that’s what he did. And the d-

06:27
The job of working the kitchen meant that he planned the meals for the week. He organized grocery store visits, got the groceries back to the clubhouse, created the meals for the week, and worked on making the meals. And then you have to serve the meals, and then you have to find somebody that can collect the dollar or 25 for each lunch.

06:56
And it just, it was very, very helpful for him to focus just on those tasks of actually getting out the food on the table and making people happy eating the food and cleaning up. Well, there’s so many skills in that. You know, it sounds maybe simple, but anybody who cooks on a regular basis, you know it’s not simple. And so that was…

07:23
You know, there’s a lot of skill in being able to do that. And I remember how happy he was. It gave him so much confidence and made him feel needed. And, you know, he made friendships. But really, you just think about the leadership in something like that and the culinary skills, of course, but the organization. I mean, there’s just so many skills to learn in a job like that.

07:53
So yeah, I remember how terrific he was and how much he enjoyed that part of his life. So let’s talk about how a clubhouse works. Who can go? What a regular day looks like and what services are offered.

08:14
So who can go is anybody that is referred by a therapist or the hospital. When people are admitted to the hospital and then get discharged, they usually go to what they call the intensive outpatient experience, which is like a transition from the hospital to outside. But it only goes on for…

08:45
like 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. And then what is the person supposed to do at 2 p.m. when they have to figure out what they’re gonna do with the rest of the day. So after intensive outpatient, this is where the clubhouse comes in. That they can come in for the day, actually work in the clubhouse, deciding what they would like to do. They can enter data in the computer. They can…

09:14
clean the bathrooms, vacuum, they can write the whiteboard of jobs that need to be done in the clubhouse. And so it’s, they can learn computer skills. They can do whatever they feel they need to do for that day to help the clubhouse function. Yeah, run smoothly. Run smoothly because the clubhouse deliberately has fewer staff than they need.

09:44
because they rely on the members. Right, right. So then do they get jobs outside of the clubhouse? This is the unique property of a club, something connected with Clubhouse International. There is a three-tiered employment program. The first tier is called transitional employment, and that’s where the clubhouse, each clubhouse, has to create friendships, I guess,

10:14
businesses that will agree to hire people that need extra help. And for instance, in Massachusetts, TJX and Marshalls and Shaw’s Market and a lot of places that are big in Massachusetts have joined with all the clubhouses there, 36 in Massachusetts. They’ve joined with all those clubhouses to provide

10:41
jobs for people with mental health issues. And I forgot what I was gonna say. Okay, so then after transitional employment, oh, transitional is really, really important in the sense that a staff member learns the job, comes back and teaches the job to the person in the clubhouse that is ready for transitional. And then if the person needs transportation, we’ll take the person back and forth.

11:11
to the job, back to the clubhouse. And also the employer does know that this person needs some extra help. The second level of employment through a clubhouse is called supported employment. So the employer does know again that the person needs extra help, but there’s no staff filling in if the person is sick.

11:40
there’s no staff driving back and forth. And what’s the third tier? Supported employment. The third one is independent employment. And that’s where the employer knows nothing about the mental health of the person. The person has to learn how to do the interview. And there’s a lot of practice going on in the clubhouse before they do the actual interview. The person has to fill out his own application for the job.

12:09
with the help of a staff member. And then the person goes out and tries to get the job. That is amazing. You know, something about the clubhouse that I so appreciate is when you go there, when you walk in the door, like you said, you know, you’re welcomed and you are, and everybody is seen as the same. There’s no, you know.

12:36
that person’s this and this person’s that and you know maybe you don’t want to sit next to that but there’s none of that. It’s so welcoming. There are friendships made and me being the social person that I am, I would have friends on day one because that’s what feeds me and so I would you know but it is the place where that can happen and it happens easily in a clubhouse.

13:06
Because everybody sees everybody as well. And nobody goes there and thinks these people are sick, they have an illness. They go there that we are well, and we’re gonna get even better. And- We’re gonna get even better. Right, right. And that’s what it’s about, you know? That we’re here to get well, we’re here to make friendships, we’re here to get work, and we’re here to get better.

13:34
And that’s how it works. But if you don’t have kind and loving staff members, that can’t happen. You need a really good leader and you need someone who loves everyone the same way and respects them the same way. As a staff person, you can’t put people in categories either and they don’t. It’s so impressive. Yeah, it really is. So, so impressive. Right.

14:04
And the beauty of, I’ll give you an example of how the clubhouses survived during COVID when they had to shut down. They made sure that every clubhouse member had connection to the internet, had a computer. They could rent one and they rented for people that didn’t have computers so that they could Zoom with clubhouse staff. The staff also provided lunches. They got.

14:34
medications that clubhouse members needed. They delivered those, everything to the clubhouse members. And that kept them connected. That kept them from being isolated from the world. Even people now say that, I don’t wanna do Zoom anymore, it’s too isolating. But when you’re truly isolated in your own mind, having Zoom helps a lot.

15:04
Right. Oh, isn’t that incredible that they were able to do that? Yeah. That’s terrific. All right, so tell us about the one in Greater Hartford. Tell us where you’re at with it, what your plans are, all those things. We’re working very, very hard connecting with an organization called the GHIAA which is the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance connecting ALL religions: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc., every religion, every race, every economic status, without discrimination or prejudice to become a part of the mental health initiative to which people of faith have committed.

15:33
Everybody is affected. It just doesn’t happen to white people or black people. It just happens to everybody of every religion and every everything. So I’m working with a church, myself and another member of my synagogue are working

16:01
with a church who are very, very interested in housing this clubhouse. And it’s been absolutely wonderful. They’re very welcoming. And we’re working it out. We haven’t opened up yet, but we’re working it out. Right. And so what are the things that you need to get to be able to open? What are things that maybe our listeners can help with?

16:26
but what are the physical things you need in order to open? Like I’m thinking you obviously need staff when it’s time to open. So you would need an executive director and another person or two. So what are the things that you need? What’s keeping you from opening? We would need, well, I wanna say funding, but that’s very, very important. But we are talking very seriously

16:57
are legislators and they are listening because mental health means a lot. Yes. And so we’ve had meetings with two legislators from West Hartford that are very powerful and are very interested in helping us. And we’ve spoken with the people at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and they do provide, they

17:25
they get appropriations from the legislature and they have appropriations for mental health and they decide where that money is going. And so they do provide a great deal of money for Bridge House and Prime Time House, the two biggest clubhouses in Connecticut. So, but…

17:54
Let’s talk a little bit about what else you need. I’m thinking about physical things that you need. You have to have a kitchen. The church has a kitchen that they would allow us to use. Yes. Yeah, that’s terrific. But when the time comes, you’ll need things to stock that kitchen. You also need the word to get out so that therapists can know of the program and refer people.

18:22
I mean that will be a big task. How about board members? Are you in need of board members? Oh yes, oh yes. We’re very much in need of board members. All right, so tell our listeners what a board members, you know, what they need to have in order to be on your board. In order to be on our board, you need to be interested in mental health, I would think. That’s a very big part of it.

18:52
But if you’re a person who understands how to deal with money, that’s a very big part of it as well. We meet once a month and we only keep it to one hour. And we’re a very small board right now. We’ve had a number of illnesses. People have not been able to continue on the board. And so we’re very much interested in getting new board members.

19:22
And it’s a very enthusiastic and wonderful board that we have right now, but it’s too small. So we’re looking for new people. That’d be great. And you also, I’m sure, need financial help. We could talk about your website for a minute. Why don’t we do that? Tell our listeners how they can find it. I’m gonna ask you again at the end of the show, but.

19:50
Tell our listeners right now how they can find your website. It’s very easy. If you remember the name of our clubhouse, it’s https://infinitehorizonsclubhouse.org/ There you go. So when they go to your website, what can they find? They’re going to find almost everything that I’ve talked about, but there’s also a whole lot of evidence-based articles that we’ve included. There are…

20:18
Places where you can donate, of course. Every website has that. You have a donate button? We do have a donate button, of course. And it must be easy to use. Very easy, very easy to use. I’m not savvy with all of that, so I had to make it. I didn’t do the website. We hired somebody to do it, but she made it pretty easy. Yes, great, great, yeah. And…

20:43
So you can find our rationale and how we work and the things that I’ve talked about, like all the employment opportunities that are available, things like that. So you need as many people as we can find in the greater Hartford area to, and honestly, I think today in 2024, you’d be hard pressed to find anybody who’s not interested in mental health.

21:12
you know, going through a pandemic has, I think, brought much more awareness. And I think people are suffering because of the effects of the pandemic in a very different way. And maybe people whose mental health was not affected before, it is affected now. All of us have been affected by the pandemic in so many different ways. But I really think so many people are interested in mental health

21:42
I also think you’d be hard pressed to not find every person knowing someone in their family, someone in their neighborhood, someone in their child’s class. Everybody knows somebody who has mental health troubles, which it doesn’t mean, the clubhouses don’t mean you have a lifetime diagnosis either. And I love that you leave them at the door.

22:12
you know what your trouble might be. But the whole point really also is to not see it as a lifetime affliction.

22:25
I’m not, I should probably have a better word than that, but you know, maybe it will be and that’s okay too, but maybe it won’t be. Maybe you just need the Clubhouse help to, like you said, get back working and finding friendships and all the things that the Clubhouse provides. So I don’t know, I think that’s a really important part as well. You’re also giving back to the community.

22:54
If you have a job and you’re paying taxes, you’re contributing. And maybe you’ll be able to contribute to causes like mental health. So it gives you much more than just a job. And the friendships and the outings and all the other stuff that gets you launched and back into society. Or if you need to further your education, that’s part of the Clubhouse.

23:24
benefit as well. That’s great. So when you go to donate, there I would assume you could donate any amount you want. Any amount. And is it tax deductible? Absolutely. There you go. You’ll get an immediate receipt from the website on your email. There you go. Because I think our listeners, if that’s the only way they can contribute, that would be a wonderful way for them too. And

23:54
You know, the other thing is you never know when you might have a mental health need. We don’t know. We don’t know what will happen for the rest of today. None of us know. So you know, you might need that service at some point. So give today so that you can help the people, help the clubhouse to open and then know that you’re a part.

24:22
of helping people with the need and feeling good about the fact that maybe you’re going to need that service someday and it’ll be there. That’s why we so much want to open the clubhouse. It will be there. But you know this has been a very, very long process and that’s something actually I wanted to say at the top of the show as well. That you know you’re so smart.

24:49
But what is so, and we have known each other for more than 35 years. And we’re as close today as we were 35 years ago. And what I know about you is that you are committed to the clubhouses, but whatever you start, you see through and you have stuck with this for such a long time with hurdle after hurdle after hurdle.

25:19
And not by yourself. You have had help. You’ve had people to help you. But that’s why more board members would be so fantastic. Because then, what is that saying about more hands makes lighter work? I think that’s how it goes. But so that is what would be really, really helpful as well for our listeners. And if you know somebody who might need the service, then help us get it up and going.

25:47
so that they can come to a clubhouse. Because the greater Hartford area, this will be the only one in the greater Hartford area. That’s accredited, that is going towards the standards of care from Clubhouse International. Perfect. We’re not doing it alone. Yeah. And that’s the other thing I wanted to mention, that when I went to Massachusetts and visited many of the clubhouses up there, I came to Connecticut to find there were only two.

26:17
Now there’s only one of this kind of accredited clubhouse. And this means that you have to live up to the standards, just like standards, the Joint Commission of Hospitals does accreditation of hospitals every couple of years. They have to live up to the standards or they’re out of business. And that’s exactly what I’m trying to get done. I want it to be accredited.

26:44
There’s plenty of clubhouses in the Hartford area, but they’re different. They’re not using that kind of benchmark to keep functioning. Right, right. Yeah, so that is the very important part. You’re right. So before I let you go, do you have a story that you can tell us about someone who was successful in a clubhouse? Can you think of any situation in all the clubhouses you’ve been to that you could tell us a story?

27:13
Oh, there’s so many. So I’ll tell you one about the, I went, I and two other members of my board went to Indiana and we saw this clubhouse called Carriage House. And in the clubhouse was a gentleman who was dressed in a suit and he told us his story. And he’s a videographer. He had been living on the streets. He was homeless. He was.

27:42
He was very, very ill with mental health challenges. And somebody found him, brought him to Carriage House. And that was the first day of the rest of his life. He is now an accomplished videographer. He did the video for Carriage House in Indiana. And it’s amazing. It’s just like he’s a Hollywood movie videographer.

28:12
And he’s thriving. He’s got his house. He’s got his family back. He’s doing okay, you know, better than okay. Yeah, yeah, much better than okay. So really, that’s the thing that impressed me the most. Seeing that growth. Seeing that growth of that particular man. And he is a man of color living in Indiana. And that struck me.

28:42
It just was phenomenal what he was able to do. Right. And you should have helped me during this entire interview by using the word challenges, saying to me, challenges, not troubles. I couldn’t come up with that word. So anyway, I’ll forgive you though. All right. So how can our listeners, I want you to tell us again, how can they find, follow, and be a part of all things Infinite Horizons Clubhouse?

29:12
infinitehorizonsclubhouse.org. There you go, perfect. All right, so. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was gonna say, I wanna thank you for being here today. You’ve been listening to Doing Amazing Things on ICRV Radio, the stream feeding the River Valley, where we make local matter.