Over 300 Clubhouses are accredited by ICCD worldwide.

“It is our understanding that we are presently the only Michigan Community Mental Health organization with two accredited programs,” according to Greg Paffhouse, Northern Lakes Chief Executive Officer. Club Cadillac was accredited in 2009.

Traverse House Director Signe Ruddy said, “Achieving ICCD Clubhouse Accreditation was a long process that my colleagues and I have shared in. It comes as result of a huge group effort. This recognition is very important to us because it means that we have clearly demonstrated our commitment to excellence.  The ICCD program model has just been recognized as ‘Best Practice’ by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA).”

Member Susan said, “ICCD Accreditation is a reward for our efforts and establishes basic points and qualifications we need to meet and continue improving toward. We are a successful Club, which is why we take suggestions for our improvement and growth. This accreditation shows this and that we have come a long way.”

The process began when the Clubhouse colleagues completed a three-week training course at Gateway House in Greenville, South Carolina and Genesis Club in Worcester, Massachusetts, both ICCD training Clubhouses, in 2006, 2009, and 2011. Then the entire Clubhouse conducted a self-study review and produced a written report to submit to the ICCD. Last November, John Hayes, of Carriage House in Indiana, and Larry Marshall, of Pioneer Clubhouse in Peabody, Massachusetts, conducted a three-day site visit at Traverse House on behalf of the ICCD. Their written report of their findings was submitted to ICCD.

Member Vicki said, “Every day we were looking in the mail wanting to know the results of our ICCD consultation visit. I happened to be the one who went to pick up the mail on the day our notice arrived. I was almost wrestled down by my colleagues when I arrived back in Club and announced I had the letter. I called out for our Signe, our Director; we were all laughing at once wanting to open the letter. The long process is over. We got it!”

Like all Clubhouse programs, Traverse House focuses on people’s strengths, not their illness. Members and staff work side by side in decision-making and governance of the program. Through the activities of a work-ordered day, individual members achieve or regain the confidence and skills necessary to lead vocationally productive and socially satisfying lives. Work in the Clubhouse, whether it is clerical, reception, meal preparation or reaching out to their fellow members, provides the core healing process.

One of the most important steps members take toward greater independence is transitional employment, where they work in the community at real jobs. Members also receive support in securing safe and affordable housing, advancing their education, and obtaining good health care. Membership is for life, so members have all the time they need to secure their new life in the community.  Every opportunity provided is the result of the efforts of the members and small staff, who work side by side, in a unique partnership.

“Increasing transitional employment was one of the accreditation recommendations and will be a high priority in our continuing quality improvement efforts,” said Ruddy.

Member Gary explained, “Coming to Clubhouse helps members with communication and social skills by participating in the activities that we do. The work ordered day assists members in being motivated when they work in the kitchen preparing and cooking our lunch.  Doing all this helps me and my fellow colleagues. Getting our Club accredited will help us to get extra funds, which will allow us to grow.  We then can offer more opportunities to those persons who might benefit from the Clubhouse program.”

Established in 1994, ICCD is a non-profit and non-governmental organization which helps communities around the world to create solutions for people with mental illness. ICCD oversees the creation and evolution of standards; facilitates and assures the quality of training, consultation, certification, research and advocacy; and provides effective communication and dissemination of research and information.

“We are extremely pleased that Traverse House has been awarded ICCD certification,” said Paffhouse. “This is a milestone achievement for members and staff.”

Becoming accredited helps ensure that our programs and services meet current state-of-the-art international standards and serves as a foundation for continual quality improvement efforts.

Anyone wishing to view the show can go to YouTube.com and search “Ralphe Armstrong Show.”

Gerald Butler, band leader, flautist extraordinaire, and Peer Specialist/Advocate (pictured above), said this in a recent email explaining about his group:

CHARGE is a group of peers in recovery using the arts as tools in the recovery process. … More often than not, when we first come off the street and into treatment we do have issues with and need attention paid to our behavior: we need to be in controlled settings. But there comes a time where we have pretty much done what is necessary to reign in any behavior problems we may have. It it time for us to stop thinking of our illness and take action for change: much like the child going off to college. It is also time for the system to move from a position of direction to one of support. We must begin to take charge of our lives and recovery, not only through self-exploration, but also by getting out into the community and trying to find where we fit in.

Two days later, on Sept 22, we will be taping an informational show on autism at UpNorth Media with United Way of Northwest Michigan. This show will feature several service providers and people with lived experience and will show in October.

On that same day, Sept 22, we will host a training for providers on Training Ethics, Boundaries & Pain Relief in Health Care in our Cadillac office.

At the end of the week, on Saturday, Sept 24, we are participating with the Crawford Roscommon Suicide Prevention Coalition’s 2nd annual “Alive and Running: 5K for Suicide Prevention“. This is an awareness and fund-raising event for the Crawford Roscommon Suicide Prevention Coalition for both runners and walkers.

On Thursday, Sept 29, we are teaming up with the Cadillac Wexford Public Library (411 South Lake St., Cadillac) to provide a free movie and panel discussion on depression and its impact on families. The library’s movie licensing restrictions do not allow promotion of the name of the movie or the studio outside the library, but we can tell you that this is a major movie recently released on DVD starring Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson. The movie concerns a man living with depression and its impact on his family. He begins communicating using a toy beaver hand puppet. The movie is rated PG-13. There will be some light refreshments at the library beginning at 5:30 PM. The movie will run from 6:00-7:30 and the panel discussion will happen after the movie, from about 7:30-8:00.

You may find the Nomination Form in the Northern Lakes CMH lobbies. You may turn in the form at the reception area.

Inspire Others: Share Your Recovery Story

Each one of us has a story—stories of hope, fear, humor, struggle, and triumph—Stories of recovery. Put a new “face” on recovery when you share your personal journey towards wellness. Be a part of the 2011 Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Facing Us Video Contest in a way that’s as unique as you are:

• Deliver a personal monologue.
• Sing it in a song.
• Say it with a poem.
• Act out a play with friends.
• Use illustration or animation.
• Create a comedy act.

Judging will be based on the impact of submissions rather than the quality of filming. So, get out your personal video cameras and have some fun! Between May 21, 2011 and September 5, 2011, you can submit your video online at www.FacingUsContest.org and have a chance to win cash prizes:

1st place = $500
2nd place = $300
3rd place = $200

Put your best face forward this summer! Visit www.FacingUsContest.org or download the flyer for more information!

Excellent weather this year boosted the participation. Mary Beth Evans, Certified Peer Support Specialist and the NLCMH Recovery Coordinator, was the emcee this year. Justin Rankins, proprietor of Just In Time Productions, was the DJ, providing inspirational music that got the everyone at the event rockin’. Cadillac’s Patriots Choir, which had its roots at Northern Lakes CMH, did a beautiful job as part of the entertainment.

At the beginning of the rally, a proclamation recognizing the efforts of the state and advocates in creating and sustaining a community-based system of care was read and presented to Michigan Department of Community Health Director Olga Dazzo. Cynthia Kelly, interim director of the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities division of DCH, and Senator Bruce Caswell, who helped sponsor the resolution, also participated in the recognition.

Thanks to all of the people traveled to Lansing to fight stigma and raise their voices in support of persons with disabilities and to all the NLCMH drivers that helped make it happen!

Here are the statements made by people from our 6 counties:

Roscommon County - Christine with Flag Bearer David: “We are easily forgotten to some people, but we won’t go away.  We will put a voice to our needs. We’ll shout until we are heard.  We don’t ask for much, we just ask for respect and understanding.  Walk a Mile In My Shoes!”

Crawford County - Kim with Flag Bearer Heather: “CMH services are our safety net. I hope our lawmakers hear me when I say that protecting our safety net services is not only the right thing to do but is good business – and will save the state money in the long run. No more cuts! Walk A Mile In My Shoes!

Wexford County - Frank with Flag Bearer Malinda: “I am more than my illness. Don’t put labels on me. Walk A Mile In My Shoes!”

Missaukee County - Kelly with Flag Bearer Deanna: “We believe that every single person in the world has value. We also believe it is right and good to help people who are less fortunate. The poor, the lost, and the wounded all need our support. Walk A Mile In My Shoes!”

Grand Traverse County - Richard with Flag Bearers Lee and Brandalyn: “In Grand Traverse County there is not enough affordable housing for people with mental health issues or low income families. We need more housing options to support people’s recovery. Walk A Mile in My Shoes!”

Leelanau County - Toni with Flag Bearer Susan: “Times of stress are NOT times to cut mental health funding. If anything, mental health funding should be INCREASED to help people even more. Walk A Mile in My Shoes!”

There were two broad priority areas to be addressed with the grants:

1. Community Membership, Inclusion and Participation – Projects may promote active involvement in the community; and/or promote awareness or understanding through an activity or event; and/or promote meaningful and satisfying work or volunteering or success in the educational setting; and/or promote meaningful relationships.
2. Wellness – Projects may promote good physical health, mental health, spiritual health, or quality of life.

Eight grants have been awarded, with a few contingencies. Congratulations to the successful applicants! The grants will allow for:

1. A book celebrating the recovery of Traverse House members.
2. Personalized physical evaluations and individualized exercise programs for Traverse House members.
3. Purchase of tools and supplies to create a garden producing healthy food and exercise for Club Cadillac members.
4. Purchase of four YMCA Memberships to be shared among Club Cadillac members.
5. Learned Optimism and Resilience Training Workshops for community members in several northern Michigan communities.
6. An educational mailing to employers promoting the employment of people with psychiatric disabilities.
7. Art of Recovery sessions in the Cadillac area open to community members.
8. Leathermaking classes in the Cadillac area, specifically designed for men, open to community members.

Funding for this initiative comes from a Culture Change To Embrace Recovery block grant through the Michigan Department of Community Health.

DNNM Community Needs Assessment link: http://survey.aacil.org/html/dnnm/dnnmsurvey.htm

Accessible survey link: http://survey.aacil.org/html/dnnm/dnnmsurvey_acc.htm