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Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15) introduced the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Expansion Act of 2024. The federal legislation, co-sponsored by Representative Shri Thanedar (MI-13), aims to improve community mental health services by promoting a more holistic, patient-centered approach to treatment and care. Building off earlier bill language from last Congress, the legislation directs CCBHCs to enhance their scope of services to support people in their mental illness recovery, whether independently or in partnership with local clubhouses. This includes psychosocial rehabilitation services that advance people’s employment and educational opportunities, housing, and other holistic needs, which play a significant role in fostering recovery and wellbeing. This is the first time clubhouse has been defined in federal bill language, importantly with the feedback and technical support of several clubhouse members living with serious mental illness, including those from Fountain House. The comprehensive definition recognizes how clubhouses, and the therapeutic social environments they provide, are uniquely positioned to address the negative symptoms of serious mental illness, like loneliness and social isolation, which medication and therapy can’t tackle alone. As Fountain House’s newly released research shows, clubhouses are also incredibly effective at reducing the secondary costs of untreated mental illness, including lost wages, disability benefits, repeat emergency room visits, and criminal justice impacts, which saves the U.S. nearly $700 million a year. If clubhouses were expanded to reach even just 5% of the 15.4 million adults in the U.S. impacted by serious mental illness, the net societal benefit would exceed $8.5 billion annually. “Despite the significant growth in mental health awareness in recent years, access to essential services and person-centered care models remains rooted in outdated practices,” said U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15). "Many communities — especially in the Bronx — still lack adequate and equitable access to a diverse range of mental health services. By enhancing service accessibility and broadening care options, we can enhance outcomes for individuals grappling with severe mental illness and bolster the well-being of entire communities. This legislation aims to widen access to these critical services, ensuring that individuals in need of essential mental health support are not left behind. I commend the relentless efforts of Fountain House Bronx in championing holistic mental health care that truly saves lives within our community.” “We applaud Congressmen Torres for introducing the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Act of 2024 in partnership with people most impacted by serious mental illness, including Fountain House’s members and with Clubhouse International,” said Ken Zimmerman, CEO of Fountain House. “By recognizing and incorporating psychosocial services as integral tools for recovery, this legislation addresses critical gaps in our mental health infrastructure that have, for too long, relied solely on clinical care. As local clubhouses are leveraged for their expertise, we hope it will ultimately create a more comprehensive and coherent mental health ecosystem that can meet people where they’re at and more meaningfully address the social drivers of health.” “Expanding access to clubhouses and the social supports they provide is absolutely essential and we thank Rep. Torres and Rep. Thanedar for championing the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Expansion Act to bring these vital resources to more people across the country,” said Shawn Guffey, member of Fountain House. “People’s lives are at stake: their ability to function, to be independent, to lead full and happy lives. We need more support from leaders at every level of government to ensure mental health is a priority that is funded and scaled.” “We are encouraged by the expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic services and applaud Congressman Torres for his leadership on this important issue,” said Joel D. Corcoran, Executive Director and CEO of Clubhouse International. “Psychosocial rehabilitation programs like Clubhouses are a medical necessity for recovery and should be a part of every comprehensive mental health service system. We have decades of evidence demonstrating that programs offering dignity, self-determination, social inclusion, and meaningful rehabilitation opportunities truly help people living with mental illness reclaim their futures and thrive in the community.” Several clubhouses in Fountain House’s national network, Fountain House United, who also offered technical assistance on the bill, shared their wide support for the CCBHC Expansion Act and how it would improve and integrate care. “The community of Magnolia Clubhouse in Cleveland, Ohio, is proud to support this work and we are in great appreciation to Rep. Torres for championing psychiatric rehabilitation and the Clubhouse model as an exceptional example of what people living with mental illness need and deserve,” said Lori D’Angelo, Executive Director of Magnolia Clubhouse. “Clubhouses fill a void in the crisis-oriented system of care and offer a holistic and comprehensive approach that provides community, opportunity, and hope.” “The CCBHC Expansion Act is a tremendous step forward for our nation’s behavioral health care,” said Kailey Fiedler-Gohlke, CEO of HERO House NW. “Highlighting the importance of the Clubhouse model as a key aspect of the continuum of care for those living with mental illness is a critical component of recovery. Isolation is the most devastating symptom of mental illness and expanding the access to models, such as the Clubhouse, can reduce and eliminate the loneliness people experience. HERO House NW’s community is proud to support this bill.” For more information on Fountain House and how it’s supporting people living with serious mental illness through direct services, practice innovation, advocacy, and policy change, visit FountainHouse.org. Fountain HouseFountain House is a national mental health nonprofit fighting to improve health, increase opportunity, and end social and economic isolation for people living with serious mental illness. Founded in 1948 in New York City, Fountain House originated the clubhouse model of community mental health that has been replicated more than 300 times in nearly 40 U.S. states and in 30 countries around the world. https://fountainhouse.org/news/fountain-house-applauds-congressman-ritchie-torres-for-introducing-the-ccbhc-expansion-act

The findings reinforce the immense potential of this moment and marks the launch of the new Healings Minds, Powering Communities campaign to reframe serious mental illness and support community-based solutions. New York, NY — New bipartisan messaging research released by Fountain House as part of its Healing Minds, Powering Communities campaign shows that an overwhelming majority of voters across partisan lines support increasing funding for programs that address serious mental illness (SMI). The national survey, focus groups, and stakeholder interviews — conducted by Lake Research Partners, Black Raspberry Consumer Insights, and Chesapeake Beach Consulting — sought to gauge what Americans think about mental health care and its electoral impact. Findings show that voters across partisan lines are not only concerned about the stigma associated with mental illness and the persistent lack of affordable and accessible treatment, but that mental health is emerging as a top-priority issue that influences their vote. Among our key findings: Voters are looking to elected officials to address serious mental illness — and will reward them when they do. If an elected official increases funding for programs and interventions directed towards mental illness, 76% of voters say they’d be more likely to support them, including 46% who said they’d be much more likely to support them. This holds true across partisan lines, even if it would increase voters’ taxes. While rising costs and inflation remain a dominant concern for a majority of voters, more than seven in 10 (72%) say they would be more likely to vote for an elected official who supports increased funding for serious mental illness interventions and programs. When thinking about healthcare today, 75% of voters say the U.S. spends too little on mental health services. Similarly, 73% say the U.S. spends too little on services for serious mental illness. Many support increased funding for community-based mental health programs (83% support, 59% strongly support) and show even stronger intense support for community-based programs that treat serious mental illness (85% support, 64% strongly support), including clubhouses. Almost half of all voters (47%) have a personal connection to someone with a mental illness — either themselves, a family member, or a close friend. Bolstered by these findings, the new Healing Minds, Powering Communities campaign aims to leverage this unique moment when elected officials and the general public alike are seeking compassionate, well-resourced public policy to address mental illness — and are primed and ready to fund evidence-based approaches for change. The multi-year, collaborative effort brings together a wide tent of stakeholders and partners, including people with lived experience, to advocate for community-based approaches to addressing serious mental illness; expand access to proven interventions and preventative measures; and grow and sustain a movement that reduces stigma and discrimination for people living with SMI. “What makes this campaign different is that it’s for and by people living with serious mental illness and represents, for the first time, a dedicated investment and commitment to restoring our dignity and autonomy,” said Arvind Sooknanan, a member of Fountain House Bronx who also serves on Fountain House’s Board of Directors. “Advancing a true community-based system of care is not only a means to recovery and thriving but can reset the narrative around mental illness from stigma to acceptance.” “We urgently need new paradigms of public investment to make recovery and thriving the center of our policies and practices involving people with serious mental health challenges,” said Ken Zimmerman, CEO of Fountain House. “Healing Minds, Powering Communities emphasizes that we live in an age of solutions — when they are appropriately supported and resourced — and that prioritizing the voices of people with lived experience is central to combating problematic stereotypes.” Among the partners for the campaign: Clubhouse International and more than 65 local clubhouses spanning 24 states across the country, 1 Million Madly Motivated Moms (1M4), America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the American Public Health Association, Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, Canopy Roots, Center for Justice Innovation, Families USA, ForLikeMinds, Mental Health America of West Central Indiana, the Mental Health Coalition, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS), the Steinberg Institute, the Technical Assistance Collaborative, Vera Institute of Justice, and VOCAL-NY. From May 24-31, 2023, Healing Minds, Powering Communities will host a Community Mental Health Week of Action where clubhouses will be trained and encouraged to open their doors to elected officials, local media, and other stakeholders so they can witness the power of community-based care and its impact on addressing serious mental illness. Other partners will also be promoting the benefits of this proven approach to their networks as a scalable, cost-effective, and more humane way to improve public safety, reduce mental health crises, while minimizing criminal justice involvement and its disparate impact on communities of color. “Clubhouse International is committed to continuing to lead in the effort of providing accessible recovery opportunities to anyone with lived experience of a mental illness by integrating the Clubhouse approach into health systems around the world,” said Joel D. Corcoran, Executive Director and CEO of Clubhouse International. “We are proud to partner in bringing the Healing Minds, Powering Communities advocacy campaign to the U.S.-based Clubhouses to effect policy change that prioritizes person-centered mental health care, and to increase funding for mental health services, such as the Clubhouse Model. This campaign will be instrumental in helping Clubhouses to advocate for their programs. The recent bipartisan research is an important validation for the Clubhouse network and supports what we see every day, that communities benefit from having a Clubhouse. Our vision is that one day there is a Clubhouse in every community.” “As a member-led collective supporting initiatives, programs, and solutions that decriminalize mental illness and reduce interactions between law enforcement and Black community members, we believe those closest to an issue are the individuals with the most insight into the solutions,” said Tansy McNulty, Founder and CEO of 1 Million Madly Motivated Moms (1M4). “Healing Minds, Powering Communities advances the evidence-based, person-centered approaches to mental health that we know can make a difference and is importantly led by those with mental illness themselves. We’re proud to stand with and support this effort.” “This new study underscores the high level of public support that exists for the expansion of community-based rehabilitation services and recovery supports that advance the dignity, agency, and connection to community of people with major mental health related challenges, especially for low income individuals and people of color,” said Harvey Rosenthal, CEO of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS). “NYAPRS will be a very active member of the campaign’s focus on public, policymaker, and media education: the need is urgent and requires their strong support to take immediate action.” For more information on Fountain House and how we’re supporting people living with serious mental illness through direct services, practice innovation, advocacy, and policy change, visit FountainHouse.org. Fountain House Fountain House is a national mental health nonprofit fighting to improve health, increase opportunity, and end social and economic isolation for people living with serious mental illness. Founded in 1948 in New York City, Fountain House originated the clubhouse model of community mental health that has been replicated more than 300 times in nearly 40 U.S. states and in 30 countries around the world.

Prepare for Give Big 2023 as we enter Mental Health Awareness Month. Join the annual fund drive supporting nonprofits across Washington State and Give Big to support HERO House NW on May 2nd & 3rd 2023 at this link: https://www.wagives.org/donate/herohousenw

We revealed our annual IMPACT Report honorees at our first annual IMPACT Awards banquet on March 25th, 2023 as we paid tribute to all the individuals and organizations who advanced our mission throughout the year. In recognition of our key community partners, we presented individuals and organizations with the following IMPACT AWARDS during the program: Abe Kriger Visionary Award - Senator Manka Dhingra Partner in Mental Health - 3R Technology Partner in Mental Health - Farms for Life Bellevue Clubhouse IMPACT Award - Phil Gerson Everett Clubhouse IMPACT Award - Harold J. & Meg McClure Seattle Clubhouse IMPACT Award - Larry Clum Event photos are posted online at: https://studio.kenstanek.photography/gallery/herohousenw

We are pleased to present our 2022 IMPACT Report. We are proud of our achievements and grateful to our partners, friends, staff and members who make Clubhouses an amazing community resource for people experiencing mental illness. Click here to view the full report and read our Financial Accountability. View or down load report here.

HERO House NW's Chief Executive Officer, Kailey Fiedler-Gohlke, was names as one of Puget Sound Business Journal's (PSBJ) top 40 under 40 executives in 2023. The honorees represent a wide range of companies that reflect the diversity of the Puget Sound region's business community. Kailey will be celebrated at an upcoming event on April 26th at the Showbox Pike Place Market as well as featured in the PSBJ publication on April 28th. The PSBJ article can be viewed here: https://bizj.us/1qidhu

We are proud to publish our 2021 IMPACT Report, with gratitude to our members, community partners, Board of Directors and Advisory members for their many contributions. Click here to view dynamic report in browser. Click below to download report

More than a third of us would NEVER admit to someone that we feel lonely. Yet it's a universally shared part of the human experience. Imagine the difference we'd make for the other two-thirds if we just said "I've been there". That's the magic of Clubhouse. #Ivebeenthere#mentalhealthweek#mentalhealthmonth#Clubhouseworks

To all of our generous supporters who GiveBig for people experiencing mental illness, we cannot thank you enough. Without you, Clubhouses couldn't be the resource so many people count on every day. We are humbled by your dedication to our mission!

Please consider honoring Mental Health Awareness Month with a gift. May 3rd & 4th is GiveBig (https://www.givebigwa.org/herohousenw). We welcome your support anytime, however we invite you to stay tuned for a special announcement about Clubhouse Giving Day on June 1st, a day dedicated to giving for Clubhouses.

Join us in May in raising awareness and support for Clubhouse as we join our international partners in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month. Share your stories, advocate, and participate in our upcoming events. May 19th is Mental Health Action Day, share our videos and reels on social media and encourage others to pledge their support as we join our international partners in Clubhouse Giving Day June 1st.

Have you dreamed of making history? Of course, we all have. And now you have a chance to be a part of our community's day of giving - an opportunity to unite around a cause in which we truly believe and help us connect to the larger Clubhouse community. We need your help! Please join our campaign and help us reach our goal of $40,000 and 500 donors! Please tell your friends and family members about the important work we do and ask them to join us in helping to make a difference by becoming a fundraiser or sharing the event with your network. Get ready to give! On June 1st, visit https://www.clubhousegivingday.org/organizations/hero-house-nw and make a donation to us. All giving will end at 11:59 PM ET on June 1st, so make sure to get your gift in on time! Questions? If you have any questions or would like more information, let us know atinfo@herohousenw.org. Thank you in advance for your generosity to our organization!