The Clubhouse Model
The word “Clubhouse” derives from the original language that was used to communicate the work and vision of Fountain House, the very first Clubhouse, which was started in New York in 1948. Since its inception, Fountain House has served as the model for all subsequent Clubhouses that have been started around the world. Fountain House began when former patients of a New York psychiatric hospital began to meet together informally, as a kind of “club.” It was organized as a support system for people living with mental illness, rather than as a service or a treatment program.
The Clubhouse Model is not a clinical program – it’s a community of belonging. Members and staff work side by side, running the daily operations of AIM Center, fostering independence, and developing crucial life and job skills. AIM Center is a proven solution for Tennesseans living with mental illness, helping them regain independence and re-enter the workforce. As the only accredited Clubhouse in Tennessee, we provide a model that works.
What Does This Approach Do?
- Reduces hospitalizations and incarceration rates.
- Improves employment and housing stability.
- Decreases reliance on emerency services.
- Increases social connection and self-sufficiency.
- Saves local cities and tax-payers millions of dollars annually.
Why It Matters...
- 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness each year.
- 369,000 Tennessee adults have a reported serious mental illness.
- More than 3,000,000 people in Tennessee live in a community without enough mental health resources.
- Clubhouses save $2,607 per member annually in mental health care costs.
- Members in Clubhouse programs are 42% more likely to be employed than those who aren't actively involved in a Clubhouse.
- Every $1 invested in Clubhouse programs results in $14 in social and economic benefits.
Tennessee's Only Accredited Clubhouse
AIM Center is one of only 370 Accredited Clubhouses world-wide (Clubhouses are in more than 32 countries!) and is the first and only accredited Clubhouse in Tennessee.
Clubhouse International Accreditation is a symbol of quality – a clear demonstration of a Clubhouse’s commitment to excellence and universally recognized as operating with a high level of compliance with the International Standards for clubhouse Programs.