ABOUT SKAGIT CLUBHOUSE
Skagit Clubhouse is a place where people living with serious mental illness can thrive in a community of hope and opportunity. This is a space where individuals can find the support and resources they need to lead fulfilling lives. Our mission is to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where members can develop meaningful connections, explore their potential, and contribute to the community. We are dedicated to promoting mental wellness and empowering our members to achieve their goals.
OUR PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
Mental Health
At Skagit Clubhouse, we offer a range of programs and initiatives designed to support our members on their journey toward recovery and personal growth. We are committed to providing a safe and nurturing space where individuals can engage in meaningful activities, gain valuable skills, and access resources that promote overall well-being. Through collaborative efforts and a person-centered approach, we aim to empower our members to lead fulfilling lives and become active participants in their communities.
What is a Clubhouse?
A clubhouse is a community-based location designed to support the recovery of people living with serious mental illness (SMI). Each clubhouse provides a restorative environment for people whose lives have been severely disrupted because of their mental illness.
Clubhouses are an intentional community, where members and staff work together, side-by-side, to carry out all daily operations of the clubhouse. Members are also given access to crisis intervention services when needed and are connected with resources to support their basic needs, including support with employment, relationship building, education, housing, and daily meals.
Welcome to a Different Kind of Mental Health Support
in Skagit County
We believe that doing meaningful work and building real friendships is one of the best ways to heal and grow. That is the big idea behind our mental health services here in Skagit County.
We are proud to be a part of Clubhouse International, a global network of community centers designed to support people who are working through mental health recovery. We also believe that having fun and socializing is just as important as the work we do!
What is a "Work-Ordered Day"?
Inside our Clubhouse, we don't just sit around or listen to lectures. We run the place together! We call this a work-ordered day. It is a hands-on way to help you learn new skills, discover your hidden talents, and build up your confidence. Everything here is based on member choice. You are in control of your own day. You get to decide exactly how you want to contribute, how long you want to stay, and what goals you want to reach.
What Do We Do Every Day?
Because our members choose their own paths, there is no "typical" day at the Clubhouse.
But to give you an idea, here are some of the things members and staff work on side-by-side:
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Front Desk & Tech: Answering phones, greeting visitors, and helping with office work.
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Kitchen & Greenery: Preparing delicious meals and watering the plants.
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Clubhouse Care: Cleaning, fixing up the building, and keeping our space looking great.
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Leadership & Outreach: Running meetings, collaborating on research projects, or helping us write grants.
Why this matters:
Working together as a community gives everyone a sense of shared achievement. It lets you try out different roles and responsibilities in a safe, supportive place. Along the way, you’ll build professional connections, practice life skills, and make deep, long-lasting friendships.
What Makes a Clubhouse Different?
In contrast to traditional day-treatment and other day program models, membership in a clubhouse is voluntary. Members are integral and active participants of the program and are relied upon for their knowledge and experience to keep the clubhouse running. This leads to a sense of inclusion and agency in members.
Unlike day programs, members make their own decisions and lead daily operations and activities in the clubhouse. Leadership in the clubhouse is equally distributed between staff and members, both an integral part of the operation of the clubhouse itself.
Teamwork is emphasized over hierarchy, and members engage in real work, rather than simulated work. There is a focus on treatment being strengths-based (as opposed to deficit-based), in which staff see members as a valuable contributor to society, with the goal of allowing each member to find their identity, their sense of self and their purpose. In this way, clubhouses aim to change the way people with serious mental illnesses think about themselves.
Membership is always voluntary, free, and without time limits. When recovery is achieved, members can voluntarily stay involved and active in the community as long as they choose. There is no limit to how long a member can participate in a clubhouse.