Mental health recovery center opened Dec. 4 on Cherry Street inEaton
EATON - Jefferson House opened on Dec. 4 as a social andvocational rehabilitation clubhouse for people with mental healthproblems.
A $364,000 capital grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Healthto the Preble County Mental Health and Recovery Board funded therenovation of the 1850 house at 120 N. Cherry St., Eaton.
Director David Brown, a former employee of the Dayton MentalHealth Center, said more than 300 clubhouse model programs existaround the world.
'The original clubhouse started in the mid-40s in midtownManhattan when four gentlemen came out of Belleview (hospital) andthe case manager placed them in 'Hell's Kitchen.' The four men metwith their case manager and they became obsessed with `What can we doto keep from landing back in the mental hospital?' ' Brown said.
The clubhouse also receives donations from individuals, businessesand industry.
This is not a residential facility. There are neither pool tablesnor other facilities for leisure activities. The members work side byside with the staff and other members to achieve goals.
'In the clerical unit they work on continuing their education,'Brown said. 'We can get them into some of the colleges online if theywant to work toward a college degree. And we do transition employmentskills where a staff member will go out into the community and findjobs.'
They call the kitchen the 'food place.' The members decide on theselection of meals, go to the market, cook and then serve meals tothe members at the clubhouse for $1.
At the meal, members talk about accomplishments such as 'I havebeen out of the hospital for six months since I have been ill. I amworking at a job that I thought I would never have and my boss justgave me a raise.'
In the Jefferson House outreach group, if the staff doesn't see amember at a meeting they inquire about his whereabouts.
'It is my second home and it keeps me from being bored,' saidRobert Ledbetter, a clubhouse member. 'You come here you work on thecomputer and cook food. I have learned a lot since I have been here.'
The long-range goal for the clubhouse is to have the memberseventually live independently and work full time.
'I believe until they come out with a medication that is a cure-all or find out a way to treat it so it will be cured permanently Ibelieve the club house is the best thing going,' Brown said.
The Jefferson House is open 9 a.m to 5 p.m., Monday through Fridayunless there is a special request by the members.
'The members can arrange extra activities and as long as there isa consensus of the membership; it will happen,' Brown said.
