Program Restructuring in Progress

March 2007

With our new Program Director Vicki Segers we are seeing exciting changes and additions taking place with our Programs. Executive Director Betty Bacalu is pleased to have Vicki on board and is confident that the program restructuring will better serve our members by further developing their socialization and work skills which will continue to assist them with community re-integration. Bacalu further believes that Vicki’s integrity, strong work ethic, as well has her compassion for the members will be an immense asset that will be displayed in a solid run program.

These changes will also allow us to enhance our mission and vision to strengthen brain injury survivors by decreasing their isolation while, at the same time, increasing their personal emotional, and spiritual growth.

Our first area of restructuring is taking place in the area of Work Units.  With the clubhouse model known as the "work-ordered day" as our guide, we are currently expanding the variety of our cognitive learning opportunities so that members achieve maximum reduction of their disability along with restoration to their best possible level of functioning. The heart of the Clubhouse community, the work-ordered day exists to provide structure. As the work is being done, deficits, functioning, and performance are being monitored as would be the case in a normalized community setting. The Clubhouse Work Units, in essence, become a "like community setting," where members progress at their own rate and build on each previous success. Our members are gaining a greater sense of who they are, along with having an opportunity to identify their individual strengths, talents, and abilities. This is especially important for them, as they often deal with a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and physical deficits that keep them from returning to work and other activities they previously enjoyed.

The restructuring efforts have resulted in the formation of four Work Units: Business, Kitchen, Environmental, and Special Events. The Business Unit is responsible for the various clerical functions of the Clubhouse, such as writing thank-you letters and working on the mailing of this very newsletter which you are reading! The Kitchen Unit prepares low cost bag lunches for sale to members and staff, as well as one hot lunch each week that is served free of charge. Baking also takes place and is either enjoyed at special events or sold in our Clubhouse Cafe. The Environmental Unit is responsible for keeping both the indoor and outdoor Clubhouse areas in order. In the Special Events Unit, members plan and carry out community outings, parties, and fundraising efforts. In February, each member aligned themselves with a Work Unit of their choice for a period of one month. In future issues, we will report on the progress being made in each Work Unit.