On Tuesday, April 3, 2018, The Salvation Army was honored at the Statehouse in Boston for choosing to diversify their workforce by employing residents of the Commonwealth, who have a psychiatric disability, with the support of Elliot House, a “Clubhouse” employment and recovery center funded by the Department of Mental Health (DMH). The event was organized by the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition (MCC), a non-profit organization that develops the leadership of those who have a psychiatric disability, and the staff of these Clubhouse centers. The Salvation Army was selected for recognition because they are doing an exceptional job in creating a welcoming and diverse workforce.
DMH funded Clubhouses serve over 7,000 residents of the Commonwealth annually, providing services designed to help “members,” all of whom have mental illness, live successfully in the community, gain a welcoming, productive place to come to during the day, and assistance in obtaining employment, an education, housing, dual recovery, peer and wellness supports. Elliot Clubhouse serves 150 local residents annually who are working to recover from the effects of a psychiatric challenge. Representative Garlick presented the award to the Salvation Army, in addition to MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHH) Secretary, Marylou Sudders, and DMH Commissioner, Joan Mikula, presented awards to the twenty-six companies honored during the event.
An additional group of employers received special recognition for their leadership on the MCC’s Employment Expansion Project Employer Advisory Board. Those receiving special leadership awards were: Steven Beck, Exec. Director of the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation, Jeanne Strickland, Exec. Director, Newton Community Development Foundation, Leisa Meade, Human Resources, Edgar Rodas, Project Coordinator and Angel Ruiz, Environmental Service Manager, Milford Regional Medical Center, John Peacock, Exec. Director, Waltham Chamber of Commerce, Andrea Gewirtz, VP Statewide Services, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, Jeremy Scott, owner, Premium Printer Supplies, Jeffrey Lander, Proprietor, Appilistic, a soft-ware company, Jan Demeio, Head of Circulation, Wayland Free Public Library and Andrea Allard, Executive Director, YMCA of Greater Westfield. This special recognition is for leaders who are helping to reach out to other companies, and more deeply within their own company, to increase employment opportunities for Clubhouse members.
“Countering the myths about people with psychiatric conditions, there are hundreds of companies in Massachusetts who are choosing to look past disability and see ability and opportunity as they employ members of Clubhouses,” said Reva Stein, Exec. Director of the MCC.
Representative Denise Garlick, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, commended the employers for recognizing the ability and potential in those they employ. “Your decision to employ someone who has a mental health challenge, is helping to transform that person’s life,” Chairwoman Garlick told the crowd assembled at the Statehouse to honor the companies. “It is a wise business decision on your part, while also helping to build more inclusive and welcoming communities. It is a pleasure to honor you today. The families of those with mental illness and I appreciate your excellent business practices.”
Nineteen quality-accredited Clubhouses participated in the event. “We are proud that the 'ICCD Clubhouse' model has been recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as an evidenced-based practice,” said Ruth Osterman, Acting Exec. Director of Genesis Club in Worcester, which is one of ten Training Centers that Clubhouses utilize to learn the skills and practices of this evidenced based model.
