The underlying philosophy of Gateway House is
that each member has a contribution to make, regardless of his or
her level of disability; therefore, we rely on our members’
talents, skills and dreams in order to function. One of the key
principles of this philosophy is the importance of “meaningful
work.” Putting this principle into practice, Gateway House
operates a variety of programs to help its members develop social,
interpersonal, educational and employment skills. At Gateway
House, the participants are called members, not patients or
clients. The members use their special gifts, talents, and skills
while working side by side with staff to help operate the
clubhouse. At Gateway House the focus is not on the treatment of
the illness, but on helping members become as productive and
self-reliant as possible in spite of their mental illness.
Because many members begin with little
confidence and little or no work history, the first step toward
developing job skills is participation in the Day Program’s work
units, designed to help members use and strengthen their abilities
by contributing to the operations of the clubhouse. Each work unit
consists of members and staff working together to provide the
clubhouse with needed services. In the Kitchen Unit,
members plan meals, shop for groceries, and prepare and serve
lunch daily. The Snack Bar Unit prepares and serves
breakfast and stocks and sells a variety of snacks and beverages
that are available for purchase throughout the day. Members
working in the Clerical Unit collect the vital data needed
to document the effectiveness of involvement in a clubhouse-model
program. This unit records information daily in categories such as
community adjustment, housing adjustment, and transitional
employment wages and hours, then compiles monthly summary reports.
In addition, the Clerical Unit publishes a monthly
newsletter that is mailed to friends and colleagues across the
country, produces a closed circuit television show, and assists in
member education and colleague training. The Clerical Unit
is also responsible for recording clubhouse attendance and
handling all financial billing, as well as operating the member
bank, which allows members to deposit and save money, write checks
and pay bills, and obtain financial counseling from staff and
members to help them learn to manage and budget their money.
Gateway House presently serves an active membership of 135 with an
average daily attendance of 87.
"I wish I had heard about Gateway House a long time ago! My
self-esteem has improved since I’ve come here. My outlook on my
life is brighter, and I’m willing to give myself a chance to
achieve my goals." Rachel M. Parks
