FAIRWEATHER LODGE: Life and Employment in a Fairweather Lodge Setting

PANEL PARTICIPANTS

Sallianne Brown RN, CPRP, Clinical Coordinator – Transitional Services, Inc Pittsburgh, PA (CCL Board member)

William C. McHenry, Lodge Coordinator – New Visions, Inc Shippensburg, PA (CCL Board member)

Jennifer Mullins, Lodge Coordinator – Transitional Services, Inc. Pittsburgh, PA

Various Lodge Members from TSI and New Visions,

TODAY’S OBJECTIVES:

PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO:

Describe the principles of the Fairweather Lodge model.

Describe operating components of Fairweather Lodge.

Summarize benefits of Fairweather Lodge to its member and communities.

Identify resources to assist them in “next steps” when considering establishing a Lodge.

Identify some future initiatives appropriate to the Lodge model.

HISTORY OF FAIRWEATHER LODGE

Dr. George W. (Bill) Fairweather’s book, Community Life for the Mentally Ill, based on his research at the Veteran’s Hospital in Palo Alto, was released in 1963. He had begun his work there in 1960.

Later, under a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Fairweather set out to promote the Lodge Model nationally, in what became known as “The Dissemination Project.” One of the first community based programs designed and tested with a randomized experimental design

Longitudinal follow –up of 40 months demonstrated that significant outcomes were not short lived.

Reference- Fairweather, G.W., Sanders, D.Cressler, D and Maynard, H. (1969) Community Life of the Mentally Ill

Fairweather stunned the mental health profession by using terms like, “full citizenship,” “meaningful roles in society,” and “equal social status” to describe the desired outcomes of his project.

Community Life for the Mentally Ill, gave birth to the “patients’ rights” movement in psychiatry and the “strength-based” approach to mental illness – a belief that a patient’s strengths were at least as important as the patient’s illness.

There are over 100 Lodges in the US today.

CURRENT LOCATIONS OF LODGES IN THE US

CURRENT ADAPTATIONS OF THE MODEL

Woman with children- TexasMen leaving incarceration- MinnesotaVeterans- California, Iowa, PALodge Members at Large

LODGES IN PENNSYLVANIA

LODGE PRINCIPLES

Principle I. The lodge must provide a safe, healthy and caring environment, which reinforces the recovery process.

Principle II. The Lodge must be part of the plan for managing symptoms and promoting good mental health.

Principle III. Services must be available as long as the participant wants and needs them.

LODGE PRINCIPLES

Principle IV. People with psychiatric disabilities increase their community success and raise their social status through employment, through accumulating wealth, and through direct (not third-party) consumerism.

Principle V. Above and beyond economic roles, participants need to perceive(and to have) meaningful social roles in both the Lodge and the larger community.

Principle VI. Successful Lodges resemble a healthy family.

LODGE PRINCIPLES

Principle VII. In order to progress, people with psychiatric disabilities need autonomy commensurate with their behavioral performance, with the ultimate goal of full autonomy. Similarly, the Lodge needs autonomy commensurate with its behavioral performance, with total autonomy being the ultimate goal.

Principle VIII. Lodges must not be dependent on resources from any single entity.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF LODGE LIFE

Admission Criteria Each Lodge is different as to age, gender and other funding criteria

Most important is a desire to live with others cooperatively

Must want to work, ideally in the Lodge’s business if possible

Must be able to contribute to the Lodge’s financial obligations – rent, utilities, food, etc

Must be able to contribute to the Lodge’s upkeep

Acceptance Process Screened by staff for eligibility

Final decision with other Lodge members

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF LODGE LIFE Principles of Self Governance

Members decide who will live at their Lodge

Members agree on House Rules and means to enforce them

Members do things together

Members support each others’ recovery, including medication and substance use

Lodges support health and safety for its members

Members act as a family; focusing on building strong relationships with each other

Staff are only consultants

PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF LODGE LIFE

Business and Employment Lodge run businesses Outside employment/training Community Partners Funding for training Creativity is key to entrepreneurship

STANDARDS AND OUTCOMES

Standards for Certification Developing Lodge

Acclaimed Lodge

Exemplary Lodge

Outcome Compilation and Analysis Lodge principle implementation is basis for fidelity outcomes

Individual elements are weighed based on importance. The fidelity tool has shown validity over time nationally.

http://www.theccl.org/FairweatherLodge/Standards.aspx

COST EFFECTIVENESS OF LODGE MODEL

Fair Weather Lodge (FWL)

Homeless Shelter

Incarceration Inpatient

$11.00 / day PP $110 / day PP $120 / day PP $460 - $600 / day PP

$15,750 / year $40,000 / year $44,000 / year Avg $193,500 / year

“NEXT STEPS” TO STARTING A LODGE

Funding Availability

Creativity is the key: endowments, grants (public and private), homeless funding

Proof of Model

Quality Fidelity to the Model is maintained

Cost effectiveness is far below other service models for housing/programming

Dedicated or Targeted Population

Many new initiatives for specific populations are being funded publically and through private organizations.

“NEXT STEPS” TO STARTING A LODGE

Partnerships and Technical Assistance State/OMHSAS has been long in support of Lodges

FY 2002-2013, $210,000

PA State Fairweather Lodge Coalition Network of experienced Lodge providers and coordinators

National Coalition for Community Living Monthly calls

Conferences

Consultation available

“NEXT STEPS” TO STARTING A LODGE

More about the Coalition for Community Living

National Organization and Board

Toolkit available

Fidelity standards, outcome reporting and certification

Annual Conference

For more information about CCL, visit

www.theccl.org

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Expansion of Businesses - PASURegional Training LodgesVeterans LodgesTransition Age YouthBusinesses as social entrepreneurial enterprises –

Greenlight ProductsNew initiatives and Innovations

PERSPECTIVES

Lodge Impact on:MembersCoordinators NeighborhoodsMental Health System

MEMORIAL TO DR. FAIRWEATHER AT 2015 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PITTSBURGH – 9/23/15

MEMORIAL TO DR. FAIRWEATHER AT 2015 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PITTSBURGH – 9/23/15

MEMORIAL TO DR. FAIRWEATHER AT 2015 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PITTSBURGH – 9/23/15

MEMORIAL TO DR. FAIRWEATHER AT 2015 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PITTSBURGH – 9/23/15

MEMORIAL TO DR. FAIRWEATHER AT 2015 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PITTSBURGH – 9/23/15

MEMORIAL TO DR. FAIRWEATHER AT 2015 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PITTSBURGH – 9/23/15