McLaughlin Park, Brooklyn, NY

                                                                      Photo by: C. Malamud

In October of 2015, Joyce contacted Gwenn Fried, the manager of Horticultural Therapy Services Department (HTSD) at New York University Langone Medical Center — Rusk Rehabilitation, to inquire whether she knew of a horticultural therapy intern who might be interested in working with the project. Gwenn turned to this TCA partner interning at HTSD and asked whether I might be interested. This opportunity has turned into a natural progression, combining my extensive psychosocial rehab background with my HT training over the past four years.

TCA is pleased to announce that as of May of this year, we began providing consultation services in HT and community development. Sponsorship for The GreenWorks Team project at McLaughlin Park has come from both the NYC Parks Department in the form of plants, mulch, compost and access to secure locker space in McLaughlin Park, and the Partnership for Parks Foundation for staffing allotments. A caveat of the Partnership for Parks affiliation involves progressive garden activities each year. In 2014, the first year, was devoted to creating the garden project at McLaughlin Park with volunteers from the community who are members of BCS Metro Club PROS. The second year (2015), The GreenWorks Team obtained a grant for staffing to develop member Team Leaders. For 2016 (this year) for a consultant to facilitate member Team Leaders’ engaging community involvement in McLaughlin Park by joining Friends of McLaughlin Park. – in order for this beautification of the park to become self-sustaining.

Starting May 9th, 2016 every Thursday, this TCA partner conducts a 45-minute seminar with members of Metro Club, prior to then walking the short block to McLaughlin Park. Each week, the seminars cover community development how-to’s, ranging from designing a banner to place in the Park, writing blurbs for a flyer, composing e-mails to invite community volunteers who have indicated their interest in the garden when walking by; conducting role-plays of telephone inquiries as to whether targeted individuals in the community might attend a Friends-of-McLaughlin Park (FoMP) organizational meeting, writing thank-you notes to people who respond to our invitations, etc. – all with input from the members every step of the way. After the seminar, and for the next two hours, members learn about new plants, with both Joyce’s and my demonstrating the proper planting procedures. We then distribute the new plants in the garden, with members’ decisions regarding their preferences for which flowers and plants to put next to existing garden layout and making sure adequate light will be available. Next, member team leaders are paired with new members for planting and caring for the garden in general. At the end of the gardening activities, members spontaneously share comments about the pleasures of working side-by-side in the garden. One member was amazed to see an Oak Leaf Hydrangea he planted last year had not only survived the winter, but was now bearing enormous white cone shaped flowers. “It makes me feel so good to see my plant in bloom!” he stated.

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

                                                                     Photo by: C. Malamud

Throughout the week, Joyce and I also discuss plans in person and by phone, as well as working independently.  She, for example, through her affiliation with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Parks Department has obtained generous donations of plants. In addition, this year, BCS Metro Club PROS has also contributed funds underwriting the costs of new plants to be planted in the McLaughlin Park gardens. Joyce has forged a great deal of community good will at her local nursery, where she purchases and loads up her car with weekly batches of new plants (Coral Bells, Ajuga, Liriope, Black-Eyed Susan’s, Coleus, Caladium, to name some).

I also work independently on creating the flyers and banner based on the member input, and design the weekly psychoeducational seminars designed for out-reach and generalizability for members’ community living skills such as the appropriate way to write Con Ed or cell phone service about a discrepancy in the bill. In addition, I conduct walkabout community outreach, dropping by offices of local business, where potential Friends of McLaughlin Park might be contacted, either directly or indirectly by leaving our flyer on display. Some of the sites I visited are St. James Church, the church next to the park; Concord Village, a 7-unit residential development with its own landscaped courtyard; CUNY – Tech; and NYU/PolyTech School of Engineering. Everywhere I have make contact, I was received cordially and everyone promised to circulate our flyer.

McLaughlin Park Garden, Jay Street, from Tillary Street to Cathedral Place

                                                                Photo by: C. Malamud
On Thursday, July 7th, after our seminar and role plays about introducing ourselves to the public while working in McLaughlin Park, two of the new member volunteers accompanied me on a community education and development activity, visiting the NYC Transit Department, located in the same building as Metro Club. All three of us were wearing our Parks Department t-shirts provided by the Partnership for Parks Foundation, and were received pleasantly by one of the NYTA officers at the front desk. Afterwards, when outside the building, I debriefed both members, who were pleasantly surprised by how positively we were received.

Our next stop was directly across Jay Street, at the Concord Village apartment complex, which has its own landscaped gardens. The doorman recognized me and waved us through to the office of the building Maintenance Office Manager. As she saw us enter the office, she called out: “Be right there!” and cordially greeted me and the two members, who introduced themselves. This time both members participated in the conversation, introducing themselves to the Manager before I inquired whether anyone from the Garden Committee for the complex might be interested in coming to see us working in McLaughlin Park now that we were having Open Garden Days every Thursday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The manager was surprised that we hadn’t heard from the committee leader, who had seen our flyer in her building’s mailbox area even before the manager forwarded it to her attention. The manager then promised to extend our invitation to the tenants’ committee.  After we completed our visits, I debriefed both of the members, who were very proud of their ability to speak out about why they wanted to invite community residents to join the FoMP. The members commented: “They were so nice to us! I never knew I could speak up like that but when talking about the garden it was easy!”

As the goal of creating FoMP is to become a self-sustaining garden activity, all of us – The Partnership for Parks Foundation, the members of BCS Metro Club PROS, The GreenWorks Team and TCA – will continue to reach out to community resources to invite them to join.

FoMP Banner, located in McLaughlin Park

                                                                    Photo by:  C. Malamud

As always, we at TCA invite readership comments and feedback at either the URL below, or directed to

tandcassociates@gmail.com

We will review your comments and share them when possible.

It so happened that after three years in various program activities including two carwash locations, an evening hour group placement on the Ideal Toy Company assembly line and the small business project that a new direction opened up. The then Research Director moved on to a university position at the same time that an NIMH research grant period was coming to an end and a final report was needed. John Beard asked if I would be interested in helping him do the final data analysis and report preparation. This was a dream come true, however I had one request – that members would be needed to help in this effort. Beard immediately agreed and the result was the initiation of a new program unit. This then was how I first met Thorne, Jill, Maria, Kathy and a whole cadre of others who became interested in research.                                                              Photo by:  J. Confino

Thorne had a graduate degree in Psychology and was an expert on the use of statistics. This expertise was brought to bear in analyzing the data collected for the NIMH study. That was his gift to Fountain House. In turn, we were able to help him return to a lucrative job as a programmer for a University-based research project.

Jill was an early participant in the newly created research unit, where she put her clerical skills to good use on the donated IBM keypunch and card sorting machines.

Kathy also was successful on several TE placements and obtained a full-time job at a law office library. While working, she completed Social Work school and with an MSW was able to secure a job at a Project Renewal residence.

Kathy also has been called on to provide peer review for several articles submitted to the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. She served on the Fountain House Unusual Incidents Committee that reviewed consumer complaints.

One anecdote bears relating in reference to our success in conducting long-term follow-up. In collecting data for subjects in the original NIMH study, we obtained 9-year information on over 95% of the 352 Experimental and Control subjects. For the one person whom we were unable to locate, we scanned the original application form indicating his contact person as his father. On the application the father’s telephone number was at a public school in Queens. In calling the number we were informed that the father had retired from his position in the athletic department of the school and in checking the Queens telephone directory, no such person was listed.

Combining our brains, we surmised that the father, being a retired coach from Queens, might have just moved to Port St. Lucie, Florida, Spring time home of the NY Mets baseball team. We checked that area’s telephone directory and sure enough the father’s name was found. We called him and found that his son was doing well, living on Long Island, and he was pleased to give us his telephone number. We reached the son and were able to obtain the required information.

The research studies conducted at Fountain House documented three important findings: 1) psychiatric hospitalizations, while not eliminated by aggressive rehabilitation services, are greatly reduced and occur less frequently; 2) rehabilitation is a long-term process; and 3) members help obtaining more accurate and complete results,

John vividly illustrates these findings:

In the winter of 1968 I had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized at Bellevue, the receiving hospital in New York City. I was subsequently transferred to a private hospital. Though the treatment I received there was far more humane, it fell short of what I needed to achieve a full recovery and to resume my college education immediately. In addition, at the time of discharge, no provision was made for any kind of follow-up care, such as therapy, halfway house or community based rehabilitation facility. I was told that there was nothing more the hospital could do for me, that I had to rely solely on my own resources.

Following a year of working and going to school part-time, I returned to college, but upon graduation I was faced with the same problem of what to do. For a year and a half, I drifted through a succession of jobs, lasting a few weeks or so, never making a real first start. Eventually I was rehospitalized. This time I received excellent treatment and was discharged in a reasonably short period. Most importantly, I was referred to Fountain House by a staff social worker, whose description of the employment program persuaded me to become a member. Over the next four years I participated in all aspects of the rehabilitation program; I did volunteer work in the prevocational day program, lived in a Fountain House apartment and worked on three jobs provided through the program of transitional employment…. Then I got my own full-time job as a paralegal with a small New York law firm, where I worked for a year. I (then was) employed by Fountain House.
.
Maria joined the Research Unit where she became active in helping with a number of the on-going research projects. She proved a valuable contributor in gathering follow-up data on a study documenting the replication of the TE model with some 100 programs located throughout the nation. This project was actually under the supervision of Horizon House in Philadelphia (Irving Rutman, Principle Investigator). The Final Report acknowledged her important role in the project.

The most basic lesson concerning research that I learned from these years of experience is that while most mental health research is directed at measuring pathology or the degree of its absence, there is as much to be gained by focusing on the degree of health or wellness that an individual is attaining. To determine what the level of this positive outcome is over time, we developed an instrument that recorded major changes in a person’s level of community adjustment. This instrument became known as COCA (Categories of Community Adjustment). COCA consists of the following 10 major identifiers or categories of community involvement:

1. Independent Employment
2. Transitional Employment
3. Daytime psychosocial rehabilitation involvement
4. Other rehabilitation or educational training program
5. Miscellaneous activities – vacation, family and home responsibilities, retirement
6. Physical illness, either hospital or homebound
7. Psychiatric hospitalization
8. In community but isolated and uninvolved in any formal activity
9. Deceased
10 No information, lost

Data collection consists of following individuals as they progress from a starting point, typically the day they start at Fountain House – thus being recorded in Category 3. Each time there is a change in category the date and category number are recorded. For purposes of validation, if after each 30-day period no change has occurred that date is also recorded.

If an individual occupies more than one category at a time the lower numbered category is to be recorded. Thus, for example, if one is independently employed and also attending Fountain House, the employment category is considered most descriptive of community status. Likewise, if one is psychiatrically hospitalized but also attending Fountain House during the day, Category 3 is selected as most descriptive.

One of the happier aspects of utilizing this instrument is that members are very much involved in data collection because among other things the information is both public and informative. Members can see that the results can be meaningful to them personally as well as significant to society in general. This can be seen in the table below, summarizing of data collected on 140 members over an 18-month period following their intake into Fountain House:

Adjustment Category at the End of 6, 12 and 18 Months

                                                       6 Months          12 Months            18 Months
Adjustment Category                      N         %            N         %              N          %
1. Independent Employment          5        3.6          11        7.9            23      16.4
2. Transitional Employment           88      62.9         71       50.7           54      38.6
3. Fountain House                        33       23.6        29       20.7           24      17.1
4. Other Rehab or Education         3         2.1         13         9.3          10          7.1
5. Miscellaneous                            0           -             0          –              0             -
6. Physical Illness                          0          –             0          –              1          0.7
7. Psychiatric Hospitalization          2         1.4           3        2.1             3         2.1
8. In Community – isolated             7         5.0           9        6.4            17       12.1
9. Deceased                                   1          0.7          2        1.4             2         1.4
10. Lost                                          1          0.7          2         1.4            6          4.3
Total                                           140     100.0       140       99.9         140       99.8

While these data were collected some 25 years ago (1981), they underscore the point that such information is of great interest to both members and the general mental health field. At the end of 18 months, 55% of members were employed either on independent jobs or transitional employment placements. An additional 7.1% were in school or other rehab programs, and only three members were in hospital. Of special interest from a research standpoint was the fact that through member contact we obtained 18-month outcome information on 136 of the 140 members (or 97.1% of the study population).

Readership comments are most cordially welcome at the URL below or by writing to
tandcassociates@gmail.com
We at TCA maintain editorial rights over feedback, discussions and comments.

For many January 12, 2016, was just another post-holiday day.  For us at TCA, however, it was special as it was the day we visited Pioneer Clubhouse in Balgowlah (a suburb of Sydney), New South Wales, Australia.  As first-time visitors to Sydney, we discovered that many of its suburbs are islands in the Sydney Harbor, and so we enjoyed a tour or the Harbor while taking the commuter ferry to Manly Beach.  It being a beautiful summer day we walked from our Manly Beach apartment rental to Pioneer House, arriving at 10:00 am.  The clubhouse is located in a lovely residential area directly across the street from a golf course.

We walked in the nearest entrance, which as it turned out was not the main entrance but the Kitchen Unit exit.

Pioneer Clubhouse – first view

We were greeted by Karina, one of the Kitchen Unit members, who then led us through the Dining Room into the rest of the clubhouse.

And who wouldn’t love to work side-by-side with Pioneer Clubhouse members in this Kitchen Unit??

Opposite the Kitchen-Dining Room counter, we were impressed with the hanging of culinary-themed woodcuts.

We started a tour with Nicole Buckland, Operations Coordinator, and also met with Jason Kioko, the Director of Pioneer Clubhouse.  He informed us that he had been at Fountain House for Colleague Training in the 1990’s.  Following his clubhouse training, Jason worked in a clubhouse in Torrington, CT followed by a five-year stint as Director of a Clubhouse in Colorado before responding to a notice of a leadership opportunity at Pioneer Clubhouse,in 2005.

During our meeting with Jason, we learned that the site was originally an outdoor women’s bowling club.  The first priority of the program was therefore to enclose the lanes, installing air conditioning, establishing both clerical and education-employment units, and delineating office space for the director as well as a meeting room placed near the main entrance.  The building was further expanded by the addition of the kitchen-dining room with 20’ ceiling and windows, perpendicular to the Clerical and Education-Employment Unit. Board.  The results were a very attractive clubhouse setting, as seen in the photographs below:

Pioneer Clubhouse Entrance-way proper

Outside the main entrance is a beautiful garden area with many plants growths, and signs reading “Safe”, etc.

Signage guiding us to Pioneer Clubhouse Reception

The Reception area faces out on the deck and garden areas, inviting all inside with warm greetings.

The Indoor-Outdoor Reception Area

There is also a coop for Rhode Island Red chickens that lay 4 eggs a day (most of the time!), used by the Kitchen Unit for as part of the nutritious meal plans.

These Clara Cluckers have free range of the clubhouse grounds

And a greenhouse flanked by several raised garden beds for growing herbs, tomatoes and other vegetables for the Kitchen Unit menus– all of which are the makings of a Horticulture Unit.

The Greenhouse and Surrounding Raised Beds

Nearby, a ways off from the Chicken Coop and organic gardens is a little house for clinical services, including a clinical psychologist. for ease of access and crisis prevention.

One of the diverse activities members can do any time of the day is watering the plant beds in the large Pioneer Clubhouse garden.

Even in 100 degrees F this shade tree provides shelter and cool respite

At the conclusion of our meeting, Jason was very pleased to share that Pioneer Clubhouse had just received a conditional 3-year certification from Clubhouse International, pending the development of an Advisory Board for which he was preparing to hold a meeting at 3:00 pm. When he learned that we had set the whole day aside for our site visit, Jason invited us to join a meeting with members on the Advisory Board and the Chair of the Advisory Board, which we immediately accepted.

We were invited to stay for lunch and spend time chatting with members and other staff.  We met several members – Brandon, Marco, and Jane (a writer who has many pieces for clubhouse publication).   Another member was quietly studying a book on Art Nouveau which he gladly described to us. Following these conversations, we had some lunch – a hearty lentil soup with fresh fruit and coffee or tea — while chatting with another member, Clinton, and Brandon joined in.  After lunch we walked and talked with members and staff some more, while relaxing under the enormous native shade tree in the courtyard, where another member was watering plants.  Shortly thereafter, an Art Group gathered, and we saw some excellent water colors, wood cuttings and lithographs depicting local flowers and birds.

Just before 3:00 pm, Jason shared with us the agenda of Advisory Board being held that afternoon in preparation for a January 20th Advisory Board workshop for the purpose of developing its Mission Statement. Then the Advisory Board meeting convened promptly, led by Jason and Doug Miller, Advisory Board Chair, with Clinton and another member Simone, and the Clubhouse Operations Coordinator Nicole Buckland actively involved.  Key to the discussion was the question of core clubhouse values. The meeting concluded with the consensus that relationships among members and staff was the most important core value.  We, TCA, then utilized the walk back to Manly Beach to debrief ourselves and impressions before going for a swim and dinner, topping off our day at Pioneer Clubhouse.

We thank the Pioneer Clubhouse members and staff for their warm hospitality and look forward to hearing more progress.

Readership comments are most cordially welcome at the URL below or by writing to

tandcassociates@gmail.com

We at TCA maintain editorial rights over feedback, discussions and comments.

Readers may peruse the complete article by clicking on the link below:
http://static.ahta.org/epub/Journal-of-Therapeutic-Horticulture-Volume-XXV-Number-II/index.html#?page=20

The Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture is the official publication of the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA), and all of its publications are copyright protected.

TCA invites readership comments and feedback on this article at our website at the URL below, or by contacting us directly at

tandcassociates@gmail.com

On Thursday, October 8th, I had the good fortune to visit NorthStar, a clubhouse located in Portland, Oregon. TandC Associates, LLC had dual activities in Portland: Ciri was in Portland to attend the annual meeting of the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA). Because of the AHTA meeting’s being held in Portland this year, because I had known Bill Waters, the director of the clubhouse, when he participated in the 41st Colleague Training program at Fountain House (FH), it was only natural to schedule a site visit.

What a gift it was to arrive at noon to walk into a brightly lit, very clean street-level gathering place. About 30 members and staff welcomed me. After Nancy greeted me, she told me that Bill was in a meeting with the Advisory Board Chair. When I asked Nancy how she became involved with NorthStar, she replied that after working at a couple of jobs in the community, she was seeking a new opportunity, and was totally taken with the atmosphere of NorthStar when she visited. She was hired some six months ago. Several members and staff came over and introduced themselves, including a member with a guitar who said that later he would be performing the clubhouse song. The Employment Consultant, Dennis, introduced himself as having also been a colleague trained at FH.

The main room of the program was filled with members and staff sitting and waiting to hear from me. Bill and the Advisory Board member came out of their meeting and after a big hug, Bill called for the conversation to begin. Lunch was also served (a paper bag lunch of sandwich, crackers, and chips). Bill asked me to provide an introductory statement about how the clubhouse movement began, which I am always glad to provide.

Members then asked questions and in doing so also described how NorthStar had changed their lives.

Alice described how she had been helped, and asked how new activities were developed. I described how the Research Unit at FH had been developed as a new way for interested members could get involved in the program.

Another member told about how the opportunity to participate in a Transitional Employment (TE) placement has provided him a sense of dignity. Dennis asked how Supported Employment (SE) opportunities came about at Fountain House. I described how SE easily became available as a next step for those having successfully completed a TE.

Questions were asked about the role members play in hiring staff and intake new members.

Cheryl asked about FH’s view of the GLBT issue for intakes. I replied that anyone who had a major mental illness could become a member regardless of sexual orientation.

Bill asked for me to describe some of the unusual staff at FH over the years (Esther, Bob Harvey). After about an hour and a half, the meeting ended with Steve leading the singing of “Together We Thrive”, the clubhouse motto.

Following that Cheryl gave me a tour of the program, including the soon to be completed expansion which includes a large Culinary area, a conference room and more. She also described how the program has saved her life, as she has become a peer advocate, and will soon be working full time at the program where she had a participant before NorthStar.

Susan, the Advisory Board Chair, asked my opinion as to what were the most significant core values that distinguished the clubhouse. In response, I identified the notion that individuals with mental illness are people first and are members of a unique clubhouse, to which people become eligible by virtue of their mental health recovery. The clubhouse is based on the importance of self-help through mutual help, something which is best summed up by their motto of “Together We Thrive”. In addition, the belief that hope is essential; that the clubhouse will help everyone attain their highest ambition or goal; and that no goal is beyond attainment.

In conclusion, I will say that that Portland is a must-see community. In addition to the city itself, the scenic area of the surround, and the people, for us in the clubhouse movement, I heartily recommend a visit to the genuine Clubhouse Community of NorthStar.

Readership comments are most cordially welcome at the URL below or by writing to

tandcassociates@gmail.com

We at TCA maintain editorial rights over feedback, discussions and comments.

The cleanliness of the clubhouse is striking. I was also impressed with the friendliness of the many members who clearly were pleased to have a visitor in the clubhouse.  I particularly enjoyed my conversations with Anthony and Norma, among others.  Norma contributes to the program as an ESL expert.  Later I also talked with Paul about his experiences with his Transitional Employment placement at Jackrabbit Deliveries, which was written up in The NY Times last November.

Following my tour, I met with Katrina Grant (the Director), Bill Lampert (the E&E Unit leader) and Margie Staker, (another visitor on tour). We discussed the program:  The clubhouse has been in existence for 20 years.  They just had their Clubhouse International (CI) certification visit, for which they received provisional three-year certification, pending attention to a couple of matters.

During this discussion, I learned that about 20% of the membership is undocumented. Housing and clinical needs are a major issue, along with financial benefits.  Following this meeting, we had a great lunch.  The main menu was pizza, prepared by Gregor and a couple of other members and staff, Jamala. The coffee was fresh and good.

After lunch the afternoon unit meetings were held and I sat in at the E&E meeting, conducted by a member.  Afternoon tasks were chosen by the some six members and two Occupational Therapy (OT) interns, and included activities such as reaching out to absent members, cleaning tasks, for which the staff (Bill) was joined by members.

Other relevant employment and education issues were discussed.  At the close of the meeting one of the members asked me if I was there to become a member.  When I responded that I was not good enough to become a member, she stated that I was a good person and I should not berate myself.  I was very touched and said that while I was a good person, I was not good enough to become a member.  She laughed and moved on.

There were some 30 members present during the time I was East New York Clubhouse, which was a strong attendance in view of the fact that it was one of the most miserably hot and humid days of the year thus far.  I am looking forward to involvement in Advisory Board of this clubhouse, as it is a good program, clearly dedicated to in becoming even better.

Readership comments are most cordially welcome at the URL below or by writing to

tandcassociates@gmail.com

We at TCA maintain editorial rights over feedback, discussions and comments.

One of the most important of the core values found in the clubhouse model is that of self-help through mutual help.  This notion that giving to others provides a gift to the giver has remained strong over the years..

Michael M. provides a perfect example of this lesson. A Harvard graduate, alcohol and mental illness lead to his hospitalization at Manhattan (NY) Psychiatric Center (MPC) in the mid 70’s.  A project of bussing patients to Fountain House for the day was initiated at this time, and Michael was one of the patients who participated.  Soon he was discharged and over the years remained an active member.  While the project was terminated for state budgetary reasons, Michael never forgot how he arrived at Fountain House.  In 2005, a new initiative with MPC entailed having members go to the hospital on a weekly basis, meet with patients, and describe Fountain House to them.  He was one of the first to join this group, saying:

I had been a patient at MPC in the eighties before I joined Fountain House and the idea of going out there seemed like it might be rewarding, considering how I felt that FH had helped me get out of the hospital and get a new lease on life.  I know what it felt like to be stuck at MPC as I was there for almost seven years.  It has been very rewarding.  I’ve met many patients who, just like me in the 1980’s, don’t have many prospects– if and when they get out of the hospital.  Most of them get interested in FH and ask that applications be sent to their treatment teams.  So far we have received at least 30 applications and we’ve accepted more than 10 new members.  I’ve presented three of these applications to the FH Intake Committee and all of them have been accepted.  This has been a very rewarding experience for me…it’s one of the best things I have ever done.

George puts it another way, telling MPC patients:

I’m here to say that if I can make it in life, you can too.  Don’t let your past stand in the way of you having a better future for yourself.  That’s what this country is based on; it is the Land of Opportunity, and we are entitled to the same rights as any other red-blooded Americans.  The reason I say this is because if it was not for Fountain House, I too would be at MPC or some other place with doctors ready to throw away the key for life.  Doctors felt I was a threat to society.  But when I came to Fountain House, I didn’t let that stand in my way and you shouldn’t let your past stand in your way either.  At least check out Fountain House. I don’t think you’ll have any regrets.  I know I didn’t.

Greg talked about why he got involved in this project:

I believe we all have our stories to tell.  That is one of the reasons we go, to listen to (their) stories — how they got there, why they are (still) there, what do they want to do when they get out?  Our weekly conversations run the gamut…and give those who may never get a chance to be heard…While I cannot offer a lot…I can give them the attention they need, even if only for a few minutes a week.

Michael G. is a simple, soft-spoken older man who is satisfied when two goals are met.  The first is being employed, which he has accomplished, working at a local restaurant.  The second is going to MPC each week, meeting with inpatients to talk about his having been at that hospital for years, and is now free of that.  He believes that anyone there can also gain their freedom and pursue their goals and aspirations, as he has.  In his words he came to Fountain House after being:

…a patient at this center.  Now I’m working, and I go (on) Tuesday to influence…people who are on their way out.  Believe me, Fountain House is the best thing that happened to us.

Daneen is a “graduate” of the MPC Children’s Unit. She sums up her involvement:

We go Tuesday evenings and we all talk with the patients about joining Fountain House to get a second chance.

I have given much space here to the MPC project, not only because it has provided ample opportunities for several members of Fountain House to “give back.”  But it has also led to a number of long-term patients beginning to believe that a bright future is possible.

Equally as important the project has had a deep effect on me.  It has completed a circle that began a half-century earlier, growing up among state hospital patients –people — who influenced my outlook and career to being among such a group near the end of that career.  In turn perhaps my career over the years at Fountain House, including working with both Michael M. and Michael G., Daneen, Greg and George helped influence their outlook and future.  As an extra gift this completion included a second group (members) within which there exists a self-help through mutual help dynamic for all of us.

On a different level, this lesson is also taught with the example provided by Henry.  Henry had been in the hospital for 23 years when he joined Fountain House in 1974.  He went on to TE and also moved into a Fountain House apartment.  When a vacancy in that apartment occurred he offered it to a homeless member he had met, Norman.  Thus, began a relationship that very much played on the theme of giving is receiving.  Henry provided a home to Norman. Henry also served as an inspiration to Norman by going to his independent job very early every day.  Norman began to believe that it might also be possible for him to go to work someday.  This was, of course, what happened.

In return, Norman through his talents was able to make repairs in the apartment, and also later cared for Henry in his last days.  A better example of self-help through mutual help and giving is receiving cannot be found.

                                                                     photo by ciri-leiknes

As usual, this posting is part of a larger body of work pending publication.  Any quotation, or reference to it (or others) must be made with the authors’ permission, which may be obtained by contract through the e-mail listed below:

tandcassociates@gmail.com

or by contact via the URL below.   Readers’ comments and feedback are welcome by the same means, which will be edited and published for further discussion.

]]> https://tandcassociatesllc.com/?feed=rss2&p=643 0 https://tandcassociatesllc.com/?p=595 https://tandcassociatesllc.com/?p=595#comments Wed, 13 May 2015 21:23:15 +0000 admin-tca http://tandcassociatesllc.com/?p=595 ↓ Read the rest of this entry...]]> While the major part of relating to men and women in their fight against the demons of mental illness must be a serious and hard-hitting effort, there is also a place, in fact a need, for humor. Sometimes the best way to combat the expression of suffering is to “shock” a change through humor. Such an approach can only be effective, in our judgment, when a trusting and understanding relationship has been formed.

Robert was a man given to expressing his “lamentations” at the drop of a hat. Often, my approach, especially when he lamented in public, was to ask his permission to stomp as heavily as I could on his left (or right) foot. Usually, his response was to look at me strangely enough for me to ask again. Almost immediately after the second time, he invariably paused and then gave a large grin and changed the subject to something more relevant to the situation.

Peter, on the other hand, reversed the roles, as humor was a large part of his life and was often expressed with his composing and sending stencil-printed cards, celebrating both events and non-events, to wit:
____________________________________
|                 THIS IS A FREE CARD                  |
|                     It’s not good for                         |
|                 Anything – it’s just                         |
|                             FREE                                |
|      TO: Thomas J Malamud 15 June 1995    |
|___________________________________|

Grace had a droll self-deprecating sense of humor. She would comment about something she didn’t understand by exclaiming: “That went over my head like a gown!” My hunch was that she really did understand, but wanted to have a little time before responding.

Nicknames can be a humorous way to acknowledge the depth of a personal relationship, to wit:

Richard, all 6’6” of him, got a kick out of his nickname –“Tiny”

Steve always responded with a smile to the nickname “Steverino”

Danny U. who never gave up; worked until the day he died. He hadn’t worked for years, had long hospitalization, came to program, had a couple of TE placements, then went to full-time at Newsweek magazine and got married. He always chuckled when I would call his home and ask for “Ungerungerunger”. When he would check in with me he would always identify himself the same way.

Mark was the “Ace”; I was the “coach”

Maria B said that she was the “bane” of my existence.

George sometimes got so concerned about achieving his vocational goals that he would become almost paralyzed. At these times, all I would need to do was to mention “the plan”, “What is the plan, is this part of the plaaaaaan (sic)”? George would stop, begin to smile, and invariable say: “it is not part of the plan, it is the plaaaaan (sic)!” Making a joke did not deny the importance of the issue; it provided the kind of relief that made further action possible.

Fred, a deaf member of Fountain House is a hulk of a man, about six foot two, 250 pounds and a bright happy fellow who has become well trained in the use video equipment. He pretty well sums up the importance of humor as follows: “(Tom) would joke and tease me and sometimes stick his foot out and pretend to make me trip. (He) would have different games and fun things in his office. I remember the cute little monkey he had in his office. I like the monkey because it would bang on the drums and move around. I also liked the other things in Tom’s office because (he) likes to have fun. Tom would always include deaf members, and when he wanted to talk he would always get the interpreter.”

Vincent was as close as anybody at Fountain House came to being a ”flower child”. He was a strange, mystical, most intelligent, contrarian who certainly marched to his own drum. Vincent joined Fountain House very early, around 1950, after some years of hospitalization and never was hospitalized again. He had no desire to be employed in the usual sense of that word, choosing rather to follow his unique path to fulfillment. He married Margaret (another very bright member), they lived close to Fountain House for a number years until he was run over by NYC bus. Among his many attributes, he was a prolific composer of fables, about which it has been said:

We read Vincent… because through his work we may grasp an historical perspective. (He) is our Dead Sea Scrolls, the key, the missing link: it is he who magically embodies, through his subtle epigrams, the living pulse of American literature in unbroken continuity from last generation to this.  (David Latimer, in his Introduction of “Fables” by Vincent, published by Come!Unity Press, New York, NY, 1973.)

                                          Vincent   (Photo from “Fables”)

Here are some of his fables:

Once a dog had a bone. He was satisfied with it until he saw a dinosaur skeleton in the museum.
Moral: There can be too much of a good thing

Once a bird found a rock and sat on it for twenty years. He kept it warm and nice but it didn’t hatch.
Moral: Such perseverance for nothing

Once an intruder was making a lot of noise on the roof. The householder went up and this dialogue ensued:
“Who are you?”
“Mumble, mumble.”
“I don’t care who you are, get those goddamned reindeer off my roof!”
Moral: No telling who you’ll meet in the winter.

Once a lost bird flew to Algeria. The crows received him with open arms and wings extended in friendly solidarity.
Moral: Algeria’s okay if you’re a bird.

Once a flower sat in a bed of skunk cabbage. He made the air nice and sweet but a little girl came along and picked him off.
Moral: Don’t be too noticeable or you’ll be “offed”.

Once a dog had a bone and he hoarded a lot of them but he wouldn’t give anyone else any so the other dogs ganged up on him and took all his bones and stored them away for themselves.
Moral: Comes the revolution everyone has bones.

Once a pig and a wolf fell in love and got married. The pig had a large salaried position with the police department and the wolf fell right into his orbit. Their parents thought they were incompatible but they turned out to have some things in common.
Moral: Some pigs are wolfish and some wolves are piggish.

As usual, this posting is part of a larger body of work pending publication.  Any quotation, or reference to it (or others) must be made with the authors’ permission, which may be obtained by contract through the e-mail listed below:

tandcassociates@gmail.com

or by contact via the URL below.   Readers’ comments and feedback are welcome by the same means, which will be edited and published for further discussion.

This theme could also describe many people who are currently long-term patients of state mental hospitals. Despite an image of shuttered hospital doors and de-institutionalized patients after the 1970s, state hospitals still account for the care and treatment of more than 30,000 people. Many of them are buried in a deep sense of hopelessness, which is compounded by neglect from having been forgotten.

Yet, with help, interest, and inspiration, they might gain hope, look to the future and plan for their post-hospital life. With this in mind, a pilot project involved members from Fountain House going out to Manhattan Psychiatric Center (MPC) for two hours every Tuesday evening to meet long–term hospitalized inpatients for the purpose of discussing future post-hospital plans.

As George put it one Tuesday evening at MPC — reminiscent of “Shawshank Redemption”:  If it was not for Fountain House, I, too, would be at MPC, with doctors ready to throw away the key for life. Remember, dare to dream. I’m here to say that if I can make it in life, you can, too. Don’t let your past stand in the way of you having a better future for yourself.

I got to know Michael N. at MPC during our Tuesday evening visits. As we talked about Fountain House and his plans after discharge, he became more and more intrigued about the future. One Tuesday we discussed the importance of discovering hope for someone locked away in a state hospital, and at my request he submitted the following for publication in the weekly issue of Fountain House Today:

On the Inside Looking Out

Once a week, representatives from Fountain House (come) to Manhattan Psychiatric Center on Wards Island. I am a patient here at MPC and I have been meeting with (them) for 6 months now. I became enthusiastic about becoming a member of Fountain House, basically because I have something in common with the Fountain House perspective, which is people with mental illness can and do live happy lives even with such an issue.

On the other hand, I am impressed with the idea that there is a place where I can start a new life after hospitalization…. Indeed, I consider myself lucky to be a candidate for membership in Fountain House.

Chris summed up the process of discovering what could be possible:  After hearing about the years that some had been there [MPC], I began to think that I would never be discharged. One way the time went quickly was looking forward to Tuesday night meetings…with Fountain House staff and members. Learning about Fountain House was new to me. I was attracted to what Fountain House had to offer in terms of housing, employment and education. While at MPC, I filed an application and was accepted. Soon after, I was discharged.

Joe described the importance of getting away from the hospital in the following way:  I first came to Fountain House in April of 1982 when I was a patient at Bronx Psychiatric Center, and at the time, I was just glad to get out of the hospital for the day, to just come some place to get away from the ward. And I came to Fountain House for a few months, making that long walk off the grounds of Bronx State, taking the subway in and taking the subway back, and taking the long walk back in every night.

Michael D. was much involved in the program we had at the High Point Farm Project in northwest New Jersey, where among other activities visiting colleagues from clubhouse programs elsewhere would spend a few days as part of their training experience. Interesting discussions ensued on these occasions and following one such weekend series of discussions, Michael sent me the following letter:

Much Ado about Something and Someone

Dear Teacher,

A while ago on a colleague weekend at High Point – at one o’clock in the morning – you said that there is no life after death.

Since that time that thought keeps popping into my mind. And so, this letter.

Do you consider yourself an atheist?
Can a person believe in God and not believe in life after death?
Did you always think – better, believe – that way?
If not, what made you change your mind?

Whenever anyone asks me “What is a good Christian?”, I tell them to hang around with a good Jew, a good Moslem, a good atheist, a good agnostic, whatever!

If there is no life after death, why can’t I try to get away with as much as I can? Why can’t I steal? Rape? Fornicate? Lie? Kill? Whatever?

If you really don’t believe in life after death, why are you a man of such high morals? Why do I feel a lot closer to the God I believe in when I’m near you than when I’m near most people? In other words, why are you so good, if you’re going to end up so bad?

That’s it, Teach! That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.

See Yah,

If there is life after death, and if there is a judgment, all – atheist, agnostic, Christian, Moslem, etc., etc.,, will be judged the same way: “What good – if anything – have you done with your time?”

Paul put it best: “We see through a glass darkly.” However, to be honest with you, I can’t see through the glass. I “see” nothing beyond it. I simply live in hope.

Michael D. (photo by J. Confino)

Not only did Michael D. live in hope, he also conveyed hope to many others in his life. His mere presence and wonderful use of language was most uplifting to those around him, including me.

As usual, this posting is part of a larger body of work pending publication.  Any quotation, or reference to it (or others) must be made with the authors’ permission, which may be obtained by contract through the e-mail listed below:

tandcassociates@gmail.com

or by contact via the URL below.   Readers’ comments and feedback are welcome by the same means, which will be edited and published for further discussion.

                                                                                          Photo: c malamud

As an Almoner for nearly 20 years I granted awards amounting in total to nearly $90,000.  To give some examples of how just a little award can significantly enhance a person’s quality of life and ability to achieve goals:

When Tom joined Fountain House, he and his cat moved into SRO housing.  The cat needed to be neutered in order for Tom to keep him in the apartment and so it was decided that a grant of $56 paid directly to the vet would be in Tom’s best interests.

David has been a very active member who completed several TE placements.  However he suffered a setback and had to be hospitalized.  After his discharge he was unable to support himself financially and so he needed to be employed as quickly as possible.  He was granted a mere $50 to purchase clothing for the TE position he obtained.

Fabio, after becoming a United States citizen, received a much needed $100 to obtain a US Passport in order to return to his native Columbia to marry his fiancée and then bring her back to America. .

Reginald lost all of his identity documents.  He was a permanent resident and most anxious to obtain duplicates in order to go to work, obtain needed benefits and secure housing.  A small donation of $88.25, allowed Reggie to receive a copy of his birth certificate from Jamaica with which he was able to get the remaining documents and subsequently start a TE placement.

Bert a man in his mid-60’s had been an in-patient at Manhattan Psychiatric Center for many years. Upon meeting him, one is struck by his dignified bearing, wry smile and soft-spoken manner.  He was a regular attendee at the Fountain House sponsored Tuesday evening socials held in the hospital’s snack bar.  One such Tuesday, we learned that his brother had just died, and that the funeral was to be held that following Monday.  Bert felt he was unable to attend because he did not have the appropriate clothing and the hospital could only provide a shirt and tie.

One of the Fountain House members asked and got his measurements including shoe size, and by the end of the week had, through the Fund’s help, purchased a black suit and matching black shoes. That Saturday, she and another member, on their own, traveled to Ward’s Island in the middle of the East River to deliver the new attire to Bert.  On the following Tuesday, the day after the funeral, Bert arrived at the snack bar all dressed up. Smiling from ear to ear he reported on the funeral, expressing the family’s appreciation for his being there, as well as his own gratitude for the opportunity.Within two months of that Tuesday, Bert was discharged from the hospital.  He became a member of Fountain House and is “giving back” by attending the Tuesday evening socials to help inspire other patients to plan for their discharge.

For many individuals receiving Medicaid or Medicare benefits, certain events occur for which such benefits are not available:

While Ray was enrolled in graduate school, he supported himself with per diem social service work, supplemented by SSDI and Medicare benefits.  When he broke his eyeglasses Medicare was not available because not enough time had elapsed since his last prescription. $440 allowed him to obtain new glasses, complete his semester’s work and go on to receive his degree.

Antoinette needed dental work not covered by Medicaid before she could go back to work.  We provided the $400 required for the procedure.  Antoinette was able to subsequently obtain employment and was adamant about repaying the advance for the use by others in need.

Educational needs were a third area were a little money helped in a big way:

Gladys needed help to maintain her job and her academic status.  A grant of $500 made it possible for her to get needed textbooks for her graduate courses and procure proper attire for her new job.

In order for Randy to  succeed at completing a course on Computer Animation at the NYU Center for Advanced Digital Applications, she had to acquire a pair of “Definity” lenses so she received the $340 she needed to purchase them

As usual, this posting is part of a larger body of work pending publication.  Any quotation, or reference to it (or others) must be made with the authors’ permission, which may be obtained by contract through the e-mail listed below:

tandcassociates@gmail.com

or by contact via the URL below.   Readers’ comments and feedback are welcome by the same means, which will be edited and published for further discussion.