In the June 1, 2012 online issue of  The Sustainability Report , Editor Rachel Alembakis, posted an article: “Banks’ plans address Indigenous hiring, financial exclusion.” Alembakis begins the article:

“All four of the largest banks in Australia have set formal targets and policies to increase employment of Indigenous Australians, engage with Indigenous communities, and increase Indigenous access to financial products and services. Representatives from the banks all say that their Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP) are aligned with their roles as financial service providers to all Australians, and have developed micro-lending, traineeships, and financial literacy programmes, as well as partnering with Indigenous community and civil society groups to achieve the outcomes.

“While each bank’s RAP has goals and programs for their specific business strategy, all are aimed at improving outcomes in the     three main areas of employment, community engagement and ameliorating financial exclusion (emphasis added). It is also being quietly discussed that not only are these activities part of the bank’s social charter, but they can also be a source of long-term value generation as well.”
She goes on to describe, in detail, the efforts by the banks to meet this social challenge. Although the focus of the above is a financial institutions attack on exclusionary forces effecting Indigenous (Aboriginal) communities in Australia, we at TandC Associates were struck with the relevance to the exclusionary forces faced by those suffering from severe mental illnesses. Because of the chronological and direct effects of mental illnesses on those inflicted, it is typical that they are excluded from the following, but not limited to:

1) the work force due to the lack of work history;
2) educational opportunities for a variety of reasons;
3) opportunities to open bank accounts, credit cards, driver’s licenses, etc.;
4) decent housing opportunities; and
5) as previously discussed [in our July 21st & August 1st postings] easy access to both psychiatric and primary medical care services.

A number of efforts have evolved over the years to overcome these exclusionary conditions, the most successful of which we believe is the clubhouse model. From the inception of the WANA (We Are Not Alone) Society which led to the launching of Fountain House in 1948, innovative measures were introduced in order to overcome these exclusions and bring about integration into the larger community. Transitional Employment (TE) provides easy access to commerce and industry, making it possible to develop a useful resume and leading to independent employment. Howard Rusk, MD the designated father of rehabilitation programs – including the provision of wheel-chair access for the physically disabled – referred to TE as the “invisible ramp” for the psychiatrically disabled.

Similar efforts led to the provision of decent housing for members by Fountain House, providing the necessary initial rental security requirements not otherwise available to those on SSI or SSDI public benefits. The establishment of internal scholarship awards provided educational opportunities for many otherwise not possible under the usual academic requirements such as minimum credit hours each semester. As described in the entries cited above, the Sydney Baer Center and the Carriage House Clinic are examples providing easy access to medical and psychiatric services. Numerous other services could be cited to demonstrate how we as a society can overcome the meanness of the “we-them” exclusionary conditions.

In the next article, again regarding the banks’ plans as described in The Sustainability Report article referenced earlier, we will give a more personal account of the overcoming of exclusions within the Fountain House program.  That discussion hopefully will demonstrate that such programmatic changes are always a work in progress.

One further personal note is in order. The cited article about the Australian banks work with Indigenous communities is authored by Rachel Alembakis, our daughter. Rachel grew up within the Fountain House community, and understands the core values of the model as well as anybody.