The Year of - Independence Center

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Individual
Programs
West End Place Clubhouse
In 2007, Independence Center combined its two
clubhouses into one new 50,000 square foot facility
named West End Place, located at 4245 Forest Park
Avenue in the Central West End neighborhood of St.
Louis. Its contemporary design, increased space and
infusion of the latest technologies offers members
more opportunities than ever before. Members and
staff work together to keep the clubhouse running,
including working in the kitchen, dining room and snack
bar, the onsite resale shop, full service print center, the
member deposit account banking area, a full service
floral shop and the clubhouse’s video lab.
In addition to working in the Clubhouse, members get
connected to a variety of programs and services
offered through the clubhouse, including the following:
Education
This includes instruction, assistance in buying educational
materials, help with financial aid and ordering transcripts,
opportunities to serve as tutors, and assistance with
college enrollment.
Employment
One of Independence Center’s core beliefs is that
employment plays a central role in anyone’s life and
helps form an adult’s sense of identity and self worth.
Independence Center members build financial
independence and connect to the community by going
back to work. Adults with mental illnesses face enormous
obstacles in finding and keeping jobs. Sporadic work
histories due to hospitalization and illness as well as
the stigma associated with living with a mental illness
make it difficult to find and keep a job. The Center assists
members in going back to work via our transitional
and independent employment programs.
Transitional Employment (TE):
Transitional employment provides on-the-job training
and support, to help members learn work skills and meet
the employer's expectations. The positions are shortterm,
and provide members with the experience and
confidence to transition into independent employment.
Independent Employment (IE):
Unlike transitional employment, independent employment
placements are competitive and permanent. Each
placement meets the skills and experience on the
individual member and it also provides a supportive
environment and offers fair wages that will not negatively
affect his or her benefits. The intensity of supports is
dependent upon the needs of the member.
FIRST
FIRST experience as a new member of the Clubhouse.
Twenty-year-old Christina is working her very
first job ever at the Bryan Cave Law Firm via
Independence center's transitional employment
program. One of Independence Center's
strengths in 2008 was the increase in the
number of newly diagnosed young adults (18-25)
attending West End Place Clubhouse. In 2007,
only 24 attended, in 2008 that more than
doubled to 58. Mental illness typically first
presents itself between the ages of 16 and 25.
FIRST
Dave moves from transitional employment to an I E position
Dave Parker started working a transitional
employment position in the housekeeping
department at Washington University School
of Medicine. He did such a great job that he
was asked to move to an independent employment
position. In 2008, many members just like
Dave were able to work successfully with as
high as 274 members working in either
independent or transitional employment. 69% of
members who started a job this past year
were able to work at least 90 days, a 10%
increase over the previous year.