Clubhouse Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation - The ICCD, Clubhouse Standards, and Accreditation

The ICCD, Clubhouse Standards, and Accreditation

As more treatment programs began adopting and implementing the principles of the Clubhouse Model, the need for some sort of central organization and defining criteria of what a clubhouse comprises became apparent. In March 1994, the International Center for Clubhouse Development was created to serve and represent the rapidly growing clubhouse community. Through the ICCD, a set of International Standards for Clubhouse Programs were developed and consensually agreed upon by the worldwide clubhouse community, giving the first working definition of the Clubhouse Model of Rehabilitation. Every two years, the worldwide clubhouse community reviews the Standards, and amends them as deemed necessary. The process is coordinated by the ICCD Standards Review Committee, which made up of members and staff of ICCD-certified clubhouses from around the world. The Standards serve as a "bill of rights" for members and a code of ethics for staff, oversight boards, and administrators. The Standards consistently emphasize choice, respect, and opportunity for all clubhouse members. Currently, there are 36 standards.

These standards also provide the basis for assessing clubhouse quality, which is evaluated through the ICCD certification process. Programs wishing to officially adopt the Clubhouse Model can request a visit from ICCD Faculty Members (consisting of members and staff from various clubhouses around the world), who pay a three day visit to the program, assessing its adherence to the ICCD Standards, giving feedback regarding the quality of the program, and, ultimately, deciding whether the official status of the program should be given the title of "Clubhouse."