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The Friendship House offers people with mental illness an opportunity to socialize in a setting that is not treatment oriented, while offering the opportunity for learning and problem-solving to occur with the assistance of staff or members. The program was created in 1981 in response to the needs of the people of Woodbury County. Since that time, the Friendship House has authorized membership to more than 1000 people. Approximately 140 different members use the Friendship House each month, with an average of 40 members visiting each day.
Members enjoy both structured and unstructured activities. Examples of activities might include:
- Pool Tournaments
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Darts
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Arts and Crafts
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Bowling
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Cards
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Movies
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Music
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Board Games
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Community Activities
- Holiday & Special Event Parties
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday 9:30 – 4:30, Saturday 1:00 - 4:00
Lunch meal Monday through Friday at 11:45. A light lunch is served on Saturday.
Membership is free to Woodbury County residents who have a verified mental illness. Non-residents can pay $10 for a lifetime membership. The Friendship House is located very near Siouxland Mental Health Center. If you are interested in joining the Friendship House, or you just want some more information, contact Friendship House at (712)255-4209 or email Kathy Roberts, Manager
Monthly Newsletters:
  
  
  
Peer Support Services:
The Peer Support Specialist
can offer hope, strength
friendship and compassion
to individuals and/or groups toward recovery goals
from mental health issues.
A trend has emerged in delivery and
funding of mental health services during the last decade toward increased consumer involvement in treatment planning and decision-making. The 2003 President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health emphasized the philosophy of recovery as a person-centered approach
focused on education, illness management, personal responsibility, self-advocacy and empowerment.
Peer Support Services are delivered by
Peer Support Specialists who have lived experiences in mental health and who are
trained in a recovery-based, empowerment
model that embraces the strengths of the
individual being served in order to achieve his/her goals.
Peer Support Services are not meant
to replace traditional mental health treatment and services, but can function as part of the mental health professional team in offering one-to-one support, and
staffing recovery centers.
PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS . . .
- Serve as advocates for consumers/families and assist with the design and implementation of programs that support consumers/families with mental health Issues.
- Educate mental health providers and co-workers about mental health and recovery, and provide unique insights based on personal experiences. Peer Support Specialists serve as support staff to assist in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery.
- Are required to abide by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Regulations and to meet all Confidentiality guidelines. Peer Support Specialists adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and maintain confidentiality.
Click here for more information on the Iowa Peer Support Training Academy or Contact Friendship House.
Friendship House employs two WRAP facilitators:
WRAP is offered at Friendship House as a 12-week group. Watch our newsletter for details to register for the next session.
The goals of Mental Health Recovery and Wrap are to teach participants recovery and self-management skills and strategies:
- promote higher levels of wellness, stability and quality of life
- decrease the need for costly, invasive therapies
- decrease the incidence of serious mental health challenges
- decrease traumatic life events
- increase understanding of these mental health challenges and decrease stigma
- raise participants' level of hope and encourages their actively working toward wellness
- increase participants' sense of personal responsibility and empowerment
Explore these web sites for more information on Mental Health Recovery and other information from Mary Ellen Copeland.
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