Resources
- What are the Benefits of ICCD Membership?
- How do I Start a Clubhouse?
- Certification/Accreditation
- Clubhouse Training
- Tools for ICCD Member Clubhouses
- Resources for Clubhouse Coalitions
Resources
Certification / Accreditation Program Description
Clubhouse certification is the ICCD’s quality assurance program, designed to determine whether an organization is providing a full range of Clubhouse opportunities to its members.
Clubhouse certification involves the entire Clubhouse community in an interactive process of self-evaluation and strategic planning. After developing its own in-depth certification Self Study, the Clubhouse is visited by an ICCD Faculty team that reviews the Clubhouse’s Self Study and its fidelity to the consensually established International Standards for Clubhouse Programs. The two-person Faculty teams are trained members and staff from strong ICCD Certified Clubhouses around the world. Each team consists of one Clubhouse staff and one Clubhouse member.
The entire Clubhouse works together to prepare for the certification visit, evaluating the Clubhouse performance in relationship to the Standards. Each area of the Clubhouse is reviewed and discussed at community meetings, unit meetings, and other special forums convened to prepare for certification. The result of the self-study process is a written report from the Clubhouse to the ICCD and the consulting team, describing the Clubhouse and its areas of strength and relative weakness, as seen by the members and staff. In this process, the Clubhouse begins to identify aspects of the program which they would like to improve. The Self-Study facilitates a sense of ownership and teamwork amongst the members and staff at the Clubhouse, is a vehicle for increasing understanding about the Clubhouse model, assists each individual to better understand his/her specific role in the success of the Clubhouse, promotes consensus-building about improving the Clubhouse in relation to the Standards, generates a sense of empowerment for both members and staff at the Clubhouse, becomes the foundation for strategic improvement in the operation of the Clubhouse, and provides the ICCD faculty team with a place to begin the consultation.
The Site Visit
The certification visits are made by members of the ICCD Faculty for Clubhouse Development. The Faculty consultants are members and staff from strong Clubhouses around the world. Each certification visit is made by a team of one staff and one member from the Faculty for Clubhouse Development.
After receiving and reviewing the self-study and other relevant materials submitted by the Clubhouse, the ICCD member and staff team from the Faculty for Clubhouse Development visit the Clubhouse for 3-4 days. While on site the faculty members confirm the information presented in the self-study, meet with members, staff, board members and other stakeholders of the Clubhouse. They participate in Clubhouse meetings, the work day and other Clubhouse activities. The team visits residential, employment and education sites where the Clubhouse is working with members. The faculty evaluates how well the Clubhouse has implemented the International Standards for Clubhouse Programs and provides ongoing consultation to the Clubhouse while on site. During the last day of the visit the faculty makes a verbal presentation to the entire Clubhouse community on their findings. They will highlight both areas of strength for the Clubhouse and make recommendations for improvement. This verbal report becomes the foundation for the written findings report submitted to the ICCD.
The Findings Report
After completing the visit to the Clubhouse, the faculty team prepares a written report of its findings and submits it to the ICCD. The content of the report is an expanded version of the verbal report, presented to the Clubhouse community on the last day of the visit. The report includes a detailed description of the Clubhouse, a review of the areas in which the Clubhouse is strong, and a set of specific recommendations about how the Clubhouse can improve and come more fully into compliance with the Standards.
Along with the report, the faculty team submits a recommendation to the ICCD regarding certification status for the Clubhouse. The report is then read by at least two experienced staff and/or members at the ICCD, and is critically reviewed for clarity, accuracy, helpfulness, and congruence with the recommended certification outcome.
Certification Status
After reviewing the report and reaching agreement, the faculty team awards one- or three-year certification, or defers certification, and forwards a letter indicating this certification outcome, along with the written report, to the Clubhouse.
Certification by the ICCD is a credential which affirms that a program is in fact operating as a Clubhouse, and is in substantial compliance with the International Standards for Clubhouse Programs.
Certification by the ICCD is awarded for either one or three years. This determination is made based on the extent to which the Clubhouse is complying with the Standards. Certification is deferred for those programs that are significantly out of compliance with the Standards.
Ongoing Technical Support
Ongoing technical support may continue with your ICCD faculty consultants.
Your Clubhouse may also receive ongoing formal support in the form of consultations, etc. from any of the 10 ICCD certified training bases. This service is for "at-cost" with fees established accordingly.