Who We Are

As a Clubhouse International accredited organization, we are proud to provide an environment focused on support, mentorship, and personal growth. It is these areas of focus that have earned us our second 3 year unconditional accreditation (the highest available) from Clubhouse International.

We are defined by our values of acceptance, empowerment, and egalitarianism.

Potential Place is a non-profit mental health agency dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic mental illness. We hope to help our members lead productive and rewarding lives.

We work to maintain a vibrant community of individuals seeking to overcome barriers presented by mental illness. Through participation, personal development, and individual empowerment, we give people the tools they need to create a sustainable, fulfilling lifestyle at work and at home.

We seek out employment opportunities for our members through initiatives like our Employment Program* and provide ongoing support, coaching, and mentorship to our members.

Potential Place advocates for housing for our members. In addition we have two small apartment buildings that house 25 members who live independently.

The YAOP (Young Adults of Potential) provides the opportunity for peer to peer engagement between young adults transitioning from youth programs into adult programming. The age range of our young adults are from 18 to 32 years.

Learn more about becoming a member, and follow us on social media.

The International Standards for Clubhouse Programs, consensually agreed upon by the worldwide Clubhouse community, define the Clubhouse Model of rehabilitation. The principles expressed in these Standards are at the heart of the Clubhouse community’s success in helping people with mental illness to stay out of hospitals while achieving social, financial, educational and vocational goals. The Standards also serve as a “bill of rights” for members and a code of ethics for staff, board and administrators. The Standards insist that a Clubhouse is a place that offers respect and opportunity to its members.

The Standards provide the basis for assessing Clubhouse quality, through the Clubhouse International Accreditation process.

Every two years the worldwide Clubhouse community reviews these Standards, and amends them as deemed necessary. The process is coordinated by the Clubhouse International Standards Review Committee, made up of members and staff of Accredited Clubhouses from around the world. Principles inherent in each of the Standards include:

• Membership: ensures members that their participation is fully voluntary and that they can access all the opportunities available to them through CI Clubhouses.
• Relationships: describes the unique collegial relationship between Clubhouse staff and members.
• Space: emphasizes the importance of creating a dignified, attractive environment where important work is carried out.
• Work-Ordered Day: describes the structure of the day-to-day activity within a Clubhouse, organized to help members develop self-esteem, confidence and friendships, which make up the foundation of the recovery process.
• Employment: ensures that Clubhouses offer members organized, effective strategies for moving into and maintaining gainful employment. Members have access to: Transitional Employment Opportunities; and Supported, and Independent Employment Opportunities.
• Education: ensures that Clubhouses offer members effective opportunities to complete their education.
• Functions of the House: addresses the basic requirements for meeting members’ needs, with an emphasis on social and health care services.
• Funding, Governance and Administration: describes requirements for overseeing and managing Clubhouses.
• For complete list of the 37 Clubhouse International Standards, please click here.