Fountain House Virtual Clubhouse
Creating spaces where people experiencing serious mental illness find strength in community.
Background
For over seventy years, Fountain House has served people living with serious mental illness through a network of mental health care programs rooted in vibrant, collaborative communities that build up work, wellness and social connections. The nonprofit’s high-touch, human-centered methodology has inspired an international presence in over 30 countries.
The Challenge
Fountain House consistently creates success for its members, sparking meaningful wins in education—members complete school at rates twice the national average for folks living with serious mental illness—and radical reductions in re-hospitalization, from 50% to 10%. But their life-changing work happens within the walls of their bricks-and-mortar “clubhouses” that are, quite literally, the cornerstone of the Fountain House model. When COVID-19 hit, Fountain House needed a new way to engage members in their life-changing work.
Simplicity is key
For many Clubhouse members, technology isn’t second nature—especially the fast-moving interactivity of social platforms. The Virtual Clubhouse website foregrounds multiple means of tech support over phone, email, and a helpdesk. We struck a balance with content strategy, too. Clear action steps and explanatory text guide members through the site with language that’s light and focused, as to not distract from the ultimate destination: the social spaces.
- 58%of current members connected digitally within one month
Project Credits
- Delaney Weber
- Deroy Peraza
- Dylan Viola
- Lauren Jones
- Abigail Fisher
