Independence Center

Independence Center provides innovative, quality programs that help more than 1,500 individuals with serious mental illness to live and work in the community each year. In 1981, there were few community-based programs, and very little funding for such programs, yet the Center's founding board and Executive Director were undaunted. They vigorously launched a series of programs and services that would help an isolated, disenfranchised group of people become participating members of our community. As Independence Center's reputation for quality and innovation grew, it quickly became nationally recognized, winning awards such as: the American Psychiatric Association Best Program Award (1999), President's Committee "Best Practices on Employment" (2002), the Eli Lilly Re-integration Awards (2002, 2004), FOCUS St. Louis' "What's Right With the Region" Award (2008) and the HUD Peer Recognition Award (2008).

At Independence Center, we believe that how a person spends his or her day is singularly important and helps define that person's relationship to the rest of the world. Our Clubhouse program is a place - a community - where membership is voluntary and life-long. Our members know they always have somewhere to turn for help.

The Clubhouse model is based on a philosophy containing four basic tenets:
- Everyone needs to feel connected to a community; thus the notion of membership is important.
- Everyone needs to know that s/he is expected someplace on a daily basis.
- Everyone needs to feel needed; that one's presence is important to others.
- Everyone needs to believe there is at least one place on the planet where s/he is truly wanted.

Since 1981, this philosophy has stood at the core of Independence Center's wide array of programs, which now includes housing and residential supports, case management, psychiatry, medication management, employment/education services, wellness, and social opportunities.