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February 6, 2007
Clubhouse of Lehigh County Receives Prestigious Certification

Allentown—The Clubhouse of Lehigh County, which provides community-based services for individuals with mental health issues, recently received a three-year certification from the International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD). The certification is the longest offered by the ICCD.

ICCD representatives visited the Clubhouse of Lehigh County and judged the facility on 39 criteria, most of which dealt with the effectiveness of the Clubhouse’s employment and other programs. The ICCD’s findings and the subsequent three-year certification prove that the Clubhouse of Lehigh County is in compliance with international standards of excellence for clubhouse programs.

“This certification represents a milestone in the history of the Clubhouse of Lehigh County,” says Timothy Hayes, administrator of vocational and production services for Good Shepherd Work Services Division. “We at Good Shepherd are proud to partner with Lehigh County and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in serving men and women recovering from mental illness.”

The Clubhouse is funded, in part, by Lehigh County and is administered by Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network. It provides a safe healing environment where men and women can recover from mental illness. Members of the Clubhouse benefit from employment programs and social opportunities, while accomplishing the day-to-day tasks of the house. They gain experience and confidence by working in administration, conducting tours, editing newsletters and more. Throughout their Clubhouse experience, members are given the opportunity to access jobs and educational opportunities in the community.

The Clubhouse currently has 650 members, 150 of whom actively participate in Clubhouse programs. Approximately 65 percent of active members are currently employed in business and industry in full- or part-time positions.

Visit www.GoodShepherdRehab.org for more information on the Clubhouse of Lehigh County.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network of Allentown, Pennsylvania
is a nationally recognized rehabilitation leader, offering a continuum of care for people with physical and cognitive disabilities and specializing in assistive and rehabilitation technology. More than 35,000 people come to Good Shepherd each year for specialized programs in stroke, orthopedics, brain injury, spinal cord injury, pediatrics, amputation and more. Good Shepherd provides rehabilitation services in 7 eastern Pennsylvania counties. Good Shepherd operates 14 outpatient sites, 4 inpatient sites, a long-term acute care hospital, 2 long-term care homes for people with severe disabilities, an independent living facility, a Work Services division that provides employment training and job placement and a lifestyle products store called Rehability. Good Shepherd was founded in 1908 when The Rev. John and Estella Raker invited a disabled orphan named Viola into their Allentown, Pennsylvania, home. Good Shepherd is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. For more information, visit www.goodshepherdrehab.org.