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Clubhouse Ohio Toolkit: Resource & Expansion Guide

Welcome to Clubhouse Ohio

Whether you are exploring the Clubhouse Model or are ready to launch a site in your community, Clubhouse Ohio is your primary partner. As a program of Magnolia Clubhouse, we serve as a statewide resource hub providing technical assistance, mentoring, and advocacy for established and aspiring Clubhouses across the state.

Our Roots and Reach

​The Clubhouse Model began in 1948 with Fountain House in New York City, which grew out of "We Are Not Alone" (WANA), a self-help group for former psychiatric patients. Magnolia Clubhouse (est. 1997) is the successor to Cleveland’s Hill House (est. 1961), a pioneer in psychiatric rehabilitation. Today, Clubhouse Ohio connects local efforts to a global movement through affiliations with:

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Membership & Technical Assistance

Membership in Clubhouse Ohio offers organizations the expertise needed to achieve and maintain high-fidelity operations.

Benefits of Membership

  • Expert Consultation: Direct access to Clubhouse Ohio staff and international experts for one-on-one coaching and virtual support.

  • Training & Education: A two-day Clubhouse Orientation for teams of four at an accredited Ohio Clubhouse. (Additional training days available at Magnolia Clubhouse upon request).

  • Networking: Professional mentoring and connection to the International Clubhouse community.

  • Data & Advocacy: Access to data collection tools, research participation, and statewide advocacy to support expansion and Medicaid sustainability.

  • Quality Assurance: On-site consultation visits and recommendations to guide policies toward full accreditation.

Membership Requirements

Member organizations must demonstrate a commitment to:

How to Start a Clubhouse in Ohio

Clubhouse Ohio provides a customized roadmap for groups looking to launch a local program. Below is the 6-step framework for successful implementation.

STEP 1: Vision & Commitment

Before physical doors open, the founding group must demonstrate a strong commitment to the fidelity of the Clubhouse Model.

STEP 2: Leadership & Organizational Capacity

Identify a leadership team (Agency Administrators, Board Members, Executive Director, and Lead Members) capable of building the necessary infrastructure. The leadership team will need to fully support developing a Clubhouse International accredited Clubhouse, the inclusion of members as co-creators, and have the capacity to build the infrastructure to bill for reimbursable Clubhouse services through the Medicaid system. If Medicaid is not part of the business model, other sustainable funding sources would be identified and secured.

  • Licensing & Certification: Assess readiness for Ohio Medicaid reimbursement (Therapeutic Behavioral Services). Requirements include:

    • 501(c)(3) status and OhioDBH certification (84 status).

    • National accreditation (CARF, Joint Commission).

    • Independently licensed providers to supervise and potentially directly provide the service.

  • Stakeholder Support: Secure support from your Board of Directors and local county Mental Health Board.

STEP 3: Dedicated Physical Space

The Clubhouse environment is a "tool" for recovery and must be entirely dedicated to the program.

  • Requirements: A minimum of 5,000 square feet.

  • Features: Must include a commercial kitchen, dining space for 50+, and accessibility via public transportation.

  • Meet design and usage requirements as described in the Clubhouse Standards: Facilitate the work-ordered-day; convey a sense of dignity and respect; and have no “staff-only” or “member-only” spaces.

STEP 4: Strategic Staffing

The success of the model depends on building a team and hiring staff fully committed to implementing the Clubhouse Model.

STEP 5: Business Plan & Milestones

Submit a comprehensive 2-year business plan that includes:

  • Diversified Funding: A budget detailing at least three distinct revenue sources.

  • Growth Metrics: Track Average Daily Attendance (ADA). For example, a Clubhouse usually opens with 5 staff; once ADA hits 30, additional hiring is triggered with a target ADA of 50 or more after the first 2 years or sooner.

  • Employment & Supported Education Services: Plans for Transitional Employment (TE), which requires staff to provide on-the-job training and coverage for members and ongoing supported employment and supported education.

STEP 6: Formal Clubhouse Training

Finalize your development by engaging with the global network.

  • New Clubhouse Development Training: A specialized course from Clubhouse International for groups in the planning stages. Check out the Clubhouse International website for training dates, or contact Clubhouse International for more information.

  • Two-Week Comprehensive Training: Conducted at an approved International Training Base for your staff, board and member leadership.

  • Conferences: Attend state, regional, national, or international seminars to stay current on best practices.

Ready to Begin?

Contact Clubhouse Ohio today to schedule your initial 2-day orientation at Magnolia Clubhouse.

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