Mental Health Advocacy

Government & Agency Partnerships

• We help Clubhouses respond to “Not In My Backyard” concerns by testifying at Planning Commission Hearings that Clubhouses are a benefit to the community and that there is no correlating data that suggests crime increases or property values decrease near Clubhouses. 
• We work with global organizations like WHO, UNIFAM, and World Federation for Mental Health to raise awareness and funding for the Clubhouse Model.
• We support Clubhouse Coalition efforts with vocational rehabilitation contracts & VA partnerships.
• We push for expansion of federal work incentives for Clubhouse members on disability pensions who want to return to the workforce.
• We encourage Clubhouses to partner with other local community resources such as Rotary Clubs, Chamber of Commerce, and other civic groups.

USA Clubhouse Conference

Every two years, Clubhouse International hosts the USA Clubhouse Conference. The last Conference was held in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2023, when we welcomed 425 participants from 127 Clubhouses in 32 states and 3 countries, including a large group from Japan. The conference featured many good educational presentations, and great engagement with member Clubhouses. The conference was followed by a two-day Accreditation Faculty meeting with 70 members of the faculty participating. Learn more.

Global Community Mental Health Summit

Clubhouse International Executive Director Joel Corcoran and David Malatesta (Fontenehuset Drammen, Norway) were invited as leaders in the mental health field to present at the Global Community Mental Health Summit 2024 in Portugal that was hosted by our partner Boehringer Ingelheim.

WANA Webinars

Since 2020, Clubhouse International and Fountain House have presented a webinar series on relevant topics for the worldwide Clubhouse community. The thirty-sixth webinar, The Clubhouse International Seminar: Maximize Your Experience, was presented on April 30, 2025. Watch our most recent webinars here!

Clubhouse International World Seminar

The Clubhouse International World Seminar aims to showcase the remarkable efforts of our Clubhouse network and provide a platform to strengthen our collective impact. It is the largest gathering of our community, bringing together Clubhouse members, staff, mental health advocates and stakeholders. This event is designed to be the most inclusive global mental health training of its kind! In 2025, we had 650 attendees from 16 countries, 32 U.S. states, nearly 170 Clubhouses, and several global mental health organizations. Learn more.

NAMI National Convention

Clubhouse International hosted an information booth, along with colleagues from Spirit Crossing Clubhouse and Frontier Clubhouse, at the NAMI US National Convention in Colorado, USA. It was an excellent opportunity to meet with many of the more than 1,500 participants (family members and community leaders) interested in starting a Clubhouse in their community.

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Prize Symposium

On behalf of the Clubhouse network, we were honored to participate in this symposium, joining leaders from fellow Hilton Prize Laureate organizations. Our Director of Communications, Anna Rountree, was also selected to represent our organization alongside four fellow Hilton Prize Laureate leaders. Together they helped develop the inaugural Hilton Leadership Institute Summit.

U.S. Hill Day at Home

Clubhouse International is a proud partner of US Hill Day at Home, along with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and more than 20 leading advocacy organizations. This virtual advocacy event offers a great opportunity to raise awareness about critical mental health and substance use care issues, and call for expanded services.

World Mental Health Day

Each year, Clubhouse International collaborates with the World Federation of Mental Health to advance global and community solutions for addressing mental illness by raising awareness, reducing stigma, empowering communities, encouraging greater investment from key stakeholders, and celebrating achievements. Learn about the campaign here.

U.S. Clubhouse Week of Action

From May 19-23, 2025, Clubhouse International partnered with Fountain House to lead the U.S. Clubhouse Week of Action—an inspiring, US nationwide initiative that showcased the power of the Clubhouse Model in transforming lives and building stronger, healthier communities. Learn more.

Joel D. Corcoran Shares the Clubhouse Story on "Why Not Me?" Podcast

Our Executive Director and CEO, Joel D. Corcoran, joined Tony Mantor's podcast "Why Not Me?" to talk about the power and impact of the Clubhouse movement. From our roots to our global reach, Joel shares what makes Clubhouse communities life-changing for people living with mental illness.

PBS Healthy Minds Broadcast

PBS' Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein features Clubhouse International CEO Joel D. Corcoran, discussing Clubhouse International's mission to provide recovery opportunities for people living with mental illness. Watch here.

New Clubhouse Research Supports Advocacy

Transforming Lives: Clubhouse Impact Report, summarizing the most compelling research on the Clubhouse Model, is now available! This visual report integrates findings from 15 rigorous, peer-reviewed studies conducted between 1999 and 2021 into an integrated theory of change, shown in the image above created by Dr. Joy Agner and her team at the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, USA. Click here to learn how to download and customize this invaluable advocacy tool!

New Research Shows Clubhouses Reduce Psychiatric Readmission Risk

A new study done by the Detroit Wayne Health Network (Michigan, USA), powerfully demonstrates that Clubhouses provide individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) the resources and support to adequately address their needs and help reduce psychiatric recidivism. This study is unique in that it is focused on the direct impact of Clubhouse participation on clinical outcomes, particularly in reducing psychiatric readmission rates. Click here to read the full study.

Clubhouse Communications Toolkit

We continue to enhance our Clubhouse Communication Toolkit, launched in 2024. The Toolkit is a valuable resource designed to help Accredited Clubhouses develop effective, cohesive communications that raise visibility and understanding of the Clubhouse Model. The updated edition includes new social media communications templates which Accredited Clubhouses can customize with their own Clubhouse branding. Learn more by logging into our Clubhouse Portal from the home page of our website.

Partnerships with Universities

In 2024, we announced a new resource and website to help Clubhouses identify and strengthen connections with local universities. Clubhouse International is partnering with Active Minds (Notre Dame Chapter), to help local Clubhouses in the U.S. connect with Active Minds chapters. This campus-based collaboration will advance understanding of mental illness and enhance community connections. Learn more.

Grants & Government Funding

Clubhouse International helps Clubhouses seek funding from various sources. We write letters of support for grant applications and other funding requests Clubhouses may be submitting. We also help Clubhouses advocate for state, regional or provincial funding support with government officials which includes Medicaid funding for Clubhouses located in the USA.

30th Anniversary Campaign for Growth

A $13 million campaign to strengthen and grow Clubhouses in the US and worldwide was launched in 2024.To achieve our vision, we must make strategic investments in our organizational capacity and engage larger numbers of people and communities, in a variety of different ways. Learn more.

Clubhouse Giving Day

Clubhouse Giving Day is an annual campaign that mobilizes the Clubhouse community globally to celebrate the impact of the Clubhouse Model. The individual donations, community fundraisers, and widespread social media engagement made possible during this day are essential in sustaining and extending the reach of Clubhouses worldwide. Every dollar raised contributes to expanding access, supporting new Clubhouse development, and changing lives by providing opportunities for employment, education, and friendship to those usually left behind. Learn more.