WHO WE ARE

The Clubhouse model has always been recovery-focused. Bridge House, the Greater Bridgeport and Fairfield County’s Clubhouse, is modeled after Fountain House, the first Clubhouse located in New York City. Fountain House was founded in the 1940’s, as an outgrowth of an earlier movement known as We Are Not Alone (WANA). The Clubhouse model became a dynamic and innovative international movement. It believed that recovery was possible for persons with psychiatric disabilities, and it was and is, a beacon of hope for persons with persistent mental illness.

Bridge House was founded by three dedicated fathers of adult children with mental illness. In 1986 they acquired our building at 880 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport. They served on the founding Board of Directors and guided the growth and development of the Clubhouse during its first five years. During the same period, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health (DMH) embarked on an initiative to deinstitutionalize persons with mental health diagnoses and closed two of its largest state facilities. The Department soon recognized the Clubhouse model offered a safe and productive, non-clinical environment, which would support and assist many former patients as they transitioned back into their communities. Today, known as DMHAS, it continues to provide critical support for Bridge House.

Fountain House has given rise to over 300 Clubhouses internationally! Many, like Bridge House, are certified by a governing body called, Clubhouse International. In the past 30 years, Bridge House has served thousands of members and has grown from a fledgling organization with two staff and a budget of $50,000, to a thriving program with 16 staff and a $ 1.4 million budget.

If you or a loved one could benefit from Bridge House’s supportive and empowering community for adults with persistent mental illness, contact us today.

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