What is the Brooks Clubhouse?
The Brooks Brain Injury Clubhouse is a full-time day program that provides for the long-term recovery needs of individuals who have experienced an acquired neurological/brain injury. It expands the system of care provided by Brooks Rehabilitation and serves as a bridge to community and vocational re-integration. Brooks is pleased to offer the only program of its kind for people with an acquired brain injury in the state of Florida. The program follows the guidelines established by the International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA).
The core value of the Brooks Brain Injury Clubhouse is: “Nobody can do everything but everybody can do something.”
What does the Brooks Clubhouse offer?
The Brooks Brain Injury Clubhouse is the first and only ABI (acquired brain injury) Clubhouse in the state of Florida and one of less than 20 worldwide. The program offers a range of activities designed to help the ongoing recovery process for individuals who have experienced a brain injury. The Brooks Clubhouse helps individuals regain social, physical, cognitive and vocational abilities. Not only do members choose to participate in a variety of different activities, (e.g., personal fitness, yoga, aquatics, creative dance, music, arts and crafts, cognitive activities, games, community outings, etc.), but they also have the opportunity to manage clubhouse operations by joining one of the clubhouse work units, helping them reestablish themselves in the community and return to work.
Working side-by-side with professional staff, members run every aspect of the clubhouse including meal planning and preparation (culinary work unit), business office work unit, facilities maintenance and product production.
What is a typical day like at the clubhouse?
The Clubhouse is a community-based day program that is operated by professional staff in conjunction with program members and volunteers. The program is open Monday through Friday and parallels typical working hours 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Members may choose to participate one to five days per week depending on their needs and goals. The Brooks Clubhouse engages members, volunteers and staff working together, side-by-side in the running of the clubhouse. The focus is on developing strengths, talents, abilities and individual goals.
The primary work units to choose from at the Brooks Clubhouse are the kitchen/dietary, business/clerical, facilities maintenance and product production. Each of these work units will have anywhere from five to 10 members working daily with staff and volunteers to accomplish the daily work at the clubhouse.
Business Unit: Responsible for management of all clerical and business functions including reception, telephone, file maintenance, intake operations, record keeping, generation of the newsletter and other general office duties as needed. This work unit is also responsible for usage and upkeep of clubhouse business work unit computer lab and oversight of training in computer skills. The clubhouse computers are loaded with software for cognitive remediation, language re-acquisition, Microsoft Office training, typing and brain games.
Food and Kitchen Unit: Responsible for meeting the daily nutritional needs of the clubhouse staff and members. This work group plans, shops, prepares, serves and cleans up for the daily lunch program at the clubhouse in a commercially equipped kitchen.
Facility and Grounds Maintenance and Product Production: Responsible for overall cleaning, maintenance and minor repair of indoor facility and outdoor grounds at the clubhouse. This group is also responsible for production of selected products that are made at the clubhouse such as bird feeders, tile mosaic tables, plant gardens, pottery, etc. These items are sold to support community outings for clubhouse members.
Clubhouse membership
Eligibility
Membership is available to any adult, age 17 or older, who would benefit from activities to enhance social, physical, cognitive and vocational outcomes following an acquired brain injury. This includes individuals with a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, stroke, anoxia or other acquired central nervous system dysfunctions. The criteria for admission includes all of the following:
- Acquired neurological injury (brain injury)
- Age 17 or older
- Independent in daily self-care activities or accompanied by a companion
- Behavior does not pose a risk of injury to self or others
- Possesses a desire to help self, help others and participate in productive activity.
Fees
A sliding fee scale offers significant discounts for members who do not have external funding and lack the financial resources to pay the full rate. Brooks Clubhouse staff will work with you to determine whether you qualify for the discounts. Worker’s compensation carriers, VA, and the state vocational rehabilitation program are both potential sources of coverage but only when members qualify for services.
Referral
Anyone, including physicians, case managers, patient’s family, support coordinators, rehabilitation professionals or individuals themselves can refer to the program. A physician referral is not required.
Location
Address: 2700 University Blvd. W., Bld. B, Jacksonville, FL 32217
Phone: (904) 674-6400
The city bus stop is 1 block from the Clubhouse and JTA Connection will also transport door-to-door those who qualify.
Check out our Brooks Brain Injury Clubhouse location page for driving directions and more.
Brooks Clubhouse Team
The Clubhouse is staffed by individuals who have advanced knowledge of the needs of people with a brain injury.
Experience and education include:
- Two staff with Masters of Education Degrees (Manager, 35 years of experience and Vocational Supervisor, 11 years of experience)
- A Certified Occupational Therapist
- A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Therapist
- A Health Care Management Specialist with 11 years of experience working with people with an ABI
- A culinary work unit supervisor, who is also a survivor, with a degree in Culinary arts and 12 years of experience working in the field of brain injury rehabilitation.
- Three of the staff members have taken and passed the Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) course and exam.
- One staff member is qualified as a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer (CBIST).
- The remaining staff are currently studying for the Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) exam.
Join the clubhouse
To schedule a tour please complete the initial screening form and return it to Kathy Martin, Brooks Clubhouse Manager at [email protected] or call (904) 674-6400 for additional information.