Friendship House

The Friendship House offers people with mental illness an opportunity to socialize in a setting that is not treatment oriented, while offering the opportunity for learning and problem- solving to occur with the assistance of staff or members. The program was created in 1981 in response to the needs of the people of Woodbury County. Since that time, the Friendship House has authorized membership to more than 1000 people. Approximately 140 different members use the Friendship House each month, with an average of 40 members visiting each day.

• Promote recovery and wellness in a person with centered, strengths-based environment while offering the power of peer support. Provide non-treatment based mental health programming for people who choose not to use, or do not need more intensive traditional mental health care.

• Provide a link between people with mental illness and the mental health system by connecting people to a variety of resources in the mental health system and community.

• Provide advocacy for individuals and empower individuals to advocate for themselves

• Assist people in getting involved in activities in the community, both social and encouraging volunteer opportunities.

• Provide opportunities for people to have input into the operation of the club as a means to empower them in other areas of life management.

• Provide opportunities for socializing for persons with severe mental illness.