ATLANTA (May 30, 2024) – Today, Sen. Sally Harrell (D–Atlanta) announced that she secured a $250,000 grant for Clubhouse Atlanta at their open house event for supporters and members. Clubhouse Atlanta provides an evidence-based supportive program that helps individuals living with mental illness recover, come to terms with their illness, find social connections and build self-confidence to lead productive lives.
Clubhouse Atlanta was founded in 2018 by Susie Kyle and Bill McClung after many years of serving as mental health advocates on behalf of family members living with chronic mental illness. Clubhouse Atlanta is part of the Clubhouse International network, which has accredited more than 340 clubhouses around the world that subscribe to a set of 37 specific standards. This approach has been proven to provide significant benefits to both individual members and the community, including decreased hospital stays and increased employment for their members.
“When I visited Clubhouse Atlanta, I was so impressed with what they do and how the model can give people living with mental illness a sense of community and belonging, which ultimately helps keep them out of crisis and out of hospitals,” said Sen. Harrell.
At the open house luncheon, Clubhouse Atlanta member Marissa shared that after dropping out of college as a result of her mental illness, she was hospitalized 10 times. Since joining Clubhouse Atlanta, she has not been hospitalized in four years.
Another member, Daniel, who was not present at the event due to his illness, shared his thoughts, “Clubhouse has been my salvation. When I’m here, the voices go away.”
Earlier this year, Sen. Harrell honored Clubhouse Atlanta founder Susie Kyle with the Nikki T. Randall Servant Leadership Award as part of the Georgia Women’s Legislative Caucus Yellow Rose Awards Ceremony and Luncheon. Sen. Harrell presented Kyle with a privileged resolution to honor her work at the Clubhouse Atlanta event.
The Clubhouse Atlanta grant was included in Georgia’s 2024 amended budget as a one-time appropriation and will be available to Clubhouse Atlanta at the start of the state’s fiscal year on July 1, 2024.
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Sen. Sally Harrell represents the 40th Senate District which includes portions of DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.2260 or via email at sally.harrell@senate.ga.gov