Meet The Fern Street, WPB Clubhouse
About The Fern Street, WPB Clubhouse
Our Fern Street Clubhouse, conveniently located in downtown West Palm Beach, is a serene environment. You will likely meet a member working in our reception area, inviting you into what feels like a warm and welcoming home. Depending on the time of day, other members may be making coffee or lunch, or honing their skills as they do data entry or budgeting. Some might be exploring their creativity by designing event flyers, crafting our social media posts, or producing a video in our media center. Others may be spending a quiet moment or having one-on-one time with a peer in our serenity garden.
A Place for Her Brother to Belong: Gabriel and Georgina’s Story
Finding a place for Gabriel to belong began with his sister Georgina’s call to MHAPBC.
“I knew Gabriel needed community, and I needed peace of mind that he would be with people who are accepting and supportive of people with mental illness,” Georgina said.
Georgina appreciated the options MHAPBC provided for Gabriel and the open environment rather than a regimented structure. They both toured the Fern Street Clubhouse and Peer Place, and Gabriel spent time in both places before deciding the Clubhouse was where he wanted to be.
“After the first day, he found comfort and wanted to keep going,” Georgina said. “They care about him and come alongside him and the community he is building—that is something I have always wanted for my brother. They are a source of support for me, and I know he is somewhere safe.”
Gabriel now spends every weekday at the Fern Street Clubhouse. In the less than a year since he’s been a member, Georgina has witnessed a remarkable transformation. The brother she knew is coming back.
“A lot of his personality disappeared during his illness,” Georgina said. “He was by himself so much. The constant day-to-day interaction at the Clubhouse has done miracles for him. He’s more talkative. He smiles a lot more. The staff at the Clubhouse text me photos and stories during the week, showing him cooking or telling me about his sense of humor and his sweetness. It’s so nice to see him back and I think it’s all due to the program.”
Georgina is proud of the progress Gabriel has made, and she knows he is, too. He has taken his interest in cooking to the next level at the Clubhouse by earning a food handling certificate, making him eligible for a part-time job if he chooses. An invitation to attend a two-day Florida Clubhouse Coalition Conference in Gainesville was another point of pride for Gabriel.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities he’s had, the community and relationships he is building, and the staff who come from a place of compassion and understanding—they feel like more than staff, and I feel it through my brother. He’s a part of something bigger. There’s never been a day when he didn’t want to go to the Clubhouse, and Gabriel is truly transformed because of it.”
Frequently Asked Questions
A Clubhouse is a welcoming, recovery-oriented community for adults living with mental health challenges, based on the internationally recognized Clubhouse International model. Clubhouses focus on strengths, purpose, and belonging—not diagnosis or treatment.
Members and staff work side by side to operate the Clubhouse through a structured work-ordered day. Shared responsibilities build confidence, skills, and meaningful relationships. Membership is voluntary, lifelong, and rooted in dignity.
We encourage anyone interested in Clubhouse membership to schedule a tour. A tour gives you the opportunity to experience the Clubhouse, meet members and staff, learn about the work-ordered day, and ask questions. It also gives us an opportunity to learn about what you are looking for and to make sure the Clubhouse is a good fit for your interests, goals, and support needs. There is no obligation to join after a tour, and membership is always voluntary.
Membership is free. A small meal fee helps cover food costs. No one is excluded due to inability to pay.
Employment is central to the Clubhouse model. Members may participate in Transitional, Supported, or Independent Employment based on choice and readiness.
Clubhouses do not provide therapy or medical services but help members connect to community resources.
Families & Referral Partners
The Clubhouse model is an evidence-based psychosocial rehabilitation approach serving adults with serious mental health challenges. It is not treatment, but complements clinical care.
Key elements include:
- Work-ordered day
- Voluntary participation
- Employment pathways
- Lifelong membership
- Community and belonging
Referrals are welcome, but membership is always the individual’s choice.
We encourage prospective members, families, and referral partners to schedule a tour before enrollment. The visit allows the individual to see the Clubhouse in action and helps both the prospective member and Clubhouse staff assess whether the model, daily structure, and available supports are a good fit. The prospective member’s interest and choice remain central to the process.
“The Clubhouse experience has shown me that I am capable of more than I had imagined and helped get me get out into the world and grow.”
-Savion Cohen, Fern Street Clubhouse member
Every experience builds confidence, skills, and teamwork where all members are accountable to one another in the daily operation and goals of the Fern Street Clubhouse while they enhance their employable skills.
