Introduction

Touchstone Services is committed to a safe and positive environment for its membership. Touchstone Services is a place where respect for members, staff, volunteers, and visitors are required.   As adults in the community, we are all responsible for our own actions.

Touchstone Services first responsibility is to the safety of its membership.  The Clubhouse will always seek solutions to offer on-going support to members who are struggling with anger and other issues, however, violence and abuse is not tolerated at the Center or during Center-sponsored activities.

Three areas identified as essential to the safe clubhouse policy are as follows:

1.)    Physical safety/bodily harm

2.)    Property damage

3.)    Emotional/verbal abuse

Behaviors resulting in any of the above-listed outcomes will result in the following consequences:

Physical safety/bodily harm-any action by an individual that is intended to cause bodily harm or threatens the physical safety of a member will result in an immediate minimum one month suspension from the Clubhouse.  The person also risks legal/criminal charges if charges are pressed by the individual assaulted/threatened.  Following the suspension, before returning to the Clubhouse, the individual needs to submit documentation from his or her CSM therapist, or psychiatrist that he or she is not a danger to the Clubhouse community. The person will also be required to meet with the Clubhouse Director and/or the Peer Review committee and follow through on any recommendations made by this group.

Property damage-any action by an individual that results in damage of Clubhouse property belonging to another individual will result in a minimum 3 day suspension and repair or replacement of the property by the individual causing the damage.  A second incident will result in a one week suspension and restitution.  A third, and all subsequent incidents, will result in a two week suspension and restitution.  Term of suspension may be contingent upon the individual’s efforts toward restitution.  The person also risks legal/criminal charges.

Emotional/verbal abuse-any action by an individual that is threatening, harassing, or abusive, consisting of verbal threats or profanity targeted at another person will result in a verbal warning to stop.  If the behavior continues, the individual will be suspended for the remainder of the day.  A second occurrence of the behavior will result in a three day suspension.  Third, and all subsequent incidents will result in a one week suspension.

Other related policies:

Sexual harassment- all individuals need to respect each other’s bodies, morals, and personal distance.  Unwanted sexual affection, references, or language is not acceptable and individuals should be clear in their communication regarding this.

Illegal activities-any action that is illegal in the community will not be accepted in the Clubhouse.  Legal action will be pursued and suspension may result.  These activities include public intoxication, presence of stolen property or illegal substances (this includes alcohol as the Clubhouse does not possess a liquor license).

Persistent patterns of negative behavior-the clubhouse is open to consumers of Bay-Arenac Community Mental Health Services Board with a diagnosis of mental illness, as long as they do not pose a threat to the Clubhouse community.   While this threat includes physical and verbal actions covered in the previous policies, it also includes persistent patterns of negative behavior that run counter to the philosophy and goals of the Clubhouse (i.e. persistent refusal to comply with staff requests, disrespectful statements and actions towards members, and/or staff, disruptive behaviors that negatively affect the environment of the Clubhouse, etc.)

Individuals exhibiting these behaviors will be informed by the staff what the problematic behavior consists of and given an opportunity to correct it.  If the behavior continues without improvement the individual will be suspended from the program for one month.  Upon returning to the program, if such problems recur, suspension will again be implemented.  The length of the suspension will be at the discretion of the Director and Policy Committee and can include permanent termination from the program.

Suspension procedure-if an individual acts in a manner that violates the Safe Clubhouse Community Policy, the individual will be asked to leave immediately by members and staff present, and will be notified when he/she is welcome to return.  A letter and copy of the Safe Clubhouse Community Policy will be sent to the individual identifying the actions that resulted in the suspension and the date upon which the individual is welcome back.  A copy will be sent to the appropriate Client Services Manager.  The suspended individual will refrain from coming to or contracting the Clubhouse during the term of the suspension.  Violation of the Suspension Policy may result in an extension of the suspension period or legal actions.

Members are responsible for the actions of any guests that they bring to the Clubhouse sponsored activities.