Referral Facts
For Rehabilitation Professionals

Side by Side Clubhouse is a central meeting place for people with brain injuries to transition from medical patient to contributing community member. It is a non-profit organization that received founding sponsorship from Shepherd Center and Emory Healthcare.

Membership Criteria

• Acquired Brain Injury
• Age 18 or Over
• Independent with assistive devices or accompanied by personal assistant
• Able to control behavior such that no threat to self or community exists
• Desire to participate in productive activity and work with peers toward a common goal
• Funding resources to pay membership fees

When to Refer

• No longer requires full day rehabilitation in Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapies
• Can benefit from productive activity with cognitive, psychosocial, and/or vocational support and assistance in peer-group setting
• May need assistance preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining employment

Membership Fees

The daily fee is $150. Members without an external payer source and in financial need may receive a discount based on availability of scholarship funds. Ancillary services are provided at an extra charge.

Hours and Location

Members may come to the clubhouse any time between 9 am and 3:00 pm Monday-Friday. Located in Suite B of Commerce Plaza in downtown Decatur, we are 2 blocks from the Decatur MARTA station.

Program Components

Work Ordered Day: Members and staff work side by side to accomplish the tasks necessary to operate the clubhouse. Members prepare lunch, answer phones, work on computers, perform clerical tasks, tend the garden, and create projects in the workshop. Members are valued and needed for the strengths they bring vs. “treated” for the weaknesses that obstruct their progress.

Members who desire to work attend job readiness classes, and receive individual coaching to develop work reentry plans. Building employment skills and obtaining and maintaining a job are important aspects of the program. Members who work often return to the clubhouse to give and receive support regarding the successes and challenges faced in the work world.

Assessment:
The clubhouse model utilizes a practical form of evaluation based on professional observation and interaction through participation in activities of the work ordered day. The staff consists of rehabilitation professionals in psychology and vocational counseling. Formal vocational services are charged separately and performed on a case by case basis.

Case Management/Life and Job Coaching:
Special relationships develop between members and staff while working together day after day. This bond extends to job sites, independent living skills training in the home and community, and communicating progress to referral sources. Clubhouse staff are uniquely qualified to provide ongoing coaching and support through their expertise in brain injury and relationships with members.

How to Refer

Call for an application or to schedule a tour:
(404) 378-1139

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