Fairweather Lodge

The Fairweather Lodge Program is a psychosocial rehabilitation model combining congregate living with collaborative employment.

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The Fairweather Lodge Program was developed by psychologist George Fairweather in California in 1963.^[1] Dr. Fairweather found that rehospitalization of patients with serious and persistent mental illness is less likely (i.e., "community tenure" is longer) when the people live and work together as a group, rather than individually.

Lodge model

A typical Fairweather Lodge is an affordable dwelling for 4–8 people who share in running the home, including domestic chores and purchase and preparation of food. The residents make their own house rules and manage their own activities. In addition they run a small business chosen by consensus and jointly planned. Such businesses may provide lawn care, custodial or laundry services, printing, furniture building, shoe repair, catering, or other services. The work is part-time, and organized so that one member can readily substitute for another whenever necessary.

The role of staff provided by the sponsoring agency of a Lodge is limited to mentoring, advising, mediating and helping in emergencies, although staff is continually on call. Lodge members hire professional consultants such as accountants and lawyers to assist with the Lodge business operation.

The sponsoring agency sets eligibility criteria and recruits candidates for membership, but acceptance into a Lodge requires a vote by existing residents.

Residents are charged for rent and operating expenses, but some costs (such as mortgage payments or transportation) may be covered by county and state programs as well as by business profits.

Program principles

• Consumers must have a stake in the system.
• The program must provide consumers as much autonomy as possible.
• Options for promotion and rising to a higher status must be provided.
• Values of the larger society should be reflected.
• The program must reflect the characteristics of the environment in which it exists.
• Tolerance of harmless individual idiosyncrasies must be established.
• Feedback must be provided on the problem-solving abilities of the consumers.
• Open entry and exit for consumers must be provided.
• Both rehabilitative and work norms should be supported.
• Program should not be dependent on good will of the community in which it exists.
• An ongoing method to handle daily living problems needs to be implemented.

As of 2006 there are over 90 Fairweather Lodges in 16 US states.

References

1. ^ Fairweather, George W.; David H. Sanders, Hugo Maynard, David L. Cressler (1969). Community Life for the Mentally Ill - An Alternative to Institutional Care. Chicago, IL: Aldine Publisning Company, 357 pages. ASIN=B000HCBO3I.