Client & Family

Recovery Learning Center at the Fellowship Club

The Recovery Learning Center at the Fellowship Club (hereafter referred to as the Fellowship Club) is a day-use, mental health recovery program for adults who live with serious mental illnesses. The Fellowship Club promotes the power of peer connections with an all-peer staff identifying as experienced in recovery as well as being professionally qualified for their positions. The club’s environment is safe and supportive of members’ individual wellness recovery journeys, and the social connections found there are an antidote to the isolation that many may otherwise feel. Open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), the Fellowship Club offers a wide range of activities from which to choose, including the following:

• Information and support groups highlighting wellness-related activities, and symptom management and self-care techniques.
• Referrals to and assistance in navigating systems and resources for meeting basic and critical needs.
• Dedicated spaces and staff for art, computers, and music.
• Daily lunches prepared by an in-house staff in the club’s commercial kitchen.
• A Care Closet offering gently used clothing and hygiene items to members.
• Recreational activities, including board games, skill-development groups, physical activities as diverse as basketball and yoga, and cultural outings.
• Opportunities for check-ins with case managers and other professional support for wellness.
• Holiday celebrations and special events unifying club members in pursuit of practical wellness activities.

The Fellowship Club is open to all residents 18 years and older of Santa Barbara County. A referral is required by a mental health professional who can attest to the applicant’s mental health challenges, and club staff will work with applicants to access local services for care and such a referral. Membership is free, and activities are available in English and Spanish.

Family Advocate

Since our beginning, the Mental Wellness Center has recognized the impact and importance of family in mental health.

The Mental Wellness Center is proud to offer our community a dedicated Family Advocate who is trained and familiar with issues faced by families impacted by mental health disorders. The Family Advocate assists families who are trying to understand and deal with the impact of serious mental health disorders in their family and provides assistance in understanding and navigating the local public and private mental health systems. The Family Advocate also assists families in accessing various clinical and support services available in our community and can offer one-on-one support during challenging times.

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The Family Advocate...

• Directs individuals and family members to resources in our community related to mental health (housing, hospitalization, treatment, legal system, and supportive programming)
• Identifies client concerns and helps client discover workable options
• Provides mental health related outreach and education to our community
• Facilitates support groups for caregivers and family members, including: SPOT (Supporting Parents of Teens) – a weekly support group for moms of teens and adolescents
• NAMI Santa Barbara County – Family-to-Family classes and monthly educational meetings

Drop-ins are welcome on a first come, first served basis. However, appointments are encouraged. Services are offered at no cost and are available in both English and Spanish. The Mental Wellness Center Family Advocate Program is offered in partnership with NAMI Santa Barbara County.