Community Access is known worldwide for its innovative housing and job training programs. We recognize the importance of opening our doors to sister organizations in mental health services to share best practices, learn from each other, and create collaborations that strengthen the quality and impact of our programs.
In February, Community Access welcomed a delegation of international guests from the Pameijer Organization in the Netherlands to tour our Howie the Harp Peer Advocacy and Training Center (HTH) as an opportunity to inform their work with mental health consumers in Rotterdam.
Pameijer’s programs focus on creating meaningful ways for people with psychiatric disabilities to be part of society and take part in all aspects of social life. Through partnerships with entrepreneurs, local government and social firms and other care providers, the organization promotes opportunities for its consumers to live and work in conditions that are as mainstream as possible.
The Pameijer Organization delegation was especially interested in learning about the peer-to-peer job training programs that are the hallmark of Community Access’ HTH Center. Jos van Waesberge, Chairman of the client counsel of the Pameijer Organization shared: "We want to work with Community Access to build knowledge, ideas and experiences for a stronger empowerment process, more peer work and peer support, to create a vision about rehabilitation, and find ways to stimulate and support recovery."
Community Access established the HTH Center in 1995 as a model for job training and placement of individuals with a history of mental illness, homelessness, substance abuse and incarceration. With nearly 800 graduates to date, HTH provides opportunities for people to develop the skills and knowledge they need to find jobs—through working and learning side-by-side with trained peer specialists. Assisted by the Center’s job placement service, approximately 80% of our graduates go on to jobs in hospitals, clinics, and prisons, working with people living with mental illness—and many of our graduates also pursue higher education opportunities.