Cirrus House, Inc.

These Key Components reflect a major shift in thinking for traditional social service providers. Instead of asking what we can do to prevent and fix mental illness and the issues associated with mental illness, we are asking what opportunities, learning experiences and supports do we need to give people so that they feel connected, prepared and engaged. We help people to figure out how they as individuals can live with a mental illness and be productive contributing members of our communities.

Long-term involvement

Development assumes long-term commitment. Activities and supportive relationships need to endure for a long period of time to be effective. For example, members are told that "Once you're a member, you are always a member." A person's involvement in the services and programs of Cirrus House, Inc. may increase and decrease over time as an individuals needs dictate, but they always have a place to call home.

Community involvement

Cirrus House, Inc. stresses the importance to engage the larger social environment that we all live in. This includes family and friends, and the neighborhood they live in. Community includes employers, organizations, schools, law enforcement agencies, faith and civic groups and private citizens. Mental illness not only affects individuals, but it has the potential to affect the people in an individuals life.