Section: Research

Colleen McKay, M.A., C.A.G.S

Academic Role: Instructor

Faculty Appointment(s) In:
   Psychiatry

Colleen E. McKay, M.A., C.A.G.S. is a Research Instructor and the Director of the Program for Clubhouse Research (PCR). She has a background in rehabilitation counseling and experience in mental health services and the clubhouse model. As Director of the PCR, she coordinates and oversees the development of an agenda of clubhouse related research projects and provides technical assistance and consultation to clubhouses, mental health administrators, students, and/or researchers considering participation in clubhouse related research projects and evaluations.

Ms. McKay has specialized interests in recovery, vocational rehabilitation, and health promotion issues for adults diagnosed with Severe Mental Illness, particularly with respect to the Clubhouse Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. She has been involved with the SAMHSA funded Employment Intervention Demonstration Program (EIDP), the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition’s annual Employment Survey, and an international survey of clubhouses affiliated with the International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD).

Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests:

• Health promotion issues and interventions for adults diagnosed with severe mental illness
• Employment services and employment outcomes of adults diagnosed with severe mental illness
• The Clubhouse Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation

Ongoing Projects:

1. Incorporating Tobacco Cessation Activities in a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program : There is a national crisis of ongoing tobacco use in the mental health population resulting in increasing disparities in smoking rates and health care outcomes. Consequently there is a need for innovative interventions that involve consumers with SMI in community based settings. We are utilizing an academic community partnership to address tobacco dependence among individuals with SMI integrating evidence-based tobacco cessation interventions with existing health promotion activities in clubhouses and developing and disseminating resources. Project goals include creating organizational change with regard to tobacco use in a clubhouse; positive changes in physical and mental health including a reduction or elimination of tobacco use among individuals with SMI; creation of resources and training materials for clubhouse settings, dissemination and replication of findings, and identification of long-term supports. This project is funded by the American Legacy Foundation ( www.americanlegacy.org ).

2. Cost Benefit Analysis of the Clubhouse Psychosocial Rehabilitation Model: We are examining measurable, quantifiable, and monetary inputs (costs) and outputs (benefits) of the Clubhouse Model of psychosocial rehabilitation. In US dollars, we assessed the average costs of providing services to Clubhouse members, and a subset of the average benefits generated by the members: their earnings in competitive employment in the community. With a sample of 220 Clubhouses from 21 countries, we found that having members provide services to members seems to be more cost-beneficial than having only staff provide services to members. We anticipate that cost-savings due to reduced use of health and criminal justice services would increase total Clubhouse benefits, possibly to where benefits exceeded costs. We are conducting this project in collaboration with Brian Yates, Ph.D. and Anna Meyers, M.P.A. at American University.

3. Review the Evidence Base for the Clubhouse Model. This review examines the totality of the evidence related to the Clubhouse Model for ten outcomes or processes: (1) hospitalization/recidivism, (2) employment outcomes including Transitional Employment (TE), Supported Employment (SE), and Independent Employment (IE), (3) social relationships, (4) education, (5) housing, (6) quality of life/satisfaction, (7) substance abuse/use and (8) wellness activities. The processes examined were the impact of participation in (9) outreach, and (10) the Work-ordered Day. The ICCD Clubhouse Model has a review pending on SAMHSA’s Registry of Evidence Based Practices and Programs(NREPP).

4. Logic Model/Program Theory: We are developing a logic model of the Clubhouse Model and a program theory of the clubhouse that links what happens within the model with anticipated outcomes. The documentation has been produced in collaboration with Robert King from the University of Queensland and circulated within the Research Advisory Committee for the Program for Clubhouse Research and the International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD) both to provide information and to obtain advice and feedback regarding the project and the methodology.

Office: Worcester State 8c26
Phone: 508-856-8471
Fax: 508-856-8700
E-mail: Colleen.McKay@umassmed.edu
Keywords: Health Outcomes, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Clubhouse, Recovery, Vocational Rehabilitation

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