Venture House

150-10 Hillside Ave

Jamaica, NY 11432

*Certified clubhouse program by Clubhouse International

Agency Contact:

David Plotka, Program Director

(646) 747-1531

Nature and Purpose of Agency

Venture House is community based organization (CBO) located in Jamaica, New York based on the Clubhouse Model of community mental health. Since 1988, Venture House has provided a range of high quality services to adults diagnosed with psychiatric disorders to live and work successfully in the community, independently and with dignity.

Venture House members and staff work side-by-side to run the organization. To date, Venture House has served over 1,000 members. Over 250 members, ages 18 and up, attend the Clubhouse regularly and an average of 70 members attend daily. Members are involved in all aspects of our business, from mopping floors to hiring staff, making policy decisions and membership on the Board of Directors. Venture House is committed to the needs of those living with the stigma of psychiatric diagnoses through opportunities in employment, education, advocacy, housing, and health.

Tasks Available For Students

  • Social Program

Assist Social Program Coordinator and Social Committee members with the planning and implementation of social events/activities/trips. Tasks include organizing Social Committee materials, data entry, creation of flyers, social media postings, and researching event details.

Time Requirements: Flexible, 10 hours required for the semester

  • Member Advocacy

Assist Advocacy Coordinator and members drafting letters to legislatures, making follow-up phone calls, documenting and tracking results.

Time Requirements: Flexible

  • Member Employment and Education

Assist Employment Coordinator and members of the Employment and Education Unit in organizing employment and education materials, data entry, the creation of flyers, social media, and other clerical projects.

Time Requirements: Flexible

  • Clubhouse Garden and Maintenance

Assist the members and staff working in the clubhouse garden with cleaning, planting, pruning, and general care of the garden plants and in the building with general maintenance and organization of supplies. This is an opportunity to work directly with adults with developmental disabilities.

Time Requirements: Flexible

  • Kitchen and Dining Room

Assist the kitchen staff and members in the running of the kitchen and dining room. Tasks include various clerical and culinary tasks. This is an opportunity to work directly with adults with developmental disabilities.

Time Requirements: Flexible

Agency Directions

Driving Directions

Head south on Utopia Parkway, continue onto Homelawn St. Turn right onto Hillside Ave. Destination will be on the left.

Public Transportation

Take Jamaica Bound Q30 bus to Hillside Ave. Transfer to Jamaica Bound Q43 and exit at 150th street.

Updated 2/20/2012 VK