GALVESTON, November 19, 2025 – Galveston County residents living with mental illness will have a better chance at sustained recovery because of the generosity of the Texas Bar Foundation. The Foundation recently granted $15,000 to the Galveston County Clubhouse, Inc. as program funds for “Minimizing Criminal Justice System Response to People with Mental Illness.” Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $30 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation. This is the Texas Bar Foundation’s second grant to the Clubhouse, which opened its doors just over one year ago.
“The Galveston County Clubhouse believes in minimizing criminal justice system response to people with mental illness, while ensuring that any interactions preserve health, well-being and dignity,” states Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Randall Robinson. “We believe in taking a comprehensive approach to resolving this unintended injustice that involves many different facets. People with mental illness are over-represented in our nation’s jails and prisons. About 2 million times each year, people with serious mental illness are booked into jails. Nearly 2 in 5 people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails). Many people with mental illness who are incarcerated are held for committing non-violent, minor offenses related to the symptoms of untreated illness (disorderly conduct, loitering, trespassing, disturbing the peace) or for offenses like shoplifting and petty theft. Many factors have contributed to the criminalization of people with mental illness, including: assumptions that people with mental illness are violent, and, the lack of a robust mental health crisis response infrastructure. We are trying to change these things.”
The community leadership that created the Galveston County Clubhouse believes that jails and prisons have become America’s de-facto mental health facilities. And that they are not built, financed or structured to provide adequate mental health services. Only 3 in 5 people (63%) with a history of mental illness receive mental health treatment while incarcerated in state and federal prisons, and less than half of people (45%) with a history of mental illness receive mental health treatment while held in local jails. Public policies should invest in solutions that are evidence-based and help people with mental illness get on a path of recovery. For example, instead of charging people who are experiencing homelessness with crimes, we support policies that address the underlying need, such as providing supportive programs like the Galveston Count Clubhouse. Galveston County believes in early intervention, comprehensive community mental health care and a robust crisis response system are essential to reduce justice involvement. In addition, investment in diversion strategies, like mental health courts, special mental health dockets, respite and mental health crisis centers, reentry programs and Clubhouses are alternatives to incarceration, and can help reduce the criminalization
of people with mental illness.
Clubhouses help fill the gap in court ordered mental health treatment while a person with mental illness is in the criminal justice system, and help with the continuity of care once a person with a mental illness exits the jail, penitentiary or probation. Surveys from Texas Clubhouses in August, 2022 showed that members only had a 6% rate of recidivism (compared to 60% of the general population). The survey also showed its members had 90% fewer law enforcement encounters. Other than showing direct improvements towards strengthening our court system and the administration of justice, the survey showed 91% improved mental health, 70% became employed or were training to get a job and 74% were confident in future employment.
The Clubhouse Model is a proven, internationally recognized approach to providing transformative support to persons living with mental illness and has been effectively doing so since the 1940s. An individual’s engagement with Clubhouse is rooted in genuine, mutual relationships and strengths-based volunteer opportunities. This model of community-based support was accepted for inclusion on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence Based Practices and Programs in 2011. SAMHSA’s Community Mental Health Services’ Community Support Program funded 14 similar programs, and SAMHSA’s recent 2019-2023 Strategic Plan calls for “expanding use of community recovery support systems such as Clubhouses.” There are over 370 clubhouses worldwide, including 10 in the State of Texas.
Even though Clubhouse is non-clinical in its approach, it is still transformative for persons with mental illness and an essential therapeutic approach that relies on intentional community to help people recover from mental illness. The Clubhouse Community, made up both of trained professionals and other individuals recovering from mental illness, is designed to provide psychosocial rehabilitation for individuals who choose to participate. In this community space, these participant “members” develop emotional, cognitive, and social skills, and get holistic support in all aspects of their lives. The goal is to address the social symptoms of mental illness that cannot be directly managed with medication alone, while also giving access to support with care management, employment and housing opportunities, as well as wellness activities.
The members of the Galveston Clubhouse Board of Directors, Judge Wayne Mallia, Thomas J. Wooten, Jerry Freshour (Gulf Coast Center), Jan Melis (NAMI Gulf Coast), Felicia Jeffery (Gulf Coast Center), Fred Raschke, Dr. Jared M. Williams (Family Service Center), Jaime Castro, David Swyers (Salvation Army), Jack Easterday (Gulf Coast Center), and Randall Robinson, Executive Director (ex officio) are all grateful for the forward-thinking leaders of the Texas Bar Foundation and their generous support.
For more information, visit the Galveston Clubhouse website, www.galvestonclubhouse.org or call the Clubhouse at 409-766-0158.
