Community Matters: Fountain House  

What it is

Millions of Americans living with serious mental illness are denied access to care and support in the community, and end up on the streets and in shelters, emergency rooms and jails. Fountain House is a national mental health nonprofit fighting to improve health, increase opportunity, and end social and economic isolation for people most impacted by mental illness.

What it does

Fountain House’s integrated model connects a physical space (the “clubhouse”) — where members are engaged in an innovative therapeutic community rooted in social practice and take steps in reclaiming their agency and dignity — with access to clinical support, housing and care management. The organization’s Transitional Employment program provides temporary, part-time employment positions with partner corporations throughout New York City, including Kramer Levin. These positions provide Fountain House job seekers with invaluable “soft skills” while helping them transition back into the workforce.  

How Kramer Levin got involved

Kramer Levin has long been committed to mental health wellness, and has supported NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Fountain House for more than 20 years. 

In 1999, retired partner Charlotte Moses Fishman was passionate about the programs and encouraged former Director of Office Services Larry Williams and Chief Human Resources Officer Cindy Arnold to hire and support Fountain House interns. Since then, 132 members of Fountain House have worked at Kramer Levin. “One of the most special parts of our members’ working at Kramer Levin is seeing them at the clubhouse in their recognizable Kramer Levin polo shirts, which they always wear with pride,” notes Stephanie Nieves, director of the Employment Resource Center at Fountain House. “Members are always excited to talk about the work that they’re doing at Kramer.”

Why it’s great

Fountain House members are hospitalized and experience crisis significantly less than others with serious mental illness, resulting in 21% lower Medicaid costs. Among the 40% of members experiencing homelessness or unstable housing when they arrive at Fountain House, 99% are housed within a year. Of the 24% of Fountain House members with a history of incarceration and justice involvement, rates of recidivism are less than 5%. Members complete their education, find paid work, and achieve health and wellness goals at significantly higher rates than do people living with serious mental illness who don’t have access to these programs. 

How they feel about our work

“Fountain House’s relationship with Kramer Levin has been invaluable to our community,” says Nieves. “Being able to provide a meaningful employment opportunity in a supportive environment has given our members the ability to regain confidence, self-esteem and motivation. In addition, it has served as a springboard for many members to find permanent, independent employment. Partners like Kramer Levin are an indispensable part of the work that we do at Fountain House to support our members’ rehabilitation, recovery and reintegration.”