SCRANTON, Pa. — A program aiming to help those living with mental illness has a new space in Lackawanna County.
Katie's Place Clubhouse celebrated its grand opening along Penn Avenue in Scranton on Thursday. It's named in memory of Scranton native Katie Shoener, who battled bipolar disorder and died by suicide.
Katie's Place helps those with mental illnesses find employment, in addition to providing housing and education resources.
"For years, individuals who lived with mental illness really had nothing like this. They were confined to little boxes within the mental health system, and once they couldn't go any further, they were stuck in the program, but they were in," said John Rosengrant, Katie's Place Clubhouse Executive Director.
Members of Katie's Place Clubhouse are excited about this new opportunity to continue their wellness journey at a place where they build their skills and confidence.
"I really liked the fact that I can go somewhere, and I already have like something that I'm pretty okay doing and now I'm like getting recognition for it," said Jacob Vadovsky, member at Katie's Place Clubhouse.
The clubhouse in Scranton serves individuals in the Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties.