Our social programs are created by and for members.
In a monthly community meeting, members decide on activities for the coming month. Socializing with others helps people with mental health diagnoses prevent relapse and have a higher level of life satisfaction.
Peer Run
FolkTime offers an opportunity for independent adults living with a mental health diagnosis to come together and create a supportive and safe atmosphere for each other. Participants in our programs have created a community where it’s safe to talk about their daily challenges, learn social skills, nurture community, refrain from isolation, and find the support they need. As a peer-run social program, our model does not include traditional caregiving roles. Our employees create a safe environment and coordinate the logistics of the programs, but do not provide caregiving services such as medication management or mobility assistance. Members create and provide their own monthly calendar with different activities and events at all three of our locations in the Portland Metro area.
COVID-19 Update for Social Programs
January 10th, 2021 – As many of you know, the Omicron variant has created another surge in COVID cases. Based on the experience of other countries, experts believe that the surge will be short lived. In response to the surge, all in-person social programs will be temporarily closed between January 10th and January 24th. Our virtual programing will still be available with some added offerings during the in-person downtime: https://folktime.org/training-calendar/
Please check back by the 20th to see if those dates are altered or changed.
Virtual & In-Person Social Programs
In response to COVID-19, we are providing participants with Virtual Social Program Groups through Zoom. These groups are provided alongside In-Person groups, all of which are reflected in our calendar downloadable here. Anyone is free to join our Zoom groups. You can also visit our calendar page (here) to access each group and its Zoom link.
On the first Thursday of each month, our participants gather to share what peer-run activities they would like to do together the following month. For virtual groups, FolkTime mails participants packets with all materials needed to participate.
If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, or don’t know how to use it, or don’t even know where to find it, you can contact us at the email below. We always welcome feedback and ideas that participants would like to see on our social programs calendar. If you would like to contribute to building the calendar, please email socialprograms@folktime.org
Our Outdoor Social Program
Bliss Garden
Open from late May to mid-September.
The garden serves as a space for people in mental health and substance use recovery to get their hands dirty, and participate with peers in other activities, such as art and writing.
Bliss Garden is now closed. Join us between late May and mid-September when the garden is open every Friday from 2pm to 4pm. A referral is not needed. Water, snacks, and tools provided.
Hours of Operation: CLOSED until late May, 2022.
Location: 4837 NE Couch Street Portland, OR 97213
Contact:Social Programs Lead, TaMara Edens, tedens@folktime.org
We are seeking community sponsors to help support the operations and materials for Bliss Garden activities for Spring 2022. Contact FolkTime Development at hellothere@folktime.org if interested.
Who is Eligible?
FolkTime’s Social Programs are the only ones of their kind in the Portland, Ore., and tri-county area that are free and open to anyone over 18, regardless of health care system affiliation. They are available to anyone looking for community because there is no referral needed. If you are interested in financially supporting any of these important and impactful programs, please contact TaMara Edens at tedens@folktime.org. Since these are drop-in programs, we ask that all people interested agree to five criteria.
Social Program Members are asked to:
- Be 18 years or older.
- Self-identify as having lived experience with mental health and/or substance abuse challenges.
- Be actively seeking and embodying recovery to a point where they feel comfortable and safe participating in group activities.
- Be independent in their personal care and daily living need. Care-giving services are not provided at the FolkTime Social Programs. These types of services would include: bathroom support, mobility support, support during meals, medication management, transportation, etc.
- Complete new member orientation, held on the first Tuesday of the month at 12:00 PM PST.
If you have any questions or concerns about member guidelines, or about our social programs in general, please contact us at the Social Programs via socialprograms@folktime.org
In order to provide a safe and supportive community, we accept members who have:
- A desire to participate in a community focused on recovery.
- The ability to be with others in a positive way that promotes mutual benefit.
- The ability to accept all people, personalities, and walks of life.
FolkTime's Social Programs are judgement free and value diversity.
There is no cost for membership though members are asked to donate $1 for lunch, when able.
We operate with volunteers and through your donations.
Activities
Social program members gather to participate in a variety of activities, including craft projects, guest speakers, games, and discussions on topics of interest.
Outings
Once a week members venture out to local parks, museums, and gardens, or participate in community events.
Sharing a Meal
Our hot lunches are prepared on site and shared together. Donations from our community partners help to create our meal selections.
Self Determination
Members are the primary leaders of all the activities offered at our social programs, which provides a training ground for leadership within the mental health peer community.
Our Social Program Locations
Free To Be Me
Free To Be Me is largely regarding as the founding program and foundation of FolkTime, a beloved social program founded in 1986. It is located in Northeast Portland at the Community of Christ Church.
Free to Be Me’s Impact:
- 75% of our members reduced their use of mental health services
- 73% reported reducing
- reducing need of hospital
- 57% reporting using the Emergency Department less
- 45% reporting less involvement with Police
- 95% of the members surveyed felt they had built friendships through Folktime
- 93% of participants felt that Folktime helped them get nutritious meals that were otherwise difficult to attain.
Hours of operation:
Mon, Wed, Thurs 10:00am-2pm
Address:
Community Church of Christ (unaffiliated)
4837 NE Couch Street
Portland, OR 97213
Contact:
Social Programs Lead, TaMara Edens: tedens@folktime.org.
Oregon City
Our Oregon City Social Program has been in operation since 2008. It is located inside the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls, formerly known as the Atkinson
This program is funded by Clackamas Country Behavioral Health. We appreciate their partnership in making this social program location possible.
Hours of operation:
Mon, Tues, Thurs 10:00am-2:30pm
Address:
Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Willamette Falls (unaffiliated)
710 6th Street, Oregon City, OR 97045
Contact:
Social Programs Lead, TaMara Edens: teden@folktime.org.
Rural Outreach
Rural Outreach Social Program offers programs to Clackamas County in the cities of Sandy, Molalla, and Estacada. The Rural Outreach Program meets regularly by coordinated events within the community.
Hours of operation:
Tues 10:00am-1pm
Thurs 2pm to 5pm
Fri hours and outings vary
Address:
Locations vary based on participant engagement.
Contact:
Social Programs Lead, TaMara Edens: tedens@folktime.org