About Us
Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the long-term well-being of people with brain injury-related disabilities and their families through skills development, support, and advocacy.
Our Vision
We envision a world where people with brain injury-related disabilities have access to services that assist them in managing health and well-being so they can contribute interdependently and safely at home, work and in the community for the best possible quality of life. To learn more about Side by Side's strategic plan to achieve this vision, we welcome you to read the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan Overview.
Our Philosophy
Side by Side is a community based, voluntary, member-directed program which builds on strengths to optimize the social, financial and vocational success of members and guarantees their right to meaningful work and a place to return.
Our Model
Side by Side follows the Clubhouse model of rehabilitation, where participants are considered ‘members’ of a community. Side by Side follows a set of standards from the International Brain Injury Clubhouse Alliance (IBICA) which was adapted from Clubhouse International. The model ensures member involvement in every aspect of the organization.
Our History
Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse, Inc. addresses the powerful need for people with brain injuries to have a community that provides a place to physically gather, work, support one another and belong. This need became painfully obvious to Cindi Johnson, Side by Side founder, when she volunteer-directed a weekend camp for Georgia’s Brain Injury Association in the 90s. Cindi, then a program director at Atlanta’s prominent Shepherd Center, was already an expert in the field and realized a brain injury is treated but never really “cured.”
People living with brain injuries have a myriad of issues that can be episodic, recurring and/or permanent but the brain injury always remains. Shepherd Center and Emory Healthcare are amazing experts at treating the brain injury but the support continuum all but stopped with a discharge. With their extraordinary partnership, Cindi founded Side by Side in July 1999 and opened the doors to participants in 2000. Over 20 years later, Side by Side operates in Stone Mountain Village and serves 17 Metro Atlanta counties.
Cindi - now considered a national expert relating to the Clubhouse model and the lifelong impact of brain injury– continues to provide leadership as Side by Side’s Associate Director. To ensure a smooth Executive Director leadership transition, Cindi will co-direct with Josh Blackmon before moving on to manage special projects for Side by Side.
Regulatory Bodies
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
This accreditation represents that an organization has put itself through a rigorous peer-review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit (this survey was virtual due to COVID-19) that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.
Side by Side received our fourth CARF three-year accreditation award for Community Services: Community Integration, Governance Standards awarded in March 2021.
For more information about the accreditation process, please visit the CARF website at www.carf.org, or contact Side by Side at 770-469-9355.
Georgia Department of Community Health
In addition to our CARF accreditation, Side by Side is licensed and regulated by the Georgia Department of Community Health to operate as an Adult Day Center.
If you believe you, your client, or caregiver received poor quality care from us, you may file a complaint here or by calling the Division of Healthcare Facility Regulation at 1-800-878-6442.
Staff and Board of Directors
LEADERSHIP
Josh Blackmon, M. Ed., CCC-SLP
Executive Director
joshua@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Josh leads the entire organization and ensures current and long-term support services are in place for people and families in the brain injury community. With over a decade of experience as a licensed speech-language pathologist, Josh has worked with individuals with brain injury in multiple capacities and environments throughout his career.
Cindi Johnson, MA, CBIST
Founder and Special Projects Coordinator
cindi@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Cindi develops the continued success of Side by Side through a strategic leadership succession plan. She focuses on advocating to better the lives of people in the brain injury community. Cindi has worked with people with brain injury as a cognitive rehabilitation therapist, administrator and author since 1986.
Viviana Finol, MPA
Finance Director
viviana@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Viviana develops and monitors Side by Side's budget and oversees the audit process. She is responsible for keeping senior leadership and stakeholders abreast of the organization's financial status. With over six years of experience at Side by Side, Viviana has gained exposure to various areas of the program, providing her with the background needed to lead the organization's financial health and growth.
PROGRAM STAFF
Fernandas Robinson, MA
Clubhouse Manager
fernandas@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Fernandas oversees all aspects of our programming. He also provides life skills training and service coordination for Side by Side members. His background in neurobehavioral rehabilitation and hands-on brain injury experience since 2000 made him a strong leader for such a unique program.
Judy Wissing, MS, CRC, CBIS
Intake Coordinator & Vocational Specialist
judy@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Judy assists members in employment services which include job development activities and volunteer placements. Before joining, Judy helps people determine whether Side by Side is a good fit for them. Members also benefit from her support as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
Patrick Medley, Sr.
Work Unit Coordinator
patrick@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Patrick brings over two decades of experience working in various family oriented nonprofit agencies. The positive “can do” philosophy he embodies at Clubhouse is central to his success engaging members and stakeholders. Patrick fosters impactful relationships within the community critical to the mission and truly feels Clubhouse culture is second to none.
Melissa McDonald, CBIS
Work Unit Coordinator
melissa@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Melissa engages directly with members each day at Side by Side. She excels at connecting with each person at our day program because of her background in both psychology and human services.
Heather Rosa
Work Unit Coordinator
heather@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Heather highlights the power of the Clubhouse-model every day. Her background in psychology and human services paired with previous Clubhouse International experience molded Heather into a champion at supporting members on their journey of recovery.
Candace Salisbury, CBIS
Work Unit Coordinator
candace@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Candace multitasks the needs of Side by Side's three work units and intuitively assists members and staff. Her understanding of Exercise Science and experience in neurobehavioral settings taught Candace how and when to step in to provide support.
OPERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF
Laura Pettit
Resource Development Director
laura@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Laura looks for opportunities to partner with those in the community who want to make a positive contribution in the lives of people with brain injury and their families.
Sarah Richardson
Compliance and Billing Manager
sarah@sidebysideclubhouse.org
Sarah completes all billing of services for the organization and coordinates the record-keeping, planning and execution of current accreditation and licensure standards.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jim Long, Esq.
Board Chair
Tracey Wallace, MS, CCC-SLP
Vice Board Chair
Yogita Tailor, DO
Secretary
Sarah Duffy
Treasurer
Jocelyn Smith
Board Director
Brick Johnstone, PhD, ABPP
Board Director
Sue Dunlap, MBA, SHRM-CP, PHR
Board Director
Mark Gannon, Esq.
Board Director
Elizabeth George, Esq.
Board Director
Katherine Creek
Board Director
Heather Miller, MS CCC-SLP
Board Director
Annie Tran, MPH, PMP
Board Director
George Brammeier
Board Director
Josh Blackmon, M. Ed., CCC-SLP
Ex-officio
Michelle Thompson, Esq.
Board Director
Miranda Smith, CPA
Board Director