Community Support Programs Branch
Consumer and Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Centers (TACs)
Since its inception, the Community Support Programs (CSP) Branch has fostered self-help approaches
in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of mental health services. As part of this effort,
in 1992 the CSP Branch financed the first national self-help technical assistance centers (TACs)
directed by and for mental health consumers. Consumer Supporter technical assistance centers
for supporters of consumers (family members and friends) was added to the program in 1998 to recognize the important role persons who support and care for consumers can play
in helping them achieve independence and recovery. For more information on the history of the
Consumer and Consumer Supporter TACs.
The CSP Branch currently funds five Consumer and Consumer Supporter TACs:
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Transformation Center
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance’s Transformation Center will assist mental health consumers through an integrated combination of technical assistance methods including online/media-supported training, grassroots training conferences, peer leadership coaching programs, responsive peer-to-peer support, recovery best practices publication, certified peer specialist training, consumer organization assistance, healthcare profession al training and resources and national partnerships and alliances.
For more information:
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance’s Transformation Center
730 N Franklin St, Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 988-1150; Toll-free: (800) 826-3632
Fax: (312) 643-7243
General E-mail: questions@dbsalliance.org
National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse)
The National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) provides
technical assistance and training to consumers and consumer-run programs and supports consumer
involvement in planning and evaluating mental health services. The Clearinghouse also provides
technical assistance to develop and promote peer specialist training programs, and combats discrimination
and stigma. It fosters the creation of local self-help groups and counsels consumer leaders on
raising funds, recruiting members, developing skills, publicizing activities, and implementing
peer-run services.
For more information:
National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse
1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 751-1810; Toll-free: (800) 553-4539
Fax: (215) 636-6312
General E-mail: info@mhselfhelp.org
National Empowerment Center (NEC)
The National Empowerment Center (NEC) promotes the transformation to a recovery-based, consumer-driven
system through increasing consumer participation in training, policy formation, evaluation,
consumer-run alternatives, and service delivery. NEC is working with four statewide consumer
organizations in a recovery consortium. It provides consumer leaders and consumer-run programs
with technical assistance and mentoring in developing programs, and engaging policymakers and
community leaders in developing recovery-based approaches.
For more information:
National Empowerment Center (NEC)
599 Canal Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone: (978) 685-1494; Toll-free: (800)769-3728
Fax: (978) 681-6426
NAMI Support, Technical Assistance, and Resource (STAR) Center
The NAMI Support, Technical Assistance, and Resource (STAR) Center assists consumer-operated
and consumer-helper programs in meetings the needs of racially and ethnically underserved populations.
It offers national teleconference trainings related to cultural competency and recovery. The
center develops, collects, and disseminates a wide range of culturally appropriate materials
and resources that are available to the public through a content-rich website. It is also developing
a product identifier on consumer-operated services for culturally diverse groups and exemplary
programs that are culturally competent; its working name is Consumer Operator Services Identifier
(COSI).
For more information:
NAMI Support, Technical Assistance, and Resource (STAR) Center
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Phone: (703) 516-7996; Toll-free: (866) 537-STAR (7827)
Fax: (703) 600-1114
National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center (NCSTAC)
National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center (NCSTAC) was founded in 1998 under the
auspices of the National Mental Health Association. It is dedicated to strengthening consumer/peer-run
organizations by providing technical assistance in the form of research, informational materials,
and financial aid. NCSTAC also offers, free of charge, publications on many aspects of organizational
development and a community assessment tool.
NCSTAC works intensively with selected consumer groups to provide training in organizational
development and management, as well as to lead systems transformation efforts in their communities.
Programs served by NCSTAC have yielded thriving organizations, strong consumer-led coalitions,
and widely recognized public education campaigns.
For more information:
National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center (NCSTAC)
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 223311
Website: http://www.ncstac.org
National Mental Health Association (NMHA)
P.O. Box 16810
Alexandria, VA 22302-0810
Phone: (703) 838-7538; Toll-free: (800) 969-6642, ext. 6;
Fax: (703) 684-5968
General E-mail: ConsumerTA@nmha.org
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