On the CMHS Front
Networking Works
Consumer/Survivor Bulletin Board Forum.
On the Information Center's electronic bulletin board (1-800-790-2647), people
are exchanging information via computer technologies. Users dial
up with a computer and a modem, and post and read public and private
messages on many different subjects.
People of Color Networking. CMHS sponsored a national teleconference of consumers/survivors interested in people of color issues. A summary of the event is
available from CMHS Consumer Affairs. Participants are continuing
this effort on their own.
National Networking. CMHS Consumer Affairs has been providing technical assistance
by helping consumers/survivors to network with one another across
the nation including participation in a series of teleconferences
for this purpose.
Managed Care Training and Networking.
Support has been provided to promote training and networking of
consumers/survivors on managed care and to sponsor a groundbreaking
meeting between representatives of the Consumer Managed Care Network
and the American Managed Behavioral Healthcare Association.
Technical Assistance Centers
CMHS has continued support of the National Empowerment Center and the National Mental Health
Consumer Self-Help Clearinghouse to promote self-help efforts. This includes support for this year's Alternatives and Learning From US Conferences.
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) Technical Assistance Center. Consumers/survivors participate on the steering committee of this CMHS-funded effort designed to assist State mental health efforts
including consumer/survivor initiatives.
Grant$ Update
Grants Announcement Policy. CMHS has instituted a policy of including language requiring consumer/survivor participation in all announcements for competitive grants.
Housing and Homelessness.
A grant announcement for supportive housing is planned over the
next year. Consumers/survivors are expanding their involvement
in the multi-site demonstration program entitled ACCESS as both
project staff and on the national steering committee.
Service System Improvement Grants. Support is being completed
of these State consumer/survivor initiatives which have facilitated
empowerment and self-help. (Read about the West Virginia Leadership
Academy, one such grant.)
Employment. A multi-site demonstration program has been undertaken examining how consumers/survivors can get and keep jobs. Consumers/survivors are involved as staff
at project sites and on the national steering committee.
State Mental Health Planning and Block Grants. Sponsorship
was provided for the participation of consumers/survivors at the
annual meeting of State Mental Health Planning Councils and at
a series of regional meetings on developing outcome measures for
proposed Performance Partnership Grants. Consumers/survivors are
also becoming more active in reviewing annual State mental health
plan submissions.
HIV/AIDS Grants. Consumers/survivors
are also involved in this multi-site project as both project staff
and steering committee members.
And Did You Know?
Veterans Issues. CMHS Consumer
Affairs has begun collaboration with the Veterans Administration
(VA) to increase consumer/survivor involvement in VA activities.
U.S.-Mexico Border. A site visit was conducted by CMHS
Consumer Affairs to the Border region to identify consumer/survivor needs.
Electro-Convulsive Therapy.
In response to concerns from consumers/survivors, CMHS has begun
addressing issues related to this topic. A report on this effort
is forthcoming.
Children's Mental Health Campaign.Consumers/survivors have been actively involved in developing materials for this public information campaign. Contact the Information
Center for more information on this project.
National Advisory Council. Agenda time for CMHS Consumer Affairs activities is provided at every meeting of the CMHS National Advisory Council.
Disaster Response. Support has been provided for consumer/survivor activities in
responding to the mental health needs of disasters including the
Oklahoma City bombing as well as for consumer/survivor involvement
in the development of disaster-response training materials.
Faith Communities. A meeting was sponsored with consumer/survivor participation examining the role of faith communities in mental health.
Community Mental Health Center Monitoring.
Consumers/survivors participate on monitoring teams that visit
community mental health centers constructed with Federal funds.
Protection and Advocacy. CMHS continues to fund Protection and Advocacy agencies in all States and Territories to investigate and protect the rights of
consumers/survivors.
Consumer Affairs Bulletin
Volume 1, No. 1 Winter 1996
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