CONSUMER AFFAIRS BULLETIN
Volume 2, No. 1 Spring 1997

Participants Listen, Learn, Renew, Rejoice, and Revitalize at December Alternatives Conference

The Orlando, Fla., sunshine welcomed the participants of the Alternatives '96 Conference held in December. This twelfth annual national mental health consumer/survivor meeting, supported by CMHS/SAMHSA, was coordinated by the National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse.

Participants had the opportunity to hear from keynote speaker, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State Robert O. Boorstin, as he spoke of his experience with manic-depression and his road to recovery. The talented cast of the Altered States of the Arts performed exquisitely, setting the tone for an informative and enjoyable conference.

The numerous workshops and showcases available required participants to pick and choose the topics of most interest. The enthusiasm, knowledge and attitude of the consumer/survivor presenters inspired such open dialogue among the participants that an enormous amount of information and technical assistance was exchanged. Mutual support throughout the conference provided people a chance to renew friendships and make new contacts; revitalize their energies to go back home and make a difference; and rejoice in the successes of each other and the self-help movement.

CMHS sent its largest delegation ever to the conference including: CMHS Deputy Director Thomas Bornemann; Division of Knowledge Development and Systems Change Director Michael English; Community Support Program Branch Chief Neal Brown; Community Support Branch Public Health Advisor Risa Fox; Consumer Affairs Specialist Paolo del Vecchio; Consumer Affairs Specialist Iris Hyman; SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center Project Officer Craig Packer; and Information Manager Robert Grace.

The CMHS staff met with attendees from all over the country at a caucus to dialogue on such issues as managed care, consumer/survivor grants, cultural competency, assistive technology, the Federal legislative system, new welfare laws, computer knowledge needs, protection and advocacy and many other topics. The caucus provided the opportunity for consumer/survivors to directly advise CMHS representatives of their concerns. At the same time, the caucus afforded the Center's official representatives a chanced to meet consumers/survivors and review those Federal programs now in place and those needed in the future.

As everyone was departing from the Alternatives '96 Conference, they were looking forward to the next Alternatives Conference. Check with the National Empowerment Center for more information on the Alternatives Conference to be held in February 1998 in Long Beach, Calif.

Consumer Affairs Bulletin
Volume 2, No. 1 Spring 1997