As consumers, we must advocate for ourselves in order to protect our rights and get the services that we need. This detailed guide, which was developed in conjunction with the Freedom Self-Advocacy Curriculum, offers inspiration and advice. Selected Contents: Being Assertive * Identifying Your Rights * Breaking Down a Problem * Developing a Solution * Advocacy on the Telephone * Sample Letters * Holding a Successful Meeting. 39 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
Self-Advocacy (doc)
As consumers, we must advocate for ourselves in order to protect our rights and get the services that we need. This detailed guide, which was developed in conjunction with the Freedom Self-Advocacy Curriculum, offers inspiration and advice. Selected Contents: Being Assertive * Identifying Your Rights * Breaking Down a Problem * Developing a Solution * Advocacy on the Telephone * Sample Letters * Holding a Successful Meeting. 39 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
Serving on Boards and Committees (pdf)
As the consumer movement grows, more and more consumers are finding opportunities to serve on boards and committees, where they can truly impact mental health policy. This technical assistance guide explains how to become an effective member of a board or committee. Selected Contents: Understanding Boards and Committees * The Importance of Consumer Involvement * The Nomination and Application Process * Knowing the Unwritten Rules. 22 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
Serving on Boards and Committees (doc)
As the consumer movement grows, more and more consumers are finding opportunities to serve on boards and committees, where they can truly impact mental health policy. This technical assistance guide explains how to become an effective member of a board or committee. Selected Contents: Understanding Boards and Committees * The Importance of Consumer Involvement * The Nomination and Application Process * Knowing the Unwritten Rules. 22 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
Consumer-run Businesses and Services (pdf)
A major accomplishment of the mental health consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement has been the growing array of consumer-run businesses and services that we have created. By "consumer-run businesses", we mean organizations planned, directed, and staffed by consumers, survivors, and ex-patients, whether or not the organization is run for a profit. "Consumer-run services" are an important subset of consumer-run businesses and refer to organizations run by consumers for the purpose of providing services to other consumers. Such services fill a vital need: people with psychiatric disabilities can seek support and counseling from peers in the most supportive and responsive setting possible. This detailed guide examines the role and function of consumer-run services and businesses, and advises consumers on planning and operating them. Selected Contents: Role in Consumers' Lives * Role in (or Around) the Mental Health System * Types of Activities * Consumer Control * Funding * Finding a Location * Advertising and Promotion. 18 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
Consumer-run Businesses and Services (doc)
A major accomplishment of the mental health consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement has been the growing array of consumer-run businesses and services that we have created. By "consumer-run businesses", we mean organizations planned, directed, and staffed by consumers, survivors, and ex-patients, whether or not the organization is run for a profit. "Consumer-run services" are an important subset of consumer-run businesses and refer to organizations run by consumers for the purpose of providing services to other consumers. Such services fill a vital need: people with psychiatric disabilities can seek support and counseling from peers in the most supportive and responsive setting possible. This detailed guide examines the role and function of consumer-run services and businesses, and advises consumers on planning and operating them. Selected Contents: Role in Consumers' Lives * Role in (or Around) the Mental Health System * Types of Activities * Consumer Control * Funding * Finding a Location * Advertising and Promotion. 18 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
The Art & Science of Writing Proposals that Win (pdf)
Funding is absolutely essential for self-help groups to grow into sophisticated consumer-run services. This detailed guide explains how to write a grant proposal to obtain public or private grant money. Selected Contents: Basic Elements of a Proposal * Fiscal Sponsorship * Budgeting * Supporting Documents * Identifying Funding Sources * Sample Budget * Sample Request for Letters of Support * Sample Proposal. 42 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
Starting a Self-Help/Advocacy Group (pdf)
The Self-Help Toolkit is a set of materials that can be used to build a self-help group. The Toolkit includes two of our technical assistance guides, Starting A Self-Help/Advocacy Group and Raising Money for your Self-Help/Advocacy Group.
Starting a Self-Help/Advocacy Group (doc)
The Self-Help Toolkit is a set of materials that can be used to build a self-help group. The Toolkit includes two of our technical assistance guides, Starting A Self-Help/Advocacy Group and Raising Money for your Self-Help/Advocacy Group.
Raising Money for a Self-Help/Advocacy Group (pdf)
The Self-Help Toolkit is a set of materials that can be used to build a self-help group. The Toolkit includes two of our technical assistance guides, Starting A Self-Help/Advocacy Group and Raising Money for your Self-Help/Advocacy Group.
Raising Money for a Self-Help/Advocacy Group (doc)
The Self-Help Toolkit is a set of materials that can be used to build a self-help group. The Toolkit includes two of our technical assistance guides, Starting A Self-Help/Advocacy Group and Raising Money for your Self-Help/Advocacy Group.
History of the Consumer Movement (doc)
This basic guide traces the growth of the movement from its beginnings to the present-day development of sophisticated self-help and advocacy groups. 4 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
Organizing and Operating a Speakers' Bureau (pdf)
Throughout the nation, consumers have joined together to form speakers' bureaus, which educate the public about mental health issues. This basic guide explains how. 20 pp., 5 1/2 x 8 1/2
Organizing and Operating a Speakers' Bureau (doc)
Throughout the nation, consumers have joined together to form speakers' bureaus, which educate the public about mental health issues. This basic guide explains how. 20 pp., 5 1/2 x 8 1/2
How to Use the Media to Fight Stigma and Discrimination (pdf)
This basic guide outlines public relations strategies for countering the stigma that we consumers face in society, in the media, at work, and within the mental health system. English version: 8 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
How to Use the Media to Fight Stigma and Discrimination (doc)
This basic guide outlines public relations strategies for countering the stigma that we consumers face in society, in the media, at work, and within the mental health system. English version: 8 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
How to Use the Media to Fight Stigma and Discrimination--Spanish Language Version (pdf)
This basic guide outlines public relations strategies for countering the stigma that we consumers face in society, in the media, at work, and within the mental health system. Spanish version: 8 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
How to Use the Media to Fight Stigma and Discrimination--Spanish Language Version (doc)
This basic guide outlines public relations strategies for countering the stigma that we consumers face in society, in the media, at work, and within the mental health system. Spanish version: 8 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
Systems Advocacy (pdf)
The consumer movement has helped shape policy at the local, state, and national levels. This detailed guide provides an overview of important mental health issues and tactics for influencing policy, as well as a workbook for tracking political contacts. Selected Contents: The Healthcare System * State Legislatures * Federal Government * Writing Letters * Effective Meetings * Using the Media * Coalition-Building. 43 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.
Advocacy and Recovery Using the Internet (doc)
The Internet has helped many consumers change their lives, and the consumer movement has embraced the Internet as an organizing tool, helping to "level the playing field" in the advocacy arena. This detailed guide offers many suggestions for unlocking the Internet's potential. Selected Contents: Researching Mental Health Issues * Newsgroups * Message Boards * Advocacy Groups on the Internet * Fighting Stigma * Starting a Self-Help/Advocacy Group * Consumer-run Drop-in Centers. 27 pp., 8 1/2 x 11.