Self-Advocacy (pdf)

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.pdf

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.

Self-Advocacy.doc

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.pdf

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.

Serving on Boards and Committees.doc

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.pdf

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.

Consumer-run Businesses and Services.doc

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.

The Art & Science of Writing Proposals that Win.pdf