Statewide Consumer Network Program

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The purpose of this program is to improve mental health service delivery to people with serious mental illnesses. In so doing, it seeks to enhance statewide mental health consumer-run and -controlled organizations to promote service system capacity and infrastructure development that is consumer-driven, recovery-focused and resiliency¬-oriented. The program goals are (1) to increase consumer participation, voice, and empowerment statewide; (2) emphasize and build consumer leadership within organizations and in the community; and (3) promote activities related to: partnership development, peer support, service needs related to gender, training and skills development, trauma-informed peer support, integrated care and wellness, and/or health reform as part of the recovery process for consumers. The Statewide Consumer Network program also seeks to address the needs of underserved and under-represented consumers, including those from ethnic, racial, or cultural minority groups, service needs related to gender, veterans, those who have histories of chronic homelessness, those with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders, young adults, sexual orientation and gender identity minority individuals, and those who have been involved in the criminal justice system. SAMHSA has demonstrated that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. Behavioral health services improve health status and reduce health care and other costs to society. Continued improvement in the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services provides a cost effective opportunity to advance and protect the nation’s health. To continue to improve the delivery and financing of prevention, treatment and recovery support services, SAMHSA has identified six Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on improving lives and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. The Statewide Consumer Network program closely aligns with SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Strategic Initiative. As part of the Strategic Initiative, SAMHSA funded the Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS-TACS) to promote the widespread adoption of recovery concepts and practices throughout the United States. The BRSS-TACS will help facilitate the dissemination of information among consumers, families, and youth about health care reform initiated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The Statewide Consumer Network Program grants are authorized under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD.

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