Consumer and Family Advocacy

As long as we regard our disabilities as tragedies, we will be pitied.

As long as we feel ashamed of who we are, our lives will be regarded as useless.

As long as we remain silent, we will be told by others what to do.

~Adolf Ratzka, 2005

Indiana Mental Health Consumer Advocacy Groups:

Indiana Federation of Families for Childr ens Mental Health (IFFCMH) has a mission to create and grow networks of support,
education, intervention, leadership and advocacy, thereby empowering families to facilitate growth and development for their
children who have emotional, behavioral or mental challenges while also creating and maintaining a positive environment for
all family members. Call 866-247-8457
***Due to loss of Statewide Family Network Grant, the IFFCMH will no longer be able to work as they have effective on the
end of 09/30/2010. They have reported that they will continue operations to the best of their capacity.

Key Consumer Organization offers self-help for persons with mental or emotional illness to help each other through
emotional support, advocacy and support groups. The goals are to empower and strengthen mental health consumers by
working toward better treatment, improved insurance, reduced stigma and greater independence. Contact 317-205-2500 or
800-933-5397

Recovery Orient Yourself is a website devoted to helping publicly highlight the recovery movements in Addictions and Mental
Health. It is the goal of the project and products to establish a recognizable insignia that will promote the public awareness,
understanding and recognition that Recovery Works.

National Mental Health Consumer Advocacy Groups:

Federation of Families for Childr ens Mental Health (FFCMH) A national family-run organization serves to: Provide advocacy at
the national level for the rights of children and youth with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges and their
families, Provide leadership and technical assistance to a nation-wide network of family run organizations, Collaborate with
family run and other child serving organizations to transform mental health care in America.

Mental Health America has a primary goal to educate the general public about the realities of mental health and mental
illness. The Ombudsman provides information about the mental health system in Indiana and answers questions and assists
callers in need of mental health service. Also each affiliate provides a number of different programs, depending on area.
Contact 317-638-3501 or 800-555-6424

National Alliance on Mental Illness is a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of people afflicted
by serious and persistent mental illness. NAMI Indiana consists of families, consumers, and professionals who are dedicated
to helping families through a network of support, education, advocacy, and promotion of research. Contact 317-925-9399
or 800-677-6442

National Coalition of Mental Health Professionals and Consumers (NCMHPC) is an interdisciplinary professional and consumer
organization that advocates for mental health and substance abuse treatment. The focus of The National Coalition is on
education and political and legal action to preserve the highest standards of treatment and medical privacy.

S tarfish Advocacy Association (Chat/Forum/Blog) makes a difference in the lives of children with neurological disorders and
their families, one child at a time, by creating opportunities for joy through learning and sharing information, resources and
support within the community.

Mental Health Consumer Supports:
Center for Peer Networking (CPN) website provides information and resources relevant for peers working in inpatient
settings as well as interested providers.

National Association of Peer Specialists (NAPS) is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to peer support in mental
health systems. We are a group of dedicated peer specialists seeking ways to improve the effectiveness of the mental health
system through the hiring of other peer specialists.

National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR) will ensure that consumer/survivors have a major voice in the
development and implementation of health care, mental health, and social policies at the state and national levels,
empowering people to recover and lead a full life in the community. Formerly known as National Coalition for Mental Health
Consumer/Survivor Organizations.

National Consumer Support Technical Assistance Center (NCSTAC) purpose is to strengthen consumer organizations by
providing technical assistance in the form of research, informational materials, training and financial aid. Promotes mental
health systems transformation by working with diverse racial and ethnic communities to conduct comprehensive community
assessments, develop community coalitions, advocate for improved mental health services and conduct public education
activities.

National Empowerment Center (NEC) has a mission to carry a message of recovery, empowerment, hope and healing to
people who have been labeled with mental illness.

National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse is the nation's first national consumer technical assistance center
and has played a major role in the development of the mental health consumer movement. The Clearinghouse works to
foster consumer empowerment through our website, up-to-date news and information announcements, a directory of
consumer-driven services, electronic and printed publications, training packages, and individual and on-site consultation.

Support, Technical Assistance and Resources (STAR) Center to assist consumer-operated and consumer-helper programs
in meeting the needs of under-served populations. In pursuit of this mission we offer a broad array of technical assistance
to consumer operated and peer run programs, leadership trainings, national teleconferences, consumer scholarships-for
attendance to the annual Alternatives Conference.

Youth M.O.V.E National is a youth led national organization devoted to improving services and systems that support
positive growth and development by uniting the voices of individuals who have lived experience in various systems including
mental health, juvenile justice, education, and child welfare.

Miscellaneous: