Federal Agencies

• The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) administers programs and funding for the delivery of services such as treatment, employment, housing, transportation, and other aspects of community participation that are needed by adults with mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disorders.

• The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) conducts comprehensive and coordinated programs of research and related activities to maximize the full inclusion, social integration, employment and independent living of individuals of all ages with disabilities. NIDRR’s focus includes research in employment, health and function, technology for access and function, independent living and community integration, and other associated disability research areas.

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) focuses on improving the quality and availability of prevention, treatment, and rehabilitative services in order to reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society resulting from substance abuse and mental illnesses.

National Organizations

• Compeer is an international non-profit organization that recruits and trains volunteers to serve as advocates, mentors, and friends to children and adults receiving mental health treatment. It was founded over 30 years ago in Rochester, NY and today boasts over 100 Affiliate Programs in the United Stated, Canada and Australia.

• Contac serves as a resource center for consumers/survivors/ex-patients and consumer-run organizations across the United States, promoting self-help, recovery, and empowerment. Contac was developed utilizing research on ideal consumer self-help programs, successful consumer-run programs, community support service philosophy about service delivery, descriptions of mature mental health systems, and management and leadership skills.

• NAMI is a nonprofit, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses. NAMI works to provide education and support, combat stigma, support increased funding for research, and advocate for adequate health insurance, housing, rehabilitation, and jobs for people with mental illnesses and their families. The website also provides contact information for local affiliates and state organizations which identify and work on issues most important to ther community and state.

• The NAC/SMHA represents state department of mental health senior managers who are current or former recipients of mental health services. The organization provides a forum for members to develop strategies for balancing the demands and expectations of consumer/survivors and mental health bureaucracies. A vehicle for networking and peer support, NAC/SMHA works to increase participation of consumer/survivors in all aspects of the public mental health system.

• NASMHPD identifies public mental health policy issues, apprises its members of research findings and best practices in the delivery of mental health services, fosters collaboration, provides consultation and technical assistance, and promotes effective management practices and financing mechanisms. NASMHPD takes action that reflects the position of State Mental Health Authorities on public mental health issues and coordinates at the national level with organizations of related interests.

• Dialogue for Recovery is a new NMHA program, aimed at enhancing communication between doctors and patients about treatment goals, medication side-effects and other quality of life issues affecting the recovery of individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness. This program includes information for consumers, families and friends, and for healthcare providers.

• The National Resource Center on Homelessness and Mental Illness is the only national center specifically focused on the effective organization and delivery of services for people who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses. The Resource Center offers training opportunities, technical assistance, referral lists, an extensive resource library, and disseminates knowledge.

• NCSTAC helps to strengthen those organizations supporting mental health consumers, survivors, and ex-patients by providing technical assistance in the forms of research, informational materials, and financial aid.

• National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse is a consumer-run national technical assistance center serving the mental health consumer movement. They help connect individuals to self-help and advocacy resources, and offer expertise to self-help groups and other peer-run services for mental health consumers.

• This National Research and Training Center on Psychiatric Disability is a five-year program of research, training, technical assistance and dissemination activities designed to promote self-determination among people with psychiatric disabilities.