Articles for the Topic "Consumer Integration"

A Guide to Consumer Involvement: Improving the Quality of Ambulatory HIV Programs

2009-08-26T03:28:21

The goal of PLWHA consumer involvement is to develop, deliver, and improve the quality of programs to effectively meet the service needs of the individuals and families that rely upon them for their HIV health care. This guide provides suggestions for the successful involvement of members of the PLWHA community as partners in reaching this goal. (Author)

Consumer Advisory Board Manual for Health Care for the Homeless Projects

2007-07-06T04:22:05

At the 2003 National Health Care for the Homeless Conference, it was decided that the National Consumer Advisory Board (NCAB) would develop a manual that could be used as a guide for local groups who are beginning to form CABs. This document is the result of that work. The manual is meant to be used as a guide only; nothing is written in cement. It is our hope that the manual will assist consumers in working with senior management and Boards of Directors of Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) projects. We, the NCAB Executive Committee, have used the experiences we have had in developing our own local CABs. We will cover such things as recruitment, meeting management, by-laws/guidelines, and how to make recommendations for changes within the local Health Care for the Homeless Program. We hope that this manual will be helpful to you. It is also our wish for you to make recommendations to NCAB on things that should be included in another edition. At the end of the manual you will find names and addresses so that you can contact us.One of the things that we want to stress is that there is not one way of doing things. What works for one CAB may not work for other CABs. There are many different ways that local CABs are structured. Many of the recommendations that we make can be altered to fit your locality. Please feel free to use this manual in any way that you feel will be helpful to you. (Authors)

Consumer Drop-in Centers: Operations, Services and Consumer Involvement

2007-02-01T08:01:49

Interest in involvement of consumers in mental health and psychiatric rehabilitation services delivery has expanded in recent years, encompassing self-help approaches,consumers employed as providers in formal agencies, and consumers operating their own services. This study reports results from in-depth phone surveys conducted with 32 consumer drop-in centers in Michigan. Results indicate that centers operate in many ways like other human services businesses, albeit with much smaller budgets. Funding levels, salaries, and services showed great heterogeneity among the centers and in comparison with reports in the literature. Centers autonomously run by consumers and centers with consumer involvement (operated by a non-consumer agency) were found to differ significantly on several variables, including consumer control, funding and service levels, and challenges. Implications for the growth and increased use of consumer drop-in centers are discussed. (Authors)

Consumer Integration and Self-determination in Homelessness Research, Policy, Planning and Services

2008-03-12T02:41:30

In this paper, the authors assess how the process and outcomes of research, policy, and service delivery change when they involve or are driven by people who have themselves experienced homelessness. They review the available evaluation literature and present lessons from the field on consumer integration in research, policy, and program implementation. Barriers to consumer integration and strategies for addressing these barriers are described. Barrow and her colleagues further address what happens when people who are homeless make the decisions about the housing and services they need. They conclude by reviewing findings on the individual- and system-level impacts of consumer-driven approaches to homeless assistance. (Authors)

Consumer Practitioners in PATH-funded Programs: Report of the Consumer Involvement Workgroup

2007-03-28T01:55:19

Each State or Territory that receives Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) funds has a State PATH Contact who provides oversight to the program's local implementation. Among other activities, State PATH Contacts identify topics that are of special interest to the PATH program and select workgroups to study these topics in depth. In early 2003, the PATH Consumer Involvement Workgroup, under the leadership of Charles Bliss of Georgia's Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Addictive Diseases, began meeting to gather and develop: Data and information on what States are currently doing to employ consumers in PATH programs; A description of PATH programs that are considered exemplary in this regard; An examination of issues related to consumer employment, including advantages, challenges, and strategies; Reccomendations for employing mental health consumers in PATH programs. (Authors)

Consumers in the Mental Health Workforce: A Handbook for Providers

2009-08-26T03:36:52

Employment is an intricate part of the recovery process and a primary tool for empowering consumers. Providers are employing consumers in greater numbers as a way to improve clinical and business outcomes. To effectively hire and retain consumer employees there are many questions about how to recruit, manage and integrate this staff into your agency.

Guide for Consumer Involvement in Local Community Planning for the Mental Health Services Act

2009-08-26T03:19:40

This guide gives recommendations for mental health consumer recovery and stresses the importance of consumer operated services. (HRC)

How to Develop and Maintain a Consumer Advisory Board

2007-11-25T06:44:53

For the purposes of this booklet, a consumer advisory board is an ancillary body that provides its organization with guidance on questions germane to consumers. Any mental health organization, and indeed any organization whose activities affect consumers, can establish such a body. Creating and maintaining such an advisory board can be a demanding process. Advisory board members need to be recruited and trained. They must understand their purpose as a group and they must remain motivated to meet their group goals. This booklet, How to Develop and Maintain a Consumer Advisory Board, will walk you through the steps for establishing and maintaining a healthy consumer advisory board. (NCSTAC)

HRC Webcast Resources: Consumer Integration: Everyone is Talking About It, But How Do We Get It Done? Next Steps to Creating Recovery-Oriented Environments

2009-07-23T10:50:42

This free HRC webcast, which aired on July 23, 2009, highlighted principles of recovery and benefits and common barriers to participation as they relate to consumer integration. The presenters discussed potential roles for people formerly or currently experiencing homelessness.

HRC Webcast Resources: Consumer Integration: Why it Matters, How it Works

2009-07-10T11:32:26

This FREE HRC webcast, which aired on Thursday, July 9, 2009, highlighted principles of recovery, benefits, and common barriers to participation as they relate to consumer integration. The presenters discussed potential roles for people formerly or currently experiencing homelessness. This webcast was Part I of the two part series on consumer integration.

Mental Health Consumer Providers: A Guide for Clinical Staff

2009-08-26T03:15:41

The purpose of this booklet is to provide mental health clinic staff with a brief guide to implementing and sustaining a consumer provider program.

Ten Tips for Involving Consumers as Colleagues in Homelessness Services

2008-01-22T06:08:45

How can your agency successfully integrate consumers as colleagues? Ten tips are described here.