WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the award of 19 grants totaling $3.9 million over three years for statewide consumer network grants that facilitate involvement by consumers of mental health services in the development of mental health programs, and 43 grants totaling $8.5 million over three years for statewide family network grants that involve families in mental health policies and programs affecting their children.
Both the statewide consumer and statewide family network programs are designed to support state level organizations in the development of policies, programs and quality assurance activities involving mental health services. They are also designed to strengthen organizational relationships, and foster leadership and business management skills for those involved in the network programs. The statewide consumer network program is focused on adults with severe mental illnesses. The statewide family network program is focused on families of children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances.
"We know that when users of mental health services and families of children who need services are more involved and consulted in their care, services are more appropriate to their needs," Secretary Thompson said. "These programs will assist consumer organizations around the country to work with policymakers and service providers to improve treatment for individuals with mental health problems. These awards will help consumers transform mental health services to reflect what consumers need."
The grants were awarded by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Each grantee will receive approximately the same funding amount per year for each of three years depending upon the availability of funds.
"Everyone should have the opportunity for a life in the community including a job or schooling, a home and a social network of friends and family," said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie. "Providing people who use mental health services a voice will empower them to help create a mental health system that is based on an individual's need and personal dreams."
The 19 statewide consumer network grantees are:
Alabama Consumer Empowerment & Support Inc., Montgomery -- $64,980 per year for each of three years.
NAMI Alaska, Inc., Anchorage -- $69,934 per year for each of three years.
California Network of Mental Health Clients, Sacramento -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Mental Health Association of Colorado, Denver -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, Decatur -- $57,780 per year for each of three years.
United Self Help (Hawaii), Honolulu -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
IDMBA DBA Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Indiana, Indianapolis -- $69,976 per year for each of three years.
Advocacy Initiative Network of Maine, Bangor -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
On Our Own of Maryland, Baltimore -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Network of Minnesota, St. Paul -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
NAMI Empowering Missouri's Consumers Grant, Jefferson City -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Mental Health Association of Nebraska, Lincoln -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Inc., Freehold -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Mental Health Empowerment Project, Inc. (New York), Albany -- $69,740 per year for each of three years.
Mental Health Association of Oregon, Portland -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumer Association, Harrisburg -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
South Carolina Share, West Columbia -- $69,810 per year for each of three years.
Vermont Psychiatric Survivors, Rutland -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
VOCAL, Inc. (Virginia), Charlottesville -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
The 43 Statewide Family Network grantees are:
Alabama Family Ties, Inc., Montgomery -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Alaska Young Family Network, Anchorage -- $69,999 per year for each of three years.
MIKID, Mentally Ill Kids in Distress, Phoenix, Arizona -- $59,805 per year for each of three years.
United Advocates for Children of California, Sacramento -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Englewood, Colorado - - $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Families United for Children's Mental Health Inc. Niantic, Connecticut -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Florida Institute for Family Involvement, Crawfordville -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Georgia Parent Support Network, Inc., Atlanta -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Hawaii Families As Allies, Aiea -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Idaho Federation of Families For Children's Mental Health, Boise -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Latino Family Institute, River Forest, IL -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Indiana Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Inc., Anderson -- $69,999 per year for each of three years.
Iowa Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Anamosa -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Keys for Networking, Inc., Topeka, Kansas -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Kentucky Partnership For Families and Children, Inc., Frankfort -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Louisiana Federation of Families, Baton Rouge -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Maine Parent Federation, Augusta -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health, Columbia -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Inc., Boston, Massachusetts -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Association for the Children's Mental Health, East Lansing, Michigan -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Minnesota Statewide Family Network, Minneapolis -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Mississippi Families as Allies, Inc., Jackson -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Missouri Statewide Parent Advisory Network, Florissant -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Family Support Network, Billings, Montana -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Nebraska Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Omaha -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Nevada P.E.P., Inc, Las Vegas -- $70,000 per year for each of three years. NAMI New Hampshire, Concord -- $69,735 per year for each of three years.
Parents for Behaviorally Different Children, Albuquerque, New Mexico -- $69,998 per year for each of three years.
Families Together in New York State, Inc., Albany -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
North Carolina Families United, Davidson -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Oklahoma Federation of Families, Oklahoma City -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Oregon Family Support Network, Inc., Oregon City -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
The Question, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Parent Support Network of Rhode Island, Inc., Warwick -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Federation of Families of South Carolina, Columbia -- $59,982 per year for each of three years.
Tennessee Voices for Children, Nashville -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Texas Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Austin -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Allies with Families, North Salt Lake City, Utah -- $70,000 per year for each of three years.
Vermont Federation, Montpelier -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Statewide Action for Family Empowerment of Washington, Olympia -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Mountain State Parents Children and Adolescent Network, Inc., Wheeling, West Virginia -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
Wisconsin Family Ties, Inc., Madison -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
UPLIFT -- Cheyenne, Wyoming -- $60,000 per year for each of three years.
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation's substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health service delivery systems.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationCONTACT: Shelly Burgess of Substance Abuse and Mental Health ServicesAdministration, +1-240-276-2130
Web site: http://www.samhsa.gov/