Finding your way through the maze of social services is a difficult task for anyone. Imagine trying to make sense of these various systems in the middle of a psychotic or manic episode or while clinically depressed.

The primary purposes of NAMI: CV’s peer advocacy program are:

· to assist consumers in resolving complaints with the human service system and/or support services,

· to protect the rights of consumers,

· to promote empowerment and recovery, and

· to educate consumers about available services.

Marguerite Adelman, NAMI: CV’s Peer Advocate/Educator, will help the consumer determine exactly what kind of assistance is needed and the type and extent of involvement that s/he wants from the Peer Advocate/Educator. Such requested assistance may take many forms:

· Helping the consumer define the problem and some possible solutions/strategies for addressing it;

· Accompanying the consumer to meetings, hearings, appointments, etc.;

· Working with providers of mental health services or community agencies;

· Assisting the consumer with accessing, understanding, and completing paperwork;

· Helping the consumer access and review mental health or other records;

· Working with the consumer to resolve immediate life problems—food, housing, bills, legal issues, etc.; and

· Providing one-on-one support, skill training, and encouragement.

NAMI: CV’s advocacy program will go beyond offering one-on-one assistance. Educational services and support programming—such as the WRAP class outlined on the last page of this newsletter—will be provided as well. A more knowledgeable consumer population will be more capable of advocating for themselves as well as for each other collectively. Consumers need to be informed of their legal, medical, and political rights; understand their treatment plans; know their treatment and service options; and be in control of their own health care. Such large-scale educational programming serves to empower consumers and acts as a preventative strategy, reducing the number of cases that will require intervention. In addition, support groups that focus on the particular needs or identities of a consumer group (individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, mentally ill substance abusers, parents with mental illness, young people with mental illness, individuals working on recovery, etc.) will be key in building a supportive community of consumers who can work together and advocate for change.

NAMI: CV’s peer advocate program will also address problems in the mental health care and social services systems by collecting and analyzing the types of complaints that require peer advocacy services and then working to eliminate those problems. Information will be collected through surveys, interviews, focus groups, informal discussions at drop-in centers/programs, etc. The Peer Advocate/Educator will also be involved in groups and task forces that are meeting to address the problems of consumers.

If you need peer advocacy services or want to know more about support groups and programs, e-mail or call Marguerite Adelman at 561-2685 or stop by our offices at 14 Healey Ave., Suite D, in Plattsburgh.