1	Transformation: Claiming Your Voice, Creating Opportunities for Others 2007 HOPE Conference Having Opportunities for Personal Empowerment
2	Personal Empowerment: Claiming Your Voice Carry over from this morning for those who couldn’t attend Hope (have a vision) Courage (willing to take risks to pursue your vision) Surround yourself with empowered people Tell your story Increase self-esteem & confidence
3	Living the Empowered Life Self-responsibility Independence/interdependence Help others to become empowered Recover! ---------------------------------------- Employment
4	Power of the Collective Voice “We are ready to move beyond our own difficulties to address the need of the group; we are ready to continue to develop and improve our leadership skills in our communities and state. We are committed to the values of our organization and to the demonstration of those values in all of our activities.” Vision Statement: The Advocacy Initiative Network of Maine
5	Power of the Collective Voice Mission Statement: “The Advocacy Initiative Network of Maine is a statewide consumers/survivors/ex-patients network (CSX) who are united to promote voice and choice in all activities concerning their lives.” Purpose: “To network locally, regionally, statewide and nationally; to develop, promote, and support an environment of change in Maine through education, training and advocacy; to achieve equal rights through increased understanding, improved quality of life, and elimination of stigma, oppression, and discrimination.
6	Impact of a Strong, Collective Voice Overcome discrimination Fight stigma Form public policy Influence media Drive the mental health service delivery system Develop and perpetuate leadership Facilitate recovery Protect/fight for rights Create opportunities for others!
7	Requirements for a Collective Voice A shared vision Empowered (recovering) individuals Skills & Resources Knowledgeable staff/members Sacrifice (setting aside personal agenda) Passionate individuals Equality Collaboration Stick-to-itiveness
8	Keys to Effectiveness Get connected (get a seat at the table) Pick your battles Find your niche and perfect it Be Visible Be assertive, not aggressive Written documentation Collection/use of data Strong leadership Mentoring
9	Exercise Develop position statement Issue: Gun ownership among those with a serious mental illness. Issue: Involuntary commitment Scenario: A police officer is shot and killed by a man with an untreated severe mental illness. A high level of cocaine was found in the shooters blood sample. Community law makers are calling for regulations that prevent anyone who has a history of severe mental illness from purchasing (owning) a gun. They are simultaneously seeking authority to hospitalize anyone with apparent mental illness who has been arrested.
10	Challenges/Barriers Not being listened to or heard Getting foot in the door Personal agendas Lack of skill/expertise Funding/lack of resources Politics Dependency/settling for less Stigma (especially from within) Burn out
11	Resources National Empowerment Center http://power2u.org/ National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse http://mhselfhelp.org/ National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy http://www.narpa.org/ Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law http://www.bazelon.org/ Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma http://www.adscenter.org/
12	Q & A and Contact Information Renee Kopache Coordinator of Wellness Management Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Cincinnati, OH 45219 reneek@hamilton.mhrsb.state.oh.us www.mhrecovery.com