Moving the mental health service system toward the promotion of wellness and well-being not only requires an emphasis on prevention, early intervention and integrated practices, but also on empowering consumers and families. Those who participate in mental health services need real voices and real choices in the care, support, and treatment options that will successfully lead to improved health and well-being.
The consumer voice must be incorporated at all levels of the system, be it to help in public education, to guide major policy decisions, or to exercise more direct control in their personal care. This effort requires providing consumers and families with direct training, supports, and opportunities to effectively exercise their voices along with training, support, and policy direction for administrative and treatment personnel to effectively engage in more shared decision-making roles.
Toward this goal, the Transformation Working Group prioritized actions -- based on the topics listed below -- to begin addressing the issue of consumer voice.
The status of these projects, as well as all projects of Missouri's Transformation Initiative, may be found in the latest update of Missouri's Comprehensive Plan for Mental Health.
- Person-Centered Planning and Self-Directed Care
- Consumer, Family and Youth Leadership
- Missouri Youth REACCH Leadership Initiative
- Peer and Family Quality Service Review
- Consumer Workforce Development
- Peer Specialist Certification
- Family Support Provider Training
- Consumer Operated Service Programs (COSP)
