Statewide Transformation through Empowerment Training
The purpose of this UIC NRTC training project is to help mental health client leaders in California to maintain a stronger role in policy formation and peer support in their local communities, and to advance statewide mental health systems transformation, as called for in the Report of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.
Using a peer-designed and delivered training called, “Finding our Voice: Empowerment Training Series,” the project educates mental health client leaders about how to become involved constructively in local and state level mental health policy and service reform. The project is conducted in partnership with the National Empowerment Center and the California Network of Mental Health Clients (CNMHC). The National Empowerment Center provides technical assistance, education, information, and referral to people across the country wishing to recover from mental health problems and to all people seeking information on self-help and empowerment. CNMHC is a peer-owned and run organization representing mental health clients by providing trainings, education, networking, conferences, policy advocacy, and information.
The “Finding our Voice: Empowerment Training Series” is an intensive educational experience for emerging consumer leaders. It is offered via three two-day on-site trainings, with three two-hour follow-up teleconferences to relate the training content to local activities. Participants learn about topics such as the principles of recovery, the fundamentals of advocacy, strategic planning, public speaking, networking, and current local and state policy issues. A private listserv is available for training participants to discuss their ongoing activities, successes, and challenges. A website will be created to educate the public about the training project and its outcomes, as will a comprehensive training manual and video series.
