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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Richard T. Pulice, PhD¹, Dorothy Castille, PhD², Bruce Link, PhD², and Jo C. Phelan, PhD³. (1) Epidemiology, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street, Psychiatric Epidemiology Training Program, 7th floor, New York, NY 10032, 212 740-5904, rtp15@columbia.edu, (2) Epidemiology of Mental Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, 100 Haven Avenue, Suite 16D, New York, NY 10032, (3) Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street, 9th floor, New York, NY 10032

As the mental health system in the United States has evolved from an institutional model to one that relies on the local community for services, those served by this system, i.e. mental health consumers, have assumed a new set of roles. In the current service system, consumers fill roles such as advocate, peer supporter and very often provider of services. Consumer Directed Programs (CDP) for mental health care have developed across the country to provide mental health services through traditional and non-traditional practitioners, through consumer managed housing, and by providing meals. In addition, CDPs employ consumers and non-consumers. Objective: This study describes the activities and interventions provided by over 50 CDP's in New York State. Methods: A list of CDPs throughout New York State compiled through key informant interviews set the population interviewed via mailed survey with telephone follow up. Data include organizational mission, staff and client demography, service provision, and activities. Results: CDP interventions employ a range of activities. This survey evaluates such dimensions as the number of consumers served, the impact the programs have on the quality of life issues such as health, safe housing, economic self-sufficiency and stigma reduction interventions. Conclusion: The presenters report on strategies to evaluate the ongoing impact of CDP activities as well as the development and evolution of new interventions that emerged from the assessment.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, the participant will be able to

• recognize the range of activities engaged in by a sample of Consumer Directed Programs,
• identify strategies to assess CDP activities,
• apply basic assessment criteria to CDPs in other areas.

Keywords: Consumer Direction, Recovery

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation