Best practices in consumer operated services and programs (COSP): A descriptive study of program participants and impacts

Consumer operated services and programs (COSPs) represent a growing and central component of community mental health services. COSPs provide a low cost, low demand, and welcoming entry point to mental health treatment for many individuals newly diagnosed with a mental illness. These programs provide ongoing psycho-education and supportive services for individuals with severe functional deficits. COSPs can range from credentialed programs, certified by the International Center for Clubhouse Development, to less structured drop-in and activity centers; but all COSPs share the defining features of mental health consumer staffing and mental health consumer governance. COSPs represent a common adjunct to psychiatric treatment/psychiatric medication, professional case management, and outpatient treatment and can serve as a long term support for many individuals. This presentation is designed to achieve three learning objectives. First, information will be provided that describes the structure, organization, and general operations of Stand Together and Recover Centers, Inc. (STAR), and other COSPs. Second, the results of a structured research survey of STAR members will be presented. These structured research surveys were created with guidance from STAR participants. Participants completed an intake survey and follow-up surveys that captured clinical and demographic characteristics of the members, their service utilization and systems involvement, and their health and symptoms status. Examples of how these data have informed and transformed programming at STAR will be discussed. Third, strategies and lessons learned from creating a partnership between a mental health COSP and a university research center are shared.