Partners in CARE:
Community Access to Recovery and Empowerment

Partners in CARE, an initiative of the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), addresses the treatment needs of individuals with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses. Partners in CARE reflects NMHA's commitment to the idea that all individuals deserve the chance to live fulfilling, productive, independent lives integrated into their communities.

Program Description
Partners in CARE uses three distinct strategies to improve community-based care for people with serious mental illnesses.

Public education: NMHA affiliates throughout the country use Partners in CARE materials to educate political, business, and civic leaders about the effectiveness of integrated, comprehensive, community-based mental health service systems that promote recovery for individuals with mental illnesses.

Advocacy: Partners in CARE helps individuals and organizations in selected communities advocate for the introduction of community-based services. The initiative provides technical assistance that helps communities identify gaps in the existing services for people with serious mental illnesses. Local mental health associations attempt to fill those gaps by working with Partners in CARE to build coalitions that encourage policymakers to fund community-based services.

Model replication: In each of the selected communities, Partners in CARE advocacy efforts will culminate in the replication of a model community-based program designed to work with the community's existing system of mental health services. Model programs include an after-hours diversion center for homeless individuals experiencing a nighttime mental health crisis; two employment programs; a housing program; and the Village, a fully integrated model of recovery-oriented community-based services that includes medication, employment, rehabilitation, and social support services.

National Advisory Council

The National Advisory Council contributes its ideas to the Partners in CARE initiative. Individuals from around the country who have mental illnesses compose half of the council; the other half includes mental health professionals, direct service providers, and nationally-recognized researchers known for their work on psychosocial rehabilitation services and community-based service systems.

For further information, contact:

National Mental Health Association
2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968
Mental Health Resource Center 800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959