The buzz has started and the enthusiasm is spreading about the new self-help network program for consumers. It's called the Maricopa County Behavioral Health Consumers Network (MCBHCN), and it's expected to provide many benefits. This program, which has been initiated by consumers and funded by ValueOptions, will promote recovery and help facilitate empowerment for consumers in many areas of their lives.
Much progress has been made already. Two committees of the MCBHCN are meeting regularly; The Space Committee and the Steering Committee. These committees, comprised of consumers, family members, delegates from four drop-in and recovery centers, the Maricopa Consumers Advisory Council (MCAC), META Services, other provider agencies and stake-holders are planning and guiding the development of this network.
The most immediate activity associated with MCBHCN is the establishment of Peer Empowerment Centers. The administrative office, now being developed, will be located at ValueOptions 1300 North Central clinic. After the director is hired three more are scheduled for development by July first of this year.
The ValueOptions staff member responsible for providing assistance in creating and implementing this program is Larry Belcher, ValueOptions Manager for Consumer Affairs. Larry's previous experience is extensive, and includes starting up and overseeing other programs of great value to consumers in many other states.
Recently, we met with Larry to talk about this self-help network and the Peer Empowerment Centers to get a better understanding of how these programs will benefit Maricopa County residents. Here's what he had to say:
Larry: MCBHCN is dedicated to empowerment, education and rights protection of individiuals with psychiatric disabilities. The primary purpose of this network is to work toward a common voice for consumers. The network will provide both traditional and nontraditional services. We will also work to eliminate stigma, discrimination and opressive activities directed to the people we serve.
Larry: Values such as faith, honesty, dignity, trust, confidentiality and respect. The Network will be built on these core values, and others as determined by the consumers. I believe these values can be implemented or adapted to quide many aspects of program development within the Network.
Larry: Peer-to-Peer services will imphasize independence, education, empowerment and rights protection. Activities will include assessment, linking, crisis management, transportation, skills teaching, advocacy, employment development and others. Outreach initiatives may involve some media coverage, quearterly newsletters, consumer satisfaction surveys and extensive site visitation.
Larry: They will need to go to a Peer Empowerment Center. The administrative offices will be openinig in downtown Phoenix at ValueOptions 1300 North Central clinic. Other Empowerment Centers will be developed later and located throughout the Valley, in collaboration with community agencies. The next three centers are scheduled for development at ValueOptions West Camelback and Arcadia clinics as well as the SELFF Drop-in and Recovery Center in Mesa.
Larry: The MCBHCN wil be independently consumer owned and operated and will seek technical assistance from the ValueOptions Office of Consumer Affairs, advisory committees and others.
Larry: No. The Empowerment Centers will be staffed by employees and volunteers from the Maricopa County consumer population. Each Empowerment Center will employ a Project Director, Project Coordiantor(s), and will have a broad volunteer base. These positions will prepare employees and volunteers for greater responsibilities inside and outside the organization. In addition, recruitment is well under way for the Executive Director of the Network.
Larry: No MCBHCN will be an independent nonprofit organization (pending), owned and operated by the consumers of Maricopa County.
Larry: Another related project that I am facilitating which will assist consumers in their acquition of advocacy and leadership skills.
Larry: Besides the services I've already described, these programs should lead to a very high degree of empowerment, actively promote recovery principles and offer new employees and volunteers the opportunity to provide advocacy services and ensure that consumer preferences, voice and choice, are expressed and noticed more than ever before in Maricopa County.
Article written by Bob Broman, a consumer advocate and co-chairman of the Maricopa County Advisory Council (MCAC).