One of the goals of the mental health consumer movement is to change the system. People with lived experience want a more compassionate system of care, that sees people with mental health challenges as experts in their own lives, relies on recovery principles, and considers the strengths of an individual as a whole person, instead […]
Make Your Voice Heard through Boards, Committees and Councils Read More »
For any organization, recruiting, managing and retaining qualified professional staff is an essential part of doing business. For consumer mental health organizations, taking care of their employees while providing quality services to the community is an even more complex challenge. Not only must organizations ensure that the supports and services their employees provide are of
Managing Peer Support Employees Experiencing Mental Health Crisis Read More »
As consumer organizations grow and change, they can experience internal conflict about the path they will take through that growth. Advocates within organizations can share convictions about the importance of mental health, while disagreeing vehemently about how to move their organization forward. So how can organizations manage those conflicts, and find a way to turn
CAFE TAC Presents: Conflict Resolution: Challenging Organizational Change and Growth Read More »
The CAFE TA Center is pleased to announce its newest online training, Board to Death: Wake Up Your Board of Directors. One of the big challenges in operating a consumer-run organization is keeping a Board of Directors up and running. What are the Board’s responsibilities? What do Board members need to know? How can an organization
Need Help With Your Board of Directors? Check Out “Board to Death!” Read More »
The CAFE TA Center is pleased to present its newest online training, Re-Organizing the Organization. Many organizations start out with a strong mission, a core of committed leaders, and genuine enthusiasm for making a tangible difference in the lives of the people it serves. It can be a real challenge to get an organization up
Re-Organizing the Organization Read More »
The work of systems change can be daunting. Fortunately, behavioral health advocates are not alone in facing that challenge. There are individuals with all types of disabilities and their advocates across the country that have also been working to make the system more responsive over the years. The CAFE TA Center believes that by working
Closing the Circle: Cross Disability Collaboration for Systems Change Read More »
For decades now, consumer organizations and the larger consumer movement have been advocating for the rights of individuals with mental health needs. Many strong advocates have worked to end stigma, increase opportunities to live and work in the community, and put individuals with mental illnesses in control of their own care. At the same time,
Cross Disability Collaboration: What Can We Accomplish Together? Read More »
Consumer organizations are constantly seeking ways to obtain revenue, expand their operations and ensure their long-term sustainability. One way to meet those needs is to enter into contracts to provide specific services. But how can a consumer organization go about entering into a contract? And what do they need to know about how contracts work?
Contracting: Building Organizational Sustainability Read More »
In the newest edition of its Focus newsletter, The CAFE TA Center continues its series on funding for consumer run organizations. This time, we examine charitable giving. Charitable giving is relatively familiar to most people, as many of us have been asked to donate money to support some cause or organization. But how does it
A Focus on Charitable Giving Read More »
Every year, there are a wide variety of conferences, trainings and learning opportunities related to mental health, substance abuse, peer networks, trauma informed care, and other important behavioral health topics. These events typically invite the participation of consumers of behavioral health services, but unfortunately, there are some genuine barriers that can make it difficult for
Supporting Consumer Participation in Conferences Read More »
