From Dropin to Selfhelp'

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Self-help Centers in New Jersey

• Sponsored by
• Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey
  (CSP-NJ)

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History..

• 1978
• On Our Own - Judi Chamberlin, along with others,
  give voice to mental health consumers and an
  impetus to the mental health consumer movement.
• 1980s
• Self-help groups - developed based on the idea
  that consumers are able to provide unique,
  valuable help to one another.

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History (continued)

• 1985
• Funding in NJ for 3 drop-in centers. Technical
  support and fiscal assistance from a sponsoring
  agency makes this happen.
• 1985-1995
• 12 more centers were opened with and support
  from Division of Mental Health Services.
• 1997-1999
• 27 self-help centers are now operating, with at
  least one in each county.

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History (continued)

• 2005-2006
• Self-help Centers recognized by Governor Codeys
  Task force on Mental Health as part of New
  Jerseys mental health transformation efforts.
• Provided employment opportunities for 27 mental
  health consumers.

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Self-help Centers are Located in all Counties
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Original Drop-in Centers

• Consumer Advocacy Recreation Exchange (CARE)-
  (Monmouth)
• New Horizons (Cumberland)
• Social Connections (Passaic)

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Second Wave of Drop-in Centers

• On Our Own OOO (Bergen)
• Voice of Awareness (Camden)
• Where Peaceful Waters Flow (Essex)
• Reach out/Speak Out (Mercer)
• Self-help center of New Brunswick (Middlesex)
• Brighter Days (Ocean)
• Freedom Trail (Somerset)
• Spirit of Dawn (Union)

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Started as Self-help Centers

• The Cape (Cape May)
• Pleasant Moment (Essex)
• Up Your Alley (Glouster)
• Hudson County (Hudson)
• Self-help center of Freehold (Monmouth)
• Boonton/ Morris Plains (Morris)
• New Dimensions (Salem)
• A Way to Freedom (Sussex)
• Self-help center of Plainfield (Union)
• For Us By Us (Bergen)

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Consumer-Operated Services- Principles

• Helper therapy principle, the idea that past or
  present recipients of mental health services
  provide a unique perspective and expertise to
  design and implement services (Reissman,
  1965/1984)

• Shared Leadership Center managers, facilitators,
  drivers and consumer participants regard each
  other as equals.
• Peer support is founded on the key ideas of
  respect and shared responsibility.
• Participation is voluntary.

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Self-help Centers

• Offer an environment for learning and growth in a
  comfortable, relaxed and supportive setting that
  is easily accessible to mental health consumers.
• Provide an environment in which consumers can
  feel respected and accepted, and in which they
  can develop a support network.

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Self-help Centers..

• The atmosphere and daily operations are managed
  by center managers, members and facilitators.
  CSP-NJ provides fiscal assistance, training and
  support for 21 of the 27 centers statewide.

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Components

• Self-help/Peer Support
• Wellness Recovery
• Socialization/Recreation
• Education
• Advocacy
• Transportation

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What Centers do

• Bring people together and enrich the lives of the
  membership.
• Offer opportunities for empowerment and
  leadership.
• Offer a feeling of pride and hope.

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What Centers do

• Provide stepping stones to personal growth.
• Work to diminish stigma and discrimination.
• Help people feel connected to a support network
  to counteract loneliness and isolation.
• Help people become acquainted with various
  resources and support systems.

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Mission Statement Components

• Choice Self-determination
• Consumer-Run Organization
• Non-Coercive Environment
• Recovery Wellness
• Destigmatization
• Inclusion

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Roles

• Center Manager
• Members
• Facilitator/Leaders
• Sponsoring agency

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Peer Facilitation Standards

• Active Listening
• De-escalation Techniques
• Redirecting
• Problem Solving
• Role Modeling
• Cultural Competency and Diversity

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Peer-Run Strength Perspective

• Team Building
• Communication
• Peer Modeling
• Cultural Competency
• Peer Community Outreach
• Collaboration

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How we do it.

• Policy and Procedure Guidelines.
• Cultivate leadership and delegate responsibility.
• Democratic principles for operations.
• Advocacy, both personal and public.
• Keeping things in perspective and keeping our
  sense of humor.

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What happens

• Social events (parties, dances, coffee house)
• Linkage to consumer advocacy groups (COMHCO,
  SCAC, Consumer Advocacy Partnership) and county
  mental health boards
• Trips within the community (restaurants, local
  events, movies)
• Linkages to community resources

•  Self-help groups and resources
• wellness and recovery groups and other
  educational workshops
• Trips to cultural and sports events (museums,
  libraries, baseball games)
• Peer Support
• Cultural sensitivity and diversity training

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Research

• Research indicates that self-help centers can
  have positive impacts on sense of social support
  and satisfaction.
• Self-help centers that score high a on
  relationships and system maintenance and change
  factors

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• Chamberlin, J. (1978). On Our Own patient
  controlled alternatives to the mental health
  system. New York McGraw Hill.
• Reissman, F. (1985). New dimensions in
  self-help. Social Policy, 2-4.
• Reissman, F., Carroll, D. (1995). Redefining
  self-help Policy and practice. San Francisco
  Jossey-Bass Publishers.

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MAP OF NEW JERSEY SELF-HELP CENTERS
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• A place where socialization, recreation and
  advocacy come together as one
• Donald Mays