Project Grant H79SM086267

CONSUMER LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT PROJECT - NAMI MISSOURI'S 3-YEAR STATEWIDE CONSUMER NETWORK PROJECT, "CONSUMER LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT PROJECT", WILL BENEFIT ADULTS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS (SMI) IN MISSOURI USING CONSUMER-FOCUSED, PEER-LED, EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM MODELS. PROJECT GOALS INCLUDE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH CONSUMERS INVOLVED IN MENTAL HEALTH POLICY MAKING; INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PEERS TRAINED TO PROVIDE STIGMA-REDUCING PRESENTATIONS AND FACILITATE SUPPORT GROUPS; GROWNG THE AVAILABILITY OF PEER SUPPORT CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES; AND CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSUMERS TO RECEIVE PEER SUPPORT THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE PEER SUPPORT AND SOCIAL INCLUSION. ADULTS WITH SMI WILL BE POSITIVELY IMPACTED BY THE PROPOSED ACTIVITIES. PROJECT OUTREACH WILL FOCUS ON ADULTS WITH SMI FROM FOUR SPECIFIC UNDERSERVED AND UNDER-REPRESENTED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING: 1.) ETHNIC, RACIAL, AND CULTURAL MINORIITY GROUPS; 2.) SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER MINORITIES; 3.) INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH AND CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE IN OUR OWN VOICE (IOOV) PRESENTATION PROGRAM, NAMI CONNECTION RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUP PROGRAM, PEER-TO-PEER (P2P) EDUCATION COURSE AND NAMI SMARTS FOR ADVOCACY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES HANDS-ON PARTNERS IN POLICY LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND PEER ADVOCATE LEADERSHIP SERVICE. THROUGH THESE AND OTHER PROGRAMS AND OUTREACH, WE WILL REACH 2,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR OF THE GRANT, FOR A TOTAL OF 6,000 INDIVIDUALS SERVED THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE GRANT.