Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
May 20, 2005, Vol. 05-78

New Web Publications Available on Transforming Behavioral Health Care to Self-Direction

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently made five papers related to self-directed care available on its Web site. These documents provide useful information in support of Goal 2 of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Final Report, "Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America," that recommends that mental health care be consumer and family driven.

Self-directed care, an approach used for more than a decade with people with developmental and physical disabilities and older adults, offers opportunities to transform behavioral health services by fostering consumer- and family-driven services.

The five papers served as the foundation for the discussions related to self-direction within mental health services and supports at the Consumer Direction Initiative Summit, a SAMHSA sponsored meeting of 80 recipients of mental health and addiction services and family members, policymakers, providers, and State and Federal representatives. Paper topics include information on how consumers can catalyze a transformation of the mental health system to one based on a recovery culture of self-determination and community participation, financing mechanisms for self-determination that include recognition of the important role of peer-to-peer services in operating these programs, the impact of consumer direction on families and youth in families with a child with serious emotional problems, quality issues in consumer/family direction, and competency issues in self-direction. The five papers are available for downloading at web site http://samhsa.gov/consumersurvivor/!, then click on Related Topics, Self-Directed Care.

These papers provide a wealth of information that serves as background material to the recently released Free To Choose: Transforming Health Care to Self-Direction. This document discusses values and principles as well as critical operational elements central to self-directed care in behavioral health. Examples of several self-directed care programs are offered. It also discusses potential barriers to self-directed care within behavioral health care and recommendations for developing self-directed initiatives, and provides a listing of numerous resources. This publication is available from the SAMHSA National Mental Health Information Center at (800) 789-2647 or at web site http://nmhicstore.samhsa.gov/publications/ordering.aspx, scroll down to Free To Choose.
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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.