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Michael B. Autrey, Director michael.autrey@mh.alabama.gov
James Jones, Assistant to the Director james.jones@mh.alabama.gov
Janet Jackson, Administrative Assistant janet.jackson@mh.alabama.gov
1-800-832-0952 Toll Free
334-242-3456 Montgomery Area
334-242-3025 Fax
The Alabama Office of Consumer and
Ex-Patient Relations was established in 1990. It was the first
office of its kind in the nation. The purpose of the office is to infuse
the consumer perspective into the decision-making process and management
of the Division of Mental Illness Services of the Alabama Department of Mental
Health. The Office of Consumer Relations
works closely with consumers, consumer operated programs, advocacy and
self-help organizations around the state.
The Office of Consumer Relations also
provides a toll free line for consumers to call the office. This
line provides access to information on the various mental illnesses,
information on starting a support group, information on available mental
health services, upcoming events, and technical assistance. This
line provides a central contact point for consumers around the state, to
contact the department to help them navigate the often-complicated
mental health system. The line is also there for consumers when they
just need someone to talk to.
The Office of Consumer Relations also provides training
on consumer sensitivity, the consumer perspective and recovery, to
consumer groups, caregivers, law enforcement, and the general public.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS OR EVENTS
LISTEN
LISTEN is the newsletter of the Office of
Consumer Relations. It has a circulation of 5,000 and is available
free of charge.
Winter 2009
Summer 2007
Fall 2007
The RESPECT Awards
At the Recovery Conference each year the
Office of Consumer Relations presents the RESPECT Awards. RESPECT
awards are presented to caregivers, whether professional, family,
friend, or fellow consumers, who are consistently respectful to persons
with a mental illness. The winners are selected by a panel of
consumers. The RESPECT Award has become a high honor for those who are
involved in mental illness activities in Alabama. To find
out how to nominate someone for this award, contact the Office of
Consumer Relations.
2008 RESPECT AWARD Winners
Vickey Pierson
Timothy Tartt
Sara Parfait
Jackie Holmes
Dr. Greg Swanner
Margaret & Gene Arbogast
Josie and Rudy Galindo
Earl Mitchell
Ed Joyner
Barry Bruner
Sally Proctor
Ann Jenkins
Jay Maguire
Ann Carswell
Toshi Shoulders
Dr. Lakshmikantha Kumbla
Lucy Murphy
Elizabeth Perry Burbey
Paula Collins
The Hope Award
The 2008 HOPE Award Winner is Commissioner John Houston.
The Hope Award is also presented each year at the Annual Alabama
Recovery Conference. The Hope Award is given to an individual who does
the most to unify the various stakeholders in the mental illness arena,
consumers, family members, the Department of Mental Health and the
community mental health centers.
Previous Hope Award Winners
Joel Slack
Sandra Wimmer
Roy Willingham
Patricia Martin
The Visionary Guild
Shocco Springs
The Alabama Directions Council
The Alabama Directions Council serves as
the advisory board to the Office of Consumer Relations. It plays a
major role in planning the consumer movement in
Alabama. The Directions Council also plans
the Annual Recovery Conference and selects the RESPECT Award winners.
The Council is made up of the leaders of the self-help/support groups
and drop-in centers from around the state, statewide consumer operated
programs and the Consumer Support Specialist Program.
Certified Peer Support Specialist Program
The Alabama Department of Mental Health
first established the position of peer support
specialist in 1994 at Greil Hospital. In
2002 the program was expanded to the rest of the state mental illness
facilities. In 2007 the department began expanding peer support
into the community by a certification program which will allow peer
specialist services to be Medicaid billable.
A peer support specialist is a person who
experienced mental illness themselves, working within a state mental
illness facility or community mental health center. They assist
individuals who are receiving treatment to regain control over their
lives and pursue recovery from their mental illness.
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