1. The CIT Partnership Law Enforcement: first responder Advocacy: organizations, individuals with a mental illness and their families Mental Health: care providers

2. The core elements of CIT* “Participation from the Advocacy Community is critical to the success of CIT. “This aspect of CIT brings the program to life by adding insight from those directly affected. This important partnership should be established early in the planning process and should continue as an ongoing operational element of CIT. “1) Consumers/Individuals with a Mental Illness 2) Family Members 3) Advocacy Groups “ *2007, Dupont, Cochran, et al.

3. Why are advocates good partners Knowledge about the system, the illness and recovery process Passion and commitment Resources: contacts, training presenters, funding, community mental health partners

4. Why are individuals with a mental illness good partners Knowledge about what works and what doesn’t work Personal story about what a crisis is like Personal story about recovery from mental illness Passion and commitment Contacts and resources

5. Places to find good advocacy partners and partners with a mental illness Drop in centers and other community based programs for individuals with a mental Illness Coalitions on Homelessness, disabled veterans or other issues NAMI chapter, Mental Health America chapter, public defenders that specialize in disabilities, mental health legislative coalitions

6. Planning Have them at the table Listen to their story Respond to their input and validate their participation Help them refine their story to pull out the lessons so they can: present in a training, be constructive, encourage good practices, accurately highlight past mistakes Always look for more individuals so you don’t burn them out Ask them to comment on powerpoints before they are presented

7. Implementation Have them at the table. Invite them to sit in on the class and observe without commenting in class. After they present to the class, allow them to stay in the class and observe. Encourage informal conversation about mental health with class participants. They serve as a visible example of what recovery looks like. Ask for their feedback after class, on presenters and class discussions.

8. Sustaining Ask them to present at public meetings. Ask them to testify before policy makers to explain the value of CIT. Ask them for suggestions about other ways CIT can promote improvements. Thank them at awards or other events.

9. Questions? Mark Anderson Executive Director Barbara Schneider Foundation 2419 Nicollet Av Minneapolis, MN 55404 612 801 8572 admin@thebarbaraschneiderfoundation.org www.thebarbaraschneiderfoundation.org