Presentation Developed by the:

Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health

Illinois Mental Health Collaborative for Access and Choice

With help from:

Local COSP in Illinois 1

Learning ObjectivesIn today’s presentation, we will explore the following

areas:

Consumer Operated Services and Programs (COSP) Definition

Different Types of COSP

Vision Behind COSP

Importance of a Shared Understanding of COSP

Five Key Ingredients of COSP2

Learning Objectives (continued)COSP Organizational Tips on Advisory Boards, Hiring Persons

in Recovery and Money Management

Peer Perspectives on COSP

COSP Outcomes

COSP and Other Organizations

Top Ten Benefits of COSP

Where to Find More Information and Technical Assistance

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Consumer Operated Services and Programs (COSP) DefinitionCOSP are organizations that:

Are peer-run self-help organizations or groups

Are administratively and financially controlled by persons participating in mental health services (consumers)

Are not simply mental health services delivered by consumers, but are independent, peer-run programs.

Generally offer mutual support, community-building and advocacy.

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What Kinds of COSP Exist?Several models of COSP exist, including but not limited to:

Mutual Support Programs: 1-on-1 or group. Organized, empowering, recovery focused support between persons with mental health challenges where each individual gives and receives support.

Drop-in Centers: Places where persons with mental health challenges may come and go as they please that offers a hopeful environment and voluntary services.

Education and Advocacy Training Programs: Programs which use a set curriculum to teach individuals about mental health, recovery and advocacy.

Multi-Service Agencies: Organizations that provide benefits counseling, recovery support and case management.

Specialized Supportive Services: Organizations that focus on crisis respite, employment and housing.

Warm Lines: Peer support by telephone.

Source: Key Ingredients of Peer Programs Identified by Jean Campbell, Ph.D.

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The Vision Behind COSP in IllinoisThe Expectation is Recovery! All persons with

mental illnesses can recover and participate fully in a life in the community.

- DHS/DMH Vision Statement

The 2003 President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health recommended “the formal integration of peer support programs into the continuum of community mental health services.”

Bona fide COSP are uniquely qualified to communicate hope and support the development of skills that are integral to an individual’s ability to recover. 6

The Importance of a Shared Understanding of COSP

To maintain the integrity of COSP

To prevent calling programs which are not truly consumer run “Consumer Operated”

To establish a link between the unique practices of COSP and their effectiveness. This establishes an evidence base that has:

Implications for endorsement and funding

Influence on the expansion of COSP

Impact on the quality of service that persons with mental health challenges can expect

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Five Key Ingredients of COSP1) Consumers constitute at least 51% of the board or

group who decide policies and procedures.

2) With limited exceptions, staff and volunteers consist of consumers who are hired by and operate the COSP.

3) Consumers are responsible for making COSP hiring decisions.

4) Consumers control the operating budget.

5) Volunteer opportunities for COSP participants may include board and leadership positions, unpaid jobs, and paid staff positions.

Source: Key Ingredients of Peer Programs Identified by Jean Campbell, Ph.D. 8

COSP Advisory BoardsGiven the key COSP ingredient that “consumers

constitute at least 51% of the board or group who decide policies and procedures,” COSP Advisory Boards:

Are primarily made up of persons with mental health challenges

Give advice, feedback, and ideas to the organization

Focus on issues relevant to persons served (please see next slide)

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COSP Advisory Boards (cont’d)Examples of issues relevant to persons served:

Policies that empower persons served

Services that promote recovery

Better communication between persons served and staff

Training of staff in recovery principles and connecting with persons served

Presence, awareness, and social action within the community

The effective use of funds10

COSP Hiring Persons in RecoveryGiven the key COSP ingredient that “staff and volunteers

primarily consist of consumers who are hired by and operate the COSP,” the following points are noted:

Persons in recovery bring unique skills and strengths to the workplace, such as empathy, experience and the ability to communicate hope

Persons in recovery are hired, as anyone else, based on their qualifications

The Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential is one way to ensure qualifications in the areas of:Recovery Support

Advocacy

Professional Responsibility

MentoringSource: Illinois Recovery Services Development Resource Handbook

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COSP Money ManagementGiven the key COSP ingredient that “consumers

control the operating budget,” the following notes on nonprofit money management are provided:

Nonprofit leaders need to develop basic skills in financial management (cash management and bookkeeping)

Having at least one person on the board with financial experience can help the organization build skills needed to stay financially healthy

COSP must develop a plan for spending and saving money wisely

Source: Basic Guide to Non-Profit Financial Management from the Free Management Library

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COSP Money Management (cont’d)COSP can benefit from becoming non-profit 501c3 organizations

501c3 organizations are charitable, educational, religious, scientific, or literary in nature. 

Being a 501c3 allows COSP to be exempt from paying income tax.

Most 501c3 organizations can also receive donations that may be deductible from the taxable income of the donor.

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The Peer/Recovery Edge"People are often led to causes and often

become committed to great ideas through persons who personify those ideas. They have to find the embodiment of the idea in flesh and blood in order to commit themselves to it.“

- Martin Luther King, Jr.February 13, 1961

How might this statement be applied to recovery support and peer run services?

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What are People Saying about COSP? Persons receiving services from COSP:

There’s a strong message of hope and a lot of confidence that each person can

recover. It’s a very open minded group .

They talk about what you can do rather than what you can’t do.

The focus is on each person as a valuable individual who happens to have a mental illness, rather than just focusing on the mental illness itself.

When you hear about recovery from a peer there is greater understanding

because they have been there.

You realize that there are other persons out there who are going through what

you’re going through or who have experienced similar struggles. You see that they have overcome and you can too. 15

What are People Saying about COSP? (cont’d) Individuals working for COSP:

COSP are complimentary to traditional mental health services, not opposing forces. Individuals may choose one or the other, or both.

It is easier for persons to trust a peer. The relationship is mutually beneficial.

Working for a COSP means the world to me. I’m proud to get up every morning and have meaningful work to do.

We have long term goals to expand our mission beyond employment and housing to other ways of helping our community. I am thankful to have the opportunity to impact the world I live in in a positive way.

I went from homelessness to public housing to owning my home. I went from being told I would never work again to volunteering to working in the hospital where I was formerly a patient. Now I work for my own organization. I am living proof that people can triumph over life’s greatest challenges. 16

COSP and TMHS Compared Research distinguishes COSP from Traditional Mental Health

Services (TMHS):

Source: Raising All Boats: Using Fidelity Assessment to Guide Improvements in the Quality & Outcomes of Peer Services

by Jean Campbell, Ph.D.

Category COSP TMHSStructure Consumer administrative and

financial controlProvider administrative and financial control

Environment Accessibility, emotional safety and informality

Policies may get in the way of producing a recovery enhancing environment

Belief System Mutual relationships, self help, empowerment, recovery, acceptance, spirituality

Clinical relationships, therapy, spirituality not usually emphasized

Peer Support Shared experiences and stories, artistic expression, connection to recovery movement, crisis prevention

Minimal self disclosure, peer support is peripheral, tentative relationship with recovery movement, crisis management

Education Self-management, problem solving, mutual education, skills practice, job readiness

Medication management, compliance, skills development, conditional employment support

Advocacy Self advocacy, peer advocacy, outreach

Advocacy on behalf of, maintaining functioning of existing population served 17

Distinguishing COSP from Other Organizations and Programs

Consumer Operated Services and Programs (COSP) are distinct from the following:

Consumer Run Businesses: Businesses, from floral shops to publishing houses, which are owned and run by persons in recovery which are not primarily characterized by mental health mutual support, advocacy and recovery education.

Mental Health Center Peer Support Programs: Programs which may be consumer driven and involve the services of persons in recovery that are owned by mental health centers and are not administratively and financially controlled by consumers.

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What Outcomes Drive COSP?COSP should produce meaningful, measurable

outcomes, such as helping individuals to:

Connect with their community and build mutual relationships

Find and succeed in competitive employment

Find and keep their own housing

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What Outcomes Drive COSP? (continued)Self advocate and improve the mental

health system

Find affordable support for their recoveries

Improve satisfaction with services through participation

Have more effective tools to improve their own wellness 20

Top Ten Benefits of COSP1) Strong sense of hope

2) Freedom and support to make independent choices and

learn from mistakes

3) Language is used in an empowering way

4) Belief and encouragement of persons’ ability to recover

and shape their futures

5) Validation of what individuals say and value 21

Top Ten Benefits of COSP (continued)6) Esteem of persons as adults

7) Promotion of self awareness

8) Recognition of strengths

9) Support in recovery from unintended consequences of mental

health treatment

10) Support and understanding during setbacks and challenging

times- Inspired by Working Science: Consumer Operated Service Program

Multi-Site Research Initiative Study Overview by Jean Campbell

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Questions and Answers

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Where to Find More InformationKey Ingredients of Peer Programs Identified by Jean

Campbell, Ph.D. www.power2u.org/downloads/COSP-CommonIngredients.pdf

Voices of Transformation: Developing Recovery-Oriented Statewide Consumer Organizations by the National Empowerment Center www.power2u.org/downloads/Voices%20of

%20Transformation.pdf

Working Science: Consumer-Operated Service Program Multi Site Research Initiative Study Overview by Jean Campbell, Ph.D.www.mimh.edu/cstprogramarchive/consumer%20op/

Raising All Boats: Using Fidelity Assessment to Guide Improvements in the Quality & Outcomes of Peer Services by Jean Campbell, Ph.D.

http://shrp.umdnj.edu/programs/psyc/coll/documents/MeasuringFidelity_NJ.pdf www.nasmhpd.org

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Where to Find More Information (continued)

Consumer Peer-Run Activities and Services Programs by the SAMHSA http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/CommunitySupport/consumers/default.asp

New Perspectives on Consumer Advisory Councils www.illinoismentalhealthcollaborative.com/consumers/education/012810_Consumer_ Education_New_Perspectives_On_Consumer_Advisory_Councils.pdf

Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) Credential www.illinoismentalhealthcollaborative.com/consumers/consumer_crss.htm

Illinois Recovery Services Development: Resource Handbook www.illinoismentalhealthcollaborative.com/consumers/consumer_crss.htm

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Where to Find More Information(continued)

e-FACIT Workbook and Users’ Guide by Jean Campbell, Ph.D. To obtain a free demonstration copy, email: jean.campbell@mimh.edu

How Do I Create a Nonprofit Organization? by Illinois Legal Aid www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?

fuseaction=home.dsp_content&contentid=4133

Basic Guide to Non-Profit Financial Management from the Free Management Library http://managementhelp.org/finance/np_fnce/np_fnce.htm

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Sources of Technical AssistanceNational Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse:

www.mhselfhelp.org

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): www.dbsalliance.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Star Center: www.consumerstar.org

National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center: www.ncstac.org

National Empowerment Center: www.power2u.org

Jean Campbell: Jean.Campbell@MIMH.edu

DHS/DMH Regional Recovery Support Specialists: Call the Illinois Warm Line at 1 (866) 359-7953 to request contact information.

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THANK YOU!

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