Disability Rights California - Peer/self-Advocacy Unit Statement

Peer/Self-Advocacy Unit (PSA)

2009 - 2008 - 2006 -

2008 PSA Project Highlights

Mental health peer self-advocates work with 4,320 individuals

  • The Peer Self-Advocacy Unit (PSA) had many successes this year, both in group activities, and in individual outcomes. Some of the successes of PSA this year are highlighted:

  • Reinstating the self-advocacy group at Patton State Hospital to focus on learning how to exercise legal rights while living in an institution;
  • In San Diego, creating a documentary about being a veteran and how veterans with mental disabilities can help each other;
  • Counseling a member of “La Hora del Café” group to appear in court and advocate for himself, resulting in a positive outcome with the judge;
  • After an effective training in assertiveness at the Creekside Mental Health Treatment Program, one member applied what he had learned and was discharged from the facility;
  • After a requested training on medications at Canyon Manor in Novato, a member questioned his antipsychotic medication prescription with his doctor as he had never been diagnosed as psychotic. He was taken off the medication, and will be discharged as soon as housing is available; and
  • 26 self-advocacy workshops were conducted at 9 different sites, covering topics ranging from housing to employment, reaching more than 350 individuals. The Unit supports self-advocacy groups for people with psychiatric disabilities, including those who may be homeless or veterans. Last year, 34 on-going groups served 4320 individuals. Groups covered requested topics such as discharge planning, how to get out of a facility, conservatorships and how to talk with doctors and lawyers.

2006 P/SA Project Highlights

The Peer/Self-Advocacy Unit conducts weekly self-advocacy groups throughout the state. In 2006 we supported 28 weekly groups at Institutes of Mental Disease, state hospitals, board and care homes, and in the community. We covered 29 different topics and served 4272 individuals in these groups.

Our staff attended and provided training at the Patients’ Rights Advocacy Training in Los Angeles, and attended the Alternatives Conference in Portland.

One of the goals of the Unit this year is to access Mental Health Services Act funding to provide PSA services in two counties. One county would be in Northern California and one in Southern California. We are in the process of negotiating a contract in Sonoma County.

Peer/Self-Advocacy Staff worked on the California Memorial Project this past year specifically in planning for restoration and memorializing the site at Napa State Hospital, moving found remains in Stockton, planning for restoration and memorializing of the Stockton site, and monitoring application for funds for the Napa Restoration and memorial.

Staff assisted with advocacy projects with the following groups and projects since October 2005:

Sharon Schmidt:

Assisted members of the Canyon Manor Self-Advocacy group to obtain more passes outside the facility and more access to the grounds of the facility.

Assisted members of the Creekside Self-Advocacy group to advocate with the administration of Creekside to hire more consumers as staff at the facility.

Michael McPherson:

Assisted members of the VA Self-Advocacy group to partner with California Park Model Homes to research options for affordable housing solutions for group members. They also assisted group members to view model homes.

Assisted members of the VA Self-Advocacy group in planning a forum at the VA hospital to address multiple disability issues experienced in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Assisted members of the Friendship Self-Advocacy group to apply for Section 8 housing. Eight members got notification from the Housing Authority.

Senobia Pichardo:

Assisted members of the La Hora del Café to create a magazine in Spanish and produced 10 editions featuring poems and stories from members. The issues were distributed to other monolingual self-advocacy groups and other self-help groups in Los Angeles.

Assisted members of the La Hora del Café Self-Advocacy group to get donations of five computers.

Assisted members of the La Hora del Café Self-Advocacy group in writing letters to obtain clothing donations.

David Solis:

Assisted members of the Woodlake Women’s Association Self-Advocacy group to participate and become more proactive in Mental Health Services Act activities in Tulare County.

Assisted members of the Woodlake Women’s Association Self-Advocacy group to advocate for better customer services at the Family Health Care Network.

Assisted members of the Huron and Coalinga Self-Advocacy groups to meet with the social services site director to discuss the poor level of services and lack of professionalism.

Assisted members of the Huron and Coalinga Self-Advocacy groups to participate in and become more proactive in Mental Health Services Act activities in Fresno County.

Trainings:

Peer/Self-Advocacy staff member Michael McPherson partnered with Todd Higgins to present a training on Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Veterans at the National Disability Rights Network Conference in January.

Peer/Self-Advocacy staff member David Solis assisted members of the Woodlake Women’s Association to present a training to the Tulare County Police Department.

Peer/Self-Advocacy staff member Rob Chittenden provided training to the Humboldt County Client and Cultural Affairs Committee of the Health and Human Services Department in January.