Our Organization
Overview
The Mental Health Association of NW PA is organized for people diagnosed with mental illness. We provide an atmosphere where mental health consumers can safely relax with their peers. We are consumer run organization. The MHANP board of directors must have more than 50% consumer representation. The goal is to support and promote mental health recovery. The Consumer Center Team provides a safe environment for members to enjoy a wide range of social or educational activities or to just be. The Consumer/Family Satisfaction Team functions as a service for Consumers and Family members to voice their opinion regarding their own mental health services. Advocacy efforts range from navigating systems such as: mental health, housing, vocational, educational and financial to writing a resumé or helping someone register to vote. The Health Choices Support Team is available to assist any Health Choices member with navigating the public mental health system, and to explain Consumer/Family rights and responsibilities in mental health services or treatment. Volunteering provides opportunities as a means to help ease the transition back into gainful employment.
Eligibility
Membership in the MHA is free and there are no requirements regarding your attendance. Come as little or as often as you want!
Any and all adults above the age of 18 with a history of treatment for mental health needs may seek free membership and services from the Mental Health Association. We operate for the benefit of mental health consumers through consumer conceived, designed and operated programs.
Consumer Center
According to the US 2000 Census, approximately 24,000 adults with disabilities live in the Erie area and less than half of them are employed. The Consumer Center is a safe environment for members to enjoy a wide range of social or educational activities or to just be. The main area of the Consumer Center accommodates recreational activities such as pool, ping-pong, movies or board games as well as space for stimulating conversation and relaxation. There is a small cafe in which snacks and drinks can be purchased with space to sit and enjoy a meal with friends. The Consumer Center also provides members with two activity rooms, a Self-Help library, laundry facilities, computer center, lounge area, classroom, and a telephone where local calls can be made and received if necessary. We provide rides home to the surrounding areas most days out of the week. Over the last four years the MHA has served more than 600 people annually. Visit "Our Place", our consumer center.
Activities and Support Groups
The activities and support groups provided by the Mental Health Association are focused on the needs and desires of members. Overall, activities and groups are educational, social and/or fun.The MHA calendar averages over 50 organized events per month. As part of our mission and values, we encourage the members to develop and facilitate their own support groups. The Mental Health Association provides the meeting place and often the materials needed for groups and activities. Most Group Facilitators are volunteers. These are our groups.
Consumer/Family Satisfaction Team
The Consumer/Family Satisfaction Team functions as a service to all mental health consumers and family members who are a part of the Health Choices Service System and/or the Public Mental Health system of Erie Co, Through the Consumer/Family Satisfaction Team's individual contacts and interviews, Consumers and Family members have the opportunity to voice their opinion regarding their own mental health services. The information gathered by this team is reported as group results to providers and funders and is used to improve mental health services in the areas of quality, accessibility, effectiveness, and general satisfaction in Erie County. This team has collected and analyzed as many as 4,000 satisfaction surveys from their fellow consumers and family members each year.
Advocacy
The MHA focuses its primary advocacy resources on representing Consumers and Families in whatever capacity meets their needs. By supporting those individual needs Consumers/Families are able to take steps towards self-advocacy and their own recovery. Advocacy efforts range from navigating systems such as: mental health, housing, vocational, educational, and financial to providing materials to apply for work, writing a resume’ or helping someone register to vote. The MHA has liaisons with Millcreek Community Hospital and St. Vincent’s Health Center.
Erie County Child/Family Advocate
The Child/Family Advocate is a family member who has had extensive experience with the child-serving systems in Erie County. This advocate helps families understand and navigate the child-serving systems by giving encouragement and support. This person provides guidance as they negotiate the various steps of the processes needed to participate in care.
External Advocates
External Advocates are located on-site at Warren State Hospital and are available to patients 5 days a week. These advocates safeguard the human rights of all patients by supporting them when they have complaints or issues. External Advocates investigate claims of abuse, neglect and maltreatment as well. The Warren State Hospital Advocates also ensure patient involvement in policy development or change, and help to disseminate information to patients. They are a key contact at intake and orientation for all new patients and are available to attend and participate in patient treatment team meetings and participate on multiple committees at the hospital. The external advocates are trained in Recovery Principles and Advance Directives. External Advocates Schedule
Community Advocate
The MHA also provides a Community Advocate in Warren/Forest Counties. This advocate assists families in navigating child-service systems such as behavioral health, drug and alcohol, juvenile justice, education and welfare. The advocate of Warren/Forest Counties also offers telephone support and case advocacy. This advocate is available to attend or support families at meetings, individual education planning, mediation, residential treatment facilities, interagency and treatment teams. Educational forums, trainings and support groups are provided, as well as resource and reference materials. Community Advocates Schedule
Volunteers
Volunteers play a major role in the functioning and well being of the Mental Health Association and its members. Interaction with consumer center members is vital to the volunteer experience. Volunteers greet new members, answer phones, facilitate groups and help in any way possible. Volunteering also provides opportunities for individuals who have been out of the workforce due to mental illness as a means to help ease the transition back into gainful employment.
Health Choices Support Team
The Health Choices Support Team consists of a Prevention, Education & Outreach Coordinator (PE&O) and a Recovery & Resiliency Specialist. This team is available to assist any Health Choices member with navigating the public mental health system, and to explain Consumer/Family rights and responsibilities in mental health services or treatment. This team is a valuable resource for identifying services and providers for Consumers and Family members as well as presenting educational forums. They are available to advocate on behalf of Consumers and Family members. This team facilitates a Family Advisory Committee aimed at providing education to family members regarding mental health services and advising Erie County Health Choices on what works, what doesn’t and what family members need. Health Choices Support Team details
Housing Support Team
The Housing Support Team helps mental health consumers find and keep safe, affordable housing through peer support, education and advocacy. The team is staffed by mental health consumers, many of whom have had experience in life that includes having resided in low income and/or subsidized housing.
We believe that peer-to-peer supports are a critical component to recovery from mental illness, both for the peer receiving support and for the peer providing the support. Housing Support Team details
Employment Outreach Service
The goal of the Consumer Employment Outreach Coordinator is to empower mental health consumers to find and hold successful employment roles. Employment Outreach Service details
Contact Information
- Full mailing address:
- Mental Health Association of Northwestern PA
- 1101 Peach Street
- Erie, PA 16501-1812
- Phone Number:
- 814 452-4462
- Fax Number:
- 814 456-6593
Our Future and our Past
Mission Statement of the Mental Health Association of Northwestern PA
The MHANP provides an environment which supports and promotes recovery for people with mental health needs through personal and collective advocacy and by influencing systems change.
Vision of the Mental Health Association of Northwestern PA
That People with mental health needs can lead live lives with choice, responsibility and dignity without discrimination.
Values
The Mental Health Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania values empowerment/recovery for people with mental health needs through safety, humor, respect, integrity, compassion and informed choice in order to ensure equality, opportunity and community.
Historical Perspective of Recovery in Erie PA
The vision began to form in March 1992. Consumer Empowerment Project began at MECA in 1992 with a vision of consumer- run, consumer- directed projects initiated. The idea was to cultivate a group of people interested and involved with agency boards, in essence to have real consumer involvement on boards who were directing the flow of services being provided. A group of people took action.
A group of people met in the basement of the Arts and Culture at Stairways. They talked of a need for more structure, help to have a consumer support group and a consumer drop-in center in Erie, PA. John Farmer visited, talked and offered support to this determined group.
Meetings followed at the MECA Office in the Baldwin Building (now Renaissance Center). They learned how to structure a group, had training in group facilitation and visited drop in centers in PA.
Another individual wanted to start a local chapter of the Depression Manic Depression Association (now Depression Bipolar Support Alliance). He needed a place to hold the meetings. At the time DMDA met two different days at two different times. Mr. Bill Grove, then Director of Social Workers at Saint Vincent Hospital found space for DMDA to hold information sharing and support to those on the inpatient unit. Confidentiality was upheld.
In 1993 Erie/Warren Projects happened for Erie County residents receiving treatment at Warren State Hospital, North Warren, PA. “Together We Stand” was a group of consumers who met at Stairways. They had an impact on the downsizing of Warren State Hospital. They received funding to start the Consumer Center.
The Consumer Center operated in the basement of Mid City Towers during the 1992-1993 fiscal year. Consumer Projects started in 1994 with a “drop-in center” and the Consumer Satisfaction Team. The Consumer Satisfaction Team was added in the 1993-1994 fiscal year. Visits were made to consult with and receive training from Loretta Ferry, Consumer Satisfaction Team, in Philadelphia, PA.
Ms. Bennett worked with Mr. John Farmer from Southeast PA to turn the vision into reality for Erie, PA. Providers, Erie County MH officials, family members and consumers supported the idea.
In 1994 the Consumer Center and the Consumer Satisfaction Team were incorporated as the Erie County Coalition of Mental Health Consumers (ECCMHC) with a Board of Directors and Susan L. Bennett as Executive Director. The ECCMHC operated in various locations over the next couple of years. In 1996-1997, ECCMHC operated out of Old Main (part of Stairways) on West 21st and Sassafras Streets.
The tireless search continued for a permanent location for consumers to have support groups and a Consumer Center. In August 1997 the ECCMHC bought a building at 1101 Peach Street, Erie, PA.
In 2000 the ECCMHC affiliated with the National Mental Health Association and was renamed the Mental Health Association of Northwestern PA. In 2007 the National Mental Health Association was renamed Mental Health America.