What does the Cynthia Breen Advocacy Foundation do? Our mission is, to a great degree, to provide support and conduct non-partisan advocacy, education, and informational activities to increase public awareness of mental illness, the mentally ill and those affected by mental illness and related disorders:
- Firmly within the boundaries of ethical and legal conduct, we will impart to the general public, policymakers, administrators and service providers the need for continuing innovation, personal attention and non-putative modes of treatment for those suffering from mental illness;
- To directly assist persons with mental illness and those affected by mental illness in identifying, contacting and completing the application process for services, programs and benefits provided by governmental, non-profit and private entities;
- To work in cooperation with these other entities, individuals and groups to improve the lives (and quality of life in the future) of those affected by mental illness;
- We will help implement the solution to the societal and individual harm caused by the marginalization, stigmatization and lack of awareness by those who believe they are not personally affected.
________________________________________________
How do we measure success?- Increase access to and awareness of available services for the treatment and care of those affected by mental illness by no less than 10% of those seeking services who are qualified and able to do so;
- Reduce negative public perceptions and stigmas associated with mental health issues in general;
- Advocate for those who are able and willing to work with their disability, and seek recourse for those whose employers engage in discrimination of any kind.
Did you know?
From September 2009 to present, the Cynthia Breen Advocacy Foundation has incurred almost no operational, administrative or staffing costs.
The CBAF operating fund remains close to 100% of its opening balance due to the dedicated work of our volunteers; an organizational commitment to avoiding administrative costs wherever possible; and our utilization of several free technologies (including Google Apps, Google Voice, DropBox and many others).
________________________________________________
How to contact us:
For more information about the Cynthia Breen Advocacy Foundation, or for assistance in obtaining and identifying mental health social services in the Hennepin County region within the state of Minnesota, please email one of the
following links:
________________________________________________
|
Video: Stigma of Mental Illness
________________________________________________
Links to services:
Do you need services immediately? If you are in the Minneapolis/St.Paul area or Hennepin County, these resources are available for mental health crisis care, housing, access to social services, medication support and more:
- If you are suicidal or feel your safety or the safety of others is at risk because of your current condition, please call 911 and ask to have a 'CIT' officer sent to your current location. CIT officers are specially trained to handle individuals in psychological crisis, and will treat you with care, compassion and understanding.
- COPE: (Community Outreach for Psychiatric Emergencies) Crisis care available 24 hours a day; trained crisis professionals will work with you over the phone, come to where you are, and assess your situation to help get you the services and care necessary to get you through your mental health crisis.
612-596-1223 : COPE Website
- Crisis Connection: HSI-Crisis Connection is a nonprofit agency that provides 24-hour crisis counseling by telephone. Our mission is to create a place in which no one in crisis will be alone. We rely on trained volunteers and paid staff who answer calls 365 days per year. Anyone can call from throughout Minnesota to receive support at any time.
612-379-6363 : Crisis Connection Website
- HCMC Acute Psychological Services: HCMC's Acute Psychiatric Services center serves those in emotional crisis with 24-hour, seven-day-a-week crisis counseling, assessment, and referral. The APS is supported by Hennepin County funds and state grants, provides these services to any person in need.
612-873-3161 : HCMC APS Website
- Nancy Page Crisis House: People Incorporated Nancy Page Crisis Residence provides residential mental health crisis stabilization services to adults with mental illness, who may also have other behavioral problems and/or chemical abuse/dependency issues. Primary treatment occurs both internally and externally with specialized services provided by community and program professionals.
612-870-3787 : Nancy Page Website
________________________________________________
What are we up to?
- In September 2009, the Cynthia Breen Advocacy Foundation obtained its initial capital required to begin operations as a legal non-profit concern.
- CBAF has invested a majority of its time between 2009 and 2011 evaluating the existing social services advocacy system, identifying areas of need that have not or are not being met for those individuals within our foundation's mandate.
- CBAF has also been working with governmental and non-profit organizations to ensure a holistic, consumer-oriented approach to delivering mental health services is both the goal and the result of future planning for service delivery in 2011 and beyond.
- As fund-raising is not a core aspect of the Foundation's effort, and as we believe that non-profit organizations have a responsibility to focus their resources on those they serve in the community, CBAF expects to have its infrastructure and supplemental grant applications to maintain operations and begin foundation programming in March 2012.
- This will include disbursements from the Cynthia Breen Advocacy Foundation fund, as well as the introduction of advocacy and service programming by CBAF and in partnership with local government and other non-profit social service entities serving individuals affected by mental illness and related issues.
|