Introduction
The provincial policy for Mental Health Services as well as its legislative framework calls for the active involvement of citizens living with mental illness in the recovery process. An important component of such process is the availability and accessibility to social support, self-help, recreational and advocacy activities. Activity Centers aim at providing an opportunity for citizens living with mental illness to access such support.
This guideline document describes the fundamental values upon which Activities Centers operate. It defines the objectives they ought to achieve and provides operational guidelines.
Values
Objectives
Activity Centers should aim at achieving the following objectives:
Guidelines:
Activity Centers operate as independent entities with their own respective boards. Boards should develop their governing bylaws and operational guidelines to supplement the following:
1. Citizen run boards are to be made up of a majority (50% + 1) of volunteer citizens living with mental illness and may increase this percentage if deemed appropriate.
2. Funding to cover for start up and basic operational costs is available through and will be supported by the Community Mental Health Services of the Regional Health Authority and funded through the Department of Health. Request for funding should be made annually as per the specification provided in the "Guidelines for request for funding for self-help groups and activity centers". Activity Centers are encouraged to supplement the public grant by initiating their own fund raising activities.
3. Activity Centers shall provide their Director of Community Mental Health Services a report on annual expenditures.
4. A service purchase contract must be signed by February 28 each year between the Community Mental Health Services and the Activity Centre Board.
5. The Activity Centre Director should be a person living with the challenges of a mental illness or family member. Upon hiring, a six month probation period will apply. Existing directors who are non-citizens living with mental illness can maintain their position. When such a position becomes vacant a citizen living with mental illness will need to be hired.
6. Training and experience and/or readiness to participate in training in the following areas is a definite asset for citizens living with mental illness hired as Activity Centre directors or employees: working with boards, group facilitation, effective communication, citizens living with mental illness needs, organization of activities, bookkeeping, fund raising, non-violent crisis intervention and first-aid.
7. Following a written request from the Activity Centre Board and/or its Director, the Community Mental Health Centre should provide the support to assist the board and/or director in accessing the needed training. (As noted in #6)
8a. Activity Centers should be open to all citizens living with mental illness wishing to become members. However, the centre has the discretion to restrict access to individuals whose behavior is inconsistent with center policy.
8b. Individuals whose needs and/or capacities are beyond what staff determines the center can provide, may ask the executive director to contact the CMHC for help.
9. Where lease agreements allow and security measures are addressed, activity centers are encouraged to make their facility available to self-help groups whose meetings reflect activity center goals and values.
10. Boards should strongly encourage their activity centre directors to attend the bi–annual NBMHACA provincial meetings. Boards are to put aside sufficient funds from their annual budget for this purpose. Moreover, the presence of the Executive Director at the annual meeting of the New Brunswick Mental Health Consumer Network is strongly recommended.
11. Activity Centers are encouraged to organize activities not only on their premises but also in their communities.
12. Activity Center programs should be diverse and aimed at supporting a variety of areas: social, recreational, educational and / or advocacy needs.
13. Where resources permit, activity centers are encouraged to develop in areas such as vocational self-help programming.
14. Activity Center directors are encouraged to educate themselves with the mental health citizens living with mental illness / survivor movement across Canada and elsewhere.
15. The NBMHACA strongly recommends that Activity Centers obtain the necessary insurance coverage for lost, stolen or damaged property AND staff and volunteer liability. (September 20, 2012)
The provincial policy for Mental Health Services as well as its legislative framework calls for the active involvement of citizens living with mental illness in the recovery process. An important component of such process is the availability and accessibility to social support, self-help, recreational and advocacy activities. Activity Centers aim at providing an opportunity for citizens living with mental illness to access such support.
This guideline document describes the fundamental values upon which Activities Centers operate. It defines the objectives they ought to achieve and provides operational guidelines.
Values
- Access to social support, self-help, recreational and advocacy activities are essential ingredients in the recovery process.
- Activity Centers are a key component in relapse prevention within a support network.
- Citizens living with mental illness govern and manage Activity Centers.
- Activity Centers complement the formal services delivery system.
Objectives
Activity Centers should aim at achieving the following objectives:
- provide a place where people can meet, exchange and develop a sense of belonging;
- provide citizens living with mental illness with opportunities to participate in meaningful activities which will contribute toward increasing their well-being and self-esteem;
- foster community integration;
- assist citizens living with mental illness access to community resources;
- where possible educate the public and service providers about the needs of those living with mental health challenges.
Guidelines:
Activity Centers operate as independent entities with their own respective boards. Boards should develop their governing bylaws and operational guidelines to supplement the following:
1. Citizen run boards are to be made up of a majority (50% + 1) of volunteer citizens living with mental illness and may increase this percentage if deemed appropriate.
2. Funding to cover for start up and basic operational costs is available through and will be supported by the Community Mental Health Services of the Regional Health Authority and funded through the Department of Health. Request for funding should be made annually as per the specification provided in the "Guidelines for request for funding for self-help groups and activity centers". Activity Centers are encouraged to supplement the public grant by initiating their own fund raising activities.
3. Activity Centers shall provide their Director of Community Mental Health Services a report on annual expenditures.
4. A service purchase contract must be signed by February 28 each year between the Community Mental Health Services and the Activity Centre Board.
5. The Activity Centre Director should be a person living with the challenges of a mental illness or family member. Upon hiring, a six month probation period will apply. Existing directors who are non-citizens living with mental illness can maintain their position. When such a position becomes vacant a citizen living with mental illness will need to be hired.
6. Training and experience and/or readiness to participate in training in the following areas is a definite asset for citizens living with mental illness hired as Activity Centre directors or employees: working with boards, group facilitation, effective communication, citizens living with mental illness needs, organization of activities, bookkeeping, fund raising, non-violent crisis intervention and first-aid.
7. Following a written request from the Activity Centre Board and/or its Director, the Community Mental Health Centre should provide the support to assist the board and/or director in accessing the needed training. (As noted in #6)
8a. Activity Centers should be open to all citizens living with mental illness wishing to become members. However, the centre has the discretion to restrict access to individuals whose behavior is inconsistent with center policy.
8b. Individuals whose needs and/or capacities are beyond what staff determines the center can provide, may ask the executive director to contact the CMHC for help.
9. Where lease agreements allow and security measures are addressed, activity centers are encouraged to make their facility available to self-help groups whose meetings reflect activity center goals and values.
10. Boards should strongly encourage their activity centre directors to attend the bi–annual NBMHACA provincial meetings. Boards are to put aside sufficient funds from their annual budget for this purpose. Moreover, the presence of the Executive Director at the annual meeting of the New Brunswick Mental Health Consumer Network is strongly recommended.
11. Activity Centers are encouraged to organize activities not only on their premises but also in their communities.
12. Activity Center programs should be diverse and aimed at supporting a variety of areas: social, recreational, educational and / or advocacy needs.
13. Where resources permit, activity centers are encouraged to develop in areas such as vocational self-help programming.
14. Activity Center directors are encouraged to educate themselves with the mental health citizens living with mental illness / survivor movement across Canada and elsewhere.
15. The NBMHACA strongly recommends that Activity Centers obtain the necessary insurance coverage for lost, stolen or damaged property AND staff and volunteer liability. (September 20, 2012)