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The Mental Health Association of Orange County is
dedicated to improving the quality of life of Orange
County residents impacted by mental illness through
direct service, advocacy, education and information
dissemination.
MHA is a non-profit 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
MHA currently operates from four service centers. All of
our programs serve adults with severe and persistent
psychiatric disorders. Our annual budget is approximately $6.5 million. Our recent independent audits indicate that
our administrative and fund raising expenses are just 8%
of our total annual budget. With the other 92% of our
funds we serve over 17,000 Orange County residents each
year.
The organization's foundation is its volunteer board
of directors, which includes 15-20 members of our
community. These lawyers, business people, doctors,
nurses, social workers, family members and consumers all
come together to set policy for the agency, to ensure
adequate resources, and to help us plan for our future.
The board is also responsible for the employment and
supervision of the Executive Director.
MHA's staff numbers approximately 102 and includes
masters and bachelors level staff, non-degreed staff who
have significant life experiences, and direct consumers
of our programs. Currently, one third of our staff
are consumers of mental health services. MHA also
contracts with psychiatrists and nurse practitioners in
several of our programs.
Volunteers assist those we serve in improving their
quality of life, working with groups, individuals and
with other service providers. These caring individuals
contribute close to 20,000 hours to our clients each
year.
The Mental Health Association of Orange County was
incorporated in 1958. If you are interested in learning
about MHA's
history, we have a special page for you.
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The Mental Health Association of Orange County
provides all of its services within the context of a
psychosocial rehabilitation philosophy. Our philosophy
holds as its primary goal the elimination of functional
deficits, interpersonal barriers, and environmental
barriers created by mental illness, in an effort to
restore the ability for independent living, socialization
and effective life management. By addressing the
practical and realistic elements of the consumer's needs
such as coping and life skills, socialization and
relationship formation, housing, transportation,
education and employment, a supportive environment is
created which encourages the consumer to make positive choices and
experience growth.
The Mental Health Association believes that the
diagnosed mental illness is but one element of the entire
person. Though the illness may permeate most if not all
aspects of the individual, strengths are retained and/or
may have developed in response to the illness. Additional
sources of strength for the individual may be found in
his or her environment. Families, friends, service
providers and community groups are encouraged to
participate in the recovery process with the
consumer.
The Mental Health Association recognizes that choice
both in terms of the types of service available, or
whether one wishes to involve themselves with a
particular service is an important part of the recovery process. Our client-centered approach
views the participation of the consumer in his or her
rehabilitation as an essential element in the process. We
believe the consumer should be responsible for the
planning and implementation of services, and encourage
them to make decisions about their own lives and our
programming.
Programs for the seriously and persistently mentally
ill must be as multi-faceted as they people they assist.
For this reason, the Mental Health Association makes
every attempt to offer a full continuum of care for
consumers with a mental illness. We believe that the road
to recovery begins on the streets, and progresses slowly
towards stability, stopping many times along the way. If
the consumer is to experience positive growth, we must be
able to meet them at the intersection of their
needs and abilities. This means that our services must be
accessible, culturally competent, and sensitive to
special needs.
We emphasize wellness rather than illness.
During this time of changing services in the mental
health field, PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION (PSR) is
gaining more attention. But what is this model of
treatment and how is it different? PSR focuses on
consumer strengths, needs and desires and is being
recognized as a cost effective and productive model of
services for those with psychiatric disorders. MHA
embraces this philosophy which stresses consumer
involvement and direction. In a recent contest of the
Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal, consumers,
practitioners and family members competed for the best
simple definitions of psychosocial rehabilitation.
Here are a few:
"Psychosocial rehabilitation is a program
for persons with long-term mental illnesses to
explore and develop social, occupational, leisure,
and living skills which will assist them in living as
independently as possible in the community."
"Psychosocial rehabilitation means a place
where people come to meet, to take a deep sigh; where
they can relax and have feelings for each other, and
listen to the birds outside. In doing so, they get
better."
"Psychosocial Rehabilitation means that a
person who before was afraid to go into a store to
order an ice cream soda can now be an ice cream store
manager."
All of us at MHA look forward to working together in
helping those with mental illnesses to regain their
dignity and their dreams through psychosocial
rehabilitation programs.
Copyright © 1996-2000 by Mental
Health Association of Orange County. All rights reserved.
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