In order to conduct business and
management training and development efforts at the grass roots level and recruit new
leaders into the movement, Leadership Academies are available
The Leadership Academy is a project designed to train consumers to have an integral
role in the development and shaping of policy, programs, financing and direction of
services for people with serious mental illnesses. By applying social technology to the
empowerment of consumers of mental health services, the Leadership Academy teaches people
how to: (1) keep informed on local and state mental health issues that affect them; (2)
decide the best action steps to take on their concerns; and (3) organize a local advocacy
group or reorganize an existing one into a respected and effective voice on mental health.
Leadership training includes basic skills of issue identification, meeting facilitation,
personnel, and financial management, board development, fund raising, letter writing to
the media, policy makers, and other community leaders, and developing and implementing
activities to influence the service system for individuals with severe mental illness on
the State and local levels.
The Academy is conducted in two intense three or four-day training sessions each
year. Each session is set so that approximately thirty-five (35) individuals can attend
each time. Hotel costs, meals, travel and training materials are provided by the Academy.
After the training, graduates are kept in touch with each other by conference calls and an
annual two-day conference. As mentioned above, scholarships to the Leadership Academy,
technical support, and programs for skill development will be provided. Travel and
accommodations is the responsibility of the sponsoring agent. Curriculums already exist to
address these needs. Potential consumer trainers will be recruited and taught how to train
others in order to share their knowledge and skills at a local level.
In addition to the Leadership Academy curricula, business and management skill
development training is being developed and formalized for self-help programs, along with
follow-up methodology to monitor success. More subject intensive training are being
developed utilizing grassroots programs through brokering or bartering of on-site or
regional consultants. The commitment of consumer experts to CONTAC offers a wealth of
resources. The development of this curriculum design process will continue and includes
Train the Trainers, identifying leader facilitators , and other appropriate linkages to
educational resources. Consultants, field placement opportunities, and joint
topic-sensitive materials will be utilized. Independent study opportunities will be
explored utilizing electronic media.
