Kentucky Consumer Advocate Network
(KYCAN) is a non-profit organization of mental health consumers
that promotes the rights, concerns and issues of persons with mental
illnesses in Kentucky. The organization was founded in Nazareth, KY,
during 1988, by a small group of concerned mental health consumers.
KYCAN encompasses the promotion of self-determination among mental
health clients and the avocation of client dignity, community
integration without discrimination, and freedom of choice on behalf of
mental health clients through public education. KYCAN’s efforts are
supported by Kentucky’s Office of Protection and Advocacy and the
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Community Support
Programs, SAMHSA, and other donations.
KYCAN
• Sponsors a Speakers’ Bureau for presentations
on mental health issues.
• Participates on state and local boards that
make decisions about programs and services for the mentally ill.
• Collaborates with other organizations that
represent consumers, family members and professionals.
• Presents workshops and seminars on leadership,
recovery, advocacy and crisis intervention at local, state and national
conferences.
• Publishes a newsletter focused on conferences,
workshops, policies, and laws that affect those with mental illness.
• Advocates with elected officials on is-sues
affecting mental health.
• Supports and recognizes individuals and
consumer groups who work to overcome stigma in their local communities.
• Maintains resource library for consumers on
mental health
KYCAN Offers
ADMHT CONSULTATION: KYCAN gives assistance to any consumer
who
wishes to complete an Advance Directive for Mental Health Treatment.
ADMHT forms may be obtained from KYCAN and consultations on completing
the ADMHT are provided upon request.
B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Building Recovery of
Individual Dreams & Goals through Education & Support.
B.R.I.D.G.E.S./Education, is a
consumer taught program that provides detailed information on mood
disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, and anxiety disorders
as well as ways of coping with the challenges of living with a mental
illness.
B.R.I.D.G.E.S./Support, trains
consumers to facilitate ongoing peer-to-peer support groups throughout
Kentucky. B.R.I.D.G.E.S./Support is based on the knowledge that
consumers have expertise and abilities-learned from their own
illness-that allow them to help each other in ways that clinical
providers can't.
W.R.A.P.: Wellness Recovery Action Plan-KYCAN uses Mary Ellen
Copeland's W.R.A.P. program in workshops that teach consumers how to
identify, monitor, modify, and even eliminate the symptoms of their
mental illnesses. These workshops include the development of
"Individualized Mental Health Crisis Plans" that outline the responses
consumers want from supporters when their illnesses make it impossible
to make appropriate decisions for themselves. They are also given an
opportunity to complete an Advance Directive for Mental Health
Treatment (ADMHT) plan.
CONSULTATIVE PEER REVIEW: KYCAN, under contract with the
state, coordinates independent consultative peer reviews of the 14
Community Mental Health Centers by teams of con-sumers, family members
and providers. Using focus groups, peer interviews and interviews with
the CSP staff, the review teams develop consultative summary reports
that may be used by all stakeholders to enhance and effect improvements
in Kentucky’s mental health system of care for consumers and their
families.
PEER ADVOCACY & OLMSTEAD SUPPORT: Consumer Advocates are
provided in District 6 for those hospitalized on Mental Inquest
Warrants (MIWs). Advocates insure that the basic needs of these
consumers are met and may serve as a link to the consumers’ families
and communities. They also work as consultants in other regions.
Olmstead Peer Support Staff serve consumers who are hospitalized or
are at risk of hospitalization, and wish to live in the least
restrictive environment approved by their treatment teams.
SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT REDUCTION
TRAINING: KYCAN, under contract with Central State Hospital,
participates in the secludion and restraint reduction trainings at
Kentucky's State hospitals and facilities. The goal is to reduce and
eventually eliminate the use of seclusion and restraint.
KYCAN also provides education and
information, and conducts family surveys about seclusion and restraint.
As consumers of mental health services, we believe in:
Rights...
• To be equal, to have the ability to better
ourselves and to succeed.
• To be informed
about our diagnosis/illness and
medications/side effects; to participate and
make
decisions/choices
about treatment.
• To receive appropriate, effective services.
• To have food, clothing, and shelter, as well as
a job for those who can and wish to work.
Responsibility...
• To make informed decisions and choices about
our lives and not to let others control our lives.
• To set goals, make plans and follow through on
our commitments.
Recovery...
• To help ourselves, realizing that this is the
most important part of learning to cope and to live with our illnesses.
• To share our experiences with others, to help
our peers succeed, and to educate others about mental illnesses.
Representation...
• To use ourselves as valuable resources for
starting support groups and self-help projects.
• To advocate for changes needed in the system.
• To participate on
boards and committees that
make decisions about programs and services for persons with
mental
illnesses.
Respect...
• To be regarded by ourselves and others as
valuable, talented, and unique human beings.
• To enhance our
self-determination and desire to
help ourselves, to develop a positive self-image, and to build
self-esteem.
Education...
• To educate ourselves, our families, peers, and
community about mental health issues.
• To use our knowledge to make intelligent and
in-formed decisions about our treatment.
• To use facts to help eliminate stigma and
destroy all "myths about mental illness".
Kentucky Consumer Advocate Network
Empowering mental health consumers to have hope, to take personal
responsibility, advocate, educate, and to represent the consumer
community before public and governmental bodies
Kentucky Consumer Advocate Network
10510 LaGrange Rd., Bldg. 103
Louisville, KY 40223-1228
502-245-5281 or 800-564-8034
