The Advocacy Alliance
Strategic Plan
ADOPTED MARCH 1994
AMMENDED DECEMBER 1995
AMENDED JUNE 1997
AMENDED APRIL 1999
AMENDED JUNE 2002
AMENDED SEPTEMBER 2004
AMENDED MARCH 2007
Board of Directors
Carl J. Witkowski, President
Eugene Boylan, Vice President
Thomas P. Smith, Psy. D., Secretary
James Bobeck, Treasurer
Edmund Abdo, LCSW
Carmen Ambrosino
John P. Blake
Thomas Comerford
Richard P. Conaboy, Jr.
Edward Golecki
Thomas P. Leary
Harry Lindsay
Marge Matisko
Martin McGurrin
Gary Pelucacci
Joseph Pierangeli
David J. Rinaldi, Esq.
Marie Santilli
William Sukus
Karen Thomas
Joseph Van Jura, Esq.
Leo Vergnetti
Executive Team
Alex J. Hazzouri, Chief Executive Officer
Debbie Zielinski, PHR, Chief Administrative Officer
Jen Duggan, Analyst and Communications Associate
Introduction
From our founding in 1955 we have been an advocacy agency dedicated to serving persons who have mental health problems and their families. From that time our advocacy efforts included informing and educating the public about mental health issues. Since 1962, we have been offering Friendship “7” Social Club, a safe supportive environment for persons in the community who have a mentalillness to come together, socialize and enjoy program activities.
Approximately 23years ago, with specific intent, we began to develop and provide needed non-clinical direct mental health services. Approximately 18years ago, with specific intent, we began to provide our services outside of Lackawanna County which for approximately 32 years had been our only geographic service area. Due to the demand for our services, we began to not only serve persons who have a mental illness but also persons who havemental retardation and other developmental disabilities, and in some instances older adults and persons with other disabilities. Since our inception 51years ago we have experienced dramatic growth, expanding in size, mission and scope, all while establishing a proud history of advocating for persons who have a mental illness and persons who havemental retardation and other developmental disabilities. Today, we provide an array of services which include: Advocacy; Recovery Centers;Consumer Fiduciary Management; Community Education; Consumer/Family Satisfaction Teams; Independent Monitoring4 Quality Teams; and Health Care Quality Units. Our services are now provided, to varying degrees, in the Northeast, Central, Pocono, and Lehigh Valley Regions of Pennsylvania.
The opportunity to facilitate Independent Monitoring 4 Quality teams and two Health Care Quality Units, has ensured that we play alarger role in improving the lives of persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. However, perhaps most significant to consumers of services, family members and professionals with whom we work is our identity: The Advocacy Alliance. In January 2001, we no longer called ourselves A Mental Health Association and adopted anew name, the Advocacy Alliance. We reaffirmed our philosophy thatadvocacy is the essence of everything we do and we are an “alliance” because across the lifespan, we bring together consumers of mental health and mental retardation and other developmental disabilities services, family members, and professionals. This blending allows us to collaboratively seek common understanding instead of consensus around priorities, purposes, goals and approaches at hand.
We have an enduring task ahead. We have come a long way but our destination has not yet been reached. As advocates we remain committed to creative collaboration, always seeking to create linkages among stakeholders across systems so that consumers, family members and professionals continue to benefit from our experience and expertise. As recognized advocates, we must tirelessly work to ensure that federal, state and local policy makers are educated on issues affecting the persons we serve and empower. By serving as consultants and as a resource to communities, we remain dedicated to promoting mental wellness while educating the general public about mental illness and mental retardation and other developmental disabilities in order to be the catalyst that eliminates the stigma surrounding persons who have a mental illness and persons who havemental retardation and other developmental disabilities. We must continue to design and implement programs and projects that integrate resources across traditional program and agency lines by partnering with those community and government entities on initiatives that will further enable us to fulfill our mission. With growth and development comes not only positive change but also a recommitment to focus on the future.
The dawn of outcome measurements poises us to welcome the challenge of accountability in a way that draws interest and instills energy in support of our calling to enhance the lives of persons who have a mental illness and persons who havemental retardation and other developmental disabilities. It is our sincere desire to always focus on new and creative ways to enable, empower and advocate for persons who have a mental illness and persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. As a result of staff creativity, commitment, and positive relationship building with service partners (both public and private) we continue to enjoy success. Our partnering abilities have been highlighted by the opportunity for staff to share ideas and resources with grassroots consumer-driven efforts, especially the Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers Association. Health Consumer Continuously, we look toward the future and realize that we exist because we embrace those we serve and see each person not only as he or she is, but what he or she can become. Through our programs and services, we embark upon a journey to change attitudes, foster values, impact emotions, develop goals, teach skills, and define roles so that persons who have a mental illness and persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities can live satisfying, hopeful, and contributing lives. Through the efforts of our staff and with the support of our Board of Directors and its Strategic Planning Committee, we are prepared to answer the question we ask of ourselves and begin asked of us: How are we changing lives and communities for the better? From fulfillment and affirmation to recovery, resilience, and self-determination,our efforts ensure that we remain focused on providing effective advocacy, demonstrating exemplary management of our human and financial resources, and contributing the benefit of our expertise to the communities in our service area, all while focusing on the bottom line….changing for the better.
Mission
Promote mental well being, support Recovery for adults who have a mental illness, Resiliency in children and adolescents who have emotional disorders and Everyday Lives for persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and provide to them advocacy and culturally competent services.
Purposes
- Provide community education to promote mental well being and knowledge of mental illness and mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
- Improve attitudes toward mental illness and mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and persons who have a mental illness andpersons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
- Promote and support Recovery for adults who have a mental illness, a self-determined and holistic journey that persons undertake to heal and grow. Recovery is facilitated by relationships and environments that provide hope, empowerment, choices and opportunities that promote people reaching their full potential as individuals and community members.
- Promote and support Resiliency in children and adolescents who have emotional disorders, the personal and community qualities that enable individuals to rebound from adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or other stressors, and to live productive lives
- Promote and support Everyday Lives for persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities, having a self-determined life which is typical of the general population and includes: being part of the community; living among family and friends but having the option of living alone; feeling safe and secure; having choice in life decisions; having control over one's life; having dignity and status; and being recognized for abilities and gifts.
- Promote and support cultural competence in services, treatment and Recovery, which are more effective when consumers and families fully engage in services that are compatible with their cultural values and world-views.
- Protect and promote the rights of persons who have a mental illnessand persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
- Monitor mental health facilities and programs and provide advocacy when needed for persons who have a mental illness.
- Influence the development and adoption and monitor the implementation of local, state and federal public policy affecting persons who have a mental illnessand persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
- Provide and improve services to persons who have a mental illnessand persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
- Collaborate with mental health/mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and other advocacy/service providers to enhance service delivery to persons who have a mental illnessand persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
- Extend the availability of our services across the spectrum of human services systems.
Goals
1.) Provide Community Education
Objectives:
A.)implement projects which demonstrate our leadership capacity to promotemental well being while educatingconsumers, families and professionals, as well as the community, about mental illness and mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
B.)facilitate programs that strengthen our ability to promote Recovery, Resiliency and Everyday Lives.
Potential projects include:
-trainings/seminars for professionals, consumers and family members, especially those addressing issues identified through advocacy, consumer satisfaction and independent monitoring.
-inclusion of consumers and families as presenters and co-presenters in trainings/seminars.
-speakers’ bureau.
-partnerships with institutions of higher learning.
-mental health curriculum in local school districts.
-activities intended to reach the general public focused on eliminating the stigma surrounding mental illness and mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
-cultural specific targeted community education, training and seminars.
-health and information fairs/events.
-community oriented Mental Health Month activities.
-community oriented Mental Retardation Month activities.
-promote the use and availability of the agency web-site.
-partnerships with other advocacy/service providers.
-state-wide coalitions focusing on mental health, mental retardation and other developmental disabilities and substance abuse issues.
-partnerships with other advocacy/service providers, including children and youth, aging and substance abuse.
2.) Influence Public Policy
Objectives:
A.)undertake activities so as to be recognized as the primary information source and leader among consumers, family members, professionals and lawmakers regarding mental health/mental retardation and other developmental disabilities public policy issues.
Potential projects include:
-writing letters to the editor.
-coordinating round-table discussions with local legislators.
-coordinating town hall meetings to gather and share pertinent information with consumers, families, and professionals.
-meeting with editorial boards.
-collaborating with mental health/mental retardation and other developmental disabilities providers’ associations on legislative/public policy events/efforts.
-engaging in pro-active communication activities so that relevant information is disseminated in a timely manner.
B.)establish and maintain a formal partnership which includes consumers, families, advocates and providers to be an integral part of the developing behavioral managed care system.
C.)develop relationships and educate local, state and federal lawmakers/elected officials in order to influence their decisions regarding issues effecting persons who have a mental illnessand persons who have mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.
D.)develop and maintain partnerships between mental health and substance abuse systems so that individuals who have co-occurring disorders throughout their lifetime have access to appropriate evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.
E.)develop and maintain partnerships between mental health and criminal justice systems to effect policy and procedure so that individuals with co-occurring disorders have access to appropriate evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.
3.) Promote Recovery, Resiliency and Everyday Lives
Objectives:
A.)maintain and expand Consumer/Family Satisfaction Teams for adults, children and adolescents to assess and enhance their levels of satisfaction with the behavioral health services they receive.
B.)maintain and expand Independent Monitoring 4 Quality Teams for adults, children and adolescents to assess and enhance their levels of satisfaction with the mental retardation services they receive.
C.)maintain and enhance Recovery Centers (and other venues),Certified Peer Specialists Programs, Mental Health Advanced Directives Initiatives and Community Support Programs, as well as the development and implementation of educational programs integral to Recovery.
D.)maintain and enhance Regional Technical Assistance roles for: Community Support Program, Consumer Satisfaction Team Alliance of Pennsylvania, and Self-Determination.
E.) guarantee consumer, family member and advocate participation in County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Programs’ planning, evaluation and utilization processes.
4.) Provide Advocacy Services
Objectives:
A.)maintain, strengthen and expand our presence to ensure that individually children, adolescents, their families and adults receiving in-patient and out-patient mental health services understand their rights, their rights are respected and their services are helpful.
B.)make recommendations for change to individual mental health programs, mental health systems and other human services systems based upon issues and trends identified through individual advocacy.
C.)maintain, strengthen and expand the self-empowerment of persons who have a mental illness and family members to advocate by recruiting, training and supporting them as Family Peer Advocates, Peer Advocates and Peer Mentors.
D.)maintain, strengthen and expand the self-determination of persons who have a mental retardation and other developmental disabilities to advocate by recruiting, training and supporting them as Self-Advocates.
E.)develop strategic alliances across human services systems, including but not limited to behavioral health and criminal justice, so that consumers receive optimal human services.
F.)maintain and increase active participation in local, regional and statewide task forces and committees, such as Mental Health Association of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Services and County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Programs.
5.) Provide Services
Objectives:
A.)ensure continuous quality improvement of Fiduciary Management Services and Health Care Quality Units as well as other ongoing and developing services such as: Adult and Children/Family Mental Health Advocacy; Recovery Centers; Community Education; Consumer/Family Satisfaction Teams; and Independent Monitoring 4 Quality Teams.
B.) ensure the satisfaction with our services of those we serve, their families and other providers so as to gain insight into where our services can be improved.
C.)seek and secure opportunities to grow services which includes: additional contracts to provide existing services in our current service area and in contiguous counties and contracts to provide new services in our current service area and in contiguous counties.
6.) Ensure Financial Stability
Objectives:
A.)grow revenue by a minimum of 4% annually.
B.)grow the fund balance by a minimum of 25% of the annual increase in revenue.
C.)reduce any existing (as of the end of the previous fiscal year) mortgage debt by a minimum of 15% annually.
7.) Enhance Board of Directors – Recruitment/Involvement/Stewardship
Objectives:
A.)ensure that the Board of Directors reflect the community and whose talents help meet present and future needs.
B.)provide information, training, and retreat settings to the Board of Directors in order to enhance their contribution.
8.) Maximize Staff Utilization and Development
Objectives:
A.)view staff as our most valuable resource.
B.)enhance staff recruitment, training, education and retention.
C.)review staffing patterns, assess staffing needs, and implement changes as needed striving toward a staff compliment possessing expertise, across systems, necessary to accomplish agency’s goals and objectives.
D.)encourage and enhance staff leadership and management competencies in areas including: technology; quality assurance; and productivity/management reporting in order to more effectively facilitate expansion of our services and service area.
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