Services for Adults
Adult Services manages the following programs:

The Advocacy Training
for Empowerment Program

This MHATC program provides training to groups on a range of topics, exploring what it means to be an advocate and encouraging the recipients to become advocates in their communities. (Trainings are available in Tompkins, Tioga, Seneca, Schuyler and Yates Counties, and are free of charge.)

This participatory training examines some of the common assumptions and myths about people who use mental health services, and explores situations that make individuals feel "powerful" or "powerless." This is an excellent introduction for people who are thinking of becoming advocates.

The Advocacy Training for Empowerment Program includes:

- an overview of New York State Mental Health Law

- an overview of the mental health system (how it works, how recipients
  can become involved in effecting needed change; current issues)

- a participatory discussion about "what it means to be an advocate"

Contact The Mental Health Association at (607) 273-9250 for information.

The AS FRIENDS Program

Since 1985, this program has matched people with mental health diagnoses with others from the community in supportive friendships: the Mental Health Association believes that simple friendship can help people with mental health diagnoses to live independently, recover, and be active members of the community.

There is an application process; training is provided to individuals who would like to volunteer to be matched with a participant in the program.

Advocacy Services

Adult Services provides advocacy services to people who use, or have used, mental health services. We can answer questions, help to identify solutions to problems, and connect people to legal and other resources.

Recipients of mental health services have a vital stake in the ways the community thinks about mental health, in people who are diagnosed as mentally ill, and in the services and supports that our community provides. Adult Services will work to assure that recipients are equipped to act as advocates for needed changes. Adult Services will work to fulfill MHA's commitment to protect the civil and human rights of people who use, or have used, mental health services.