Abstract
Consumer-run drop-in centers are a popular form of mental health self-help that typically requires external funding. The drop-in center can serve as a foundation for many other organizational pursuits. In addition to organizing recreational activities, drop-in centers can host self-help groups, bring in speakers from the community, offer classes to members, organize public awareness campaigns about mental illness, volunteer in the community, and work with policy makers to improve the public mental health system. This chapter will review research on several different facets of these organizations including their activities, organizational structure, evidence base, funding support, and community relations. Strategies to enhance the organizational effectiveness and peer support of consumer run drop-in centers are outlined with attention to enhancing empowerment and recovery. The chapter concludes by considering future directions for research and practice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Biegel, D. E., Tracy, E. M., & Corvo, K. N. (1994). Strengthening social networks: Intervention strategies for mental health case managers. Health and Social Work, 19, 206–216.
Borkman, T. J. (1999). Understanding self-help/mutual aid: Experiential learning in the commons. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Brown, L. D. (2009a). How people can benefit from mental health consumer-run organizations. American Journal of Community Psychology, 43, 177–188.
Brown, L. D. (2009b). Making it sane: Using life history narratives to explore theory in a mental health consumer-run organization. Qualitative Health Research, 19, 243–257.
Brown, L. D., Collins, V. L., Shepherd, M. D., Wituk, S. A., & Meissen, G. (2004). Photovoice and consumer-run mutual support organizations. International Journal of Self-Help and Self-Care, 2,339–344.
Brown, L. D., Shepherd, M. D., Merkle, E. C., Wituk, S. A., & Meissen, G. (2008). Understanding how participation in a consumer-run organization relates to recovery. American Journal of Community Psychology, 42, 167–178.
Brown, L. D., Shepherd, M. D., Wituk, S. A., & Meissen, G. (2007). Goal achievement and the accountability of consumer-run organizations. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research, 34, 73–82.
Bryson, J. M. (1995). Strategic planning for profit and nonprofit organizations: A guide to strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Center for Community Support & Research. (2003). An analysis of consumer-run organization quarterly reports [Electronic Version], 2009 from http://www.kansascro.com/includes/downloads/article_feedback.pdf.
Center for Community Support & Research. (2004). Network analysis of consumer-run organizations. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University Center for Community Support & Research.
Cohen, S., Gottlieb, B. H., & Underwood, L. G. (2000). Social relationships and health. In S. Cohen, L. G. Underwood, & B. H. Gottlieb (Eds.), Social support measurement and intervention: A guide for health and social scientists (pp. 3–28). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Connolly, P. M., & York, P. J. (2002). Evaluating capacity-building efforts for nonprofit organizations. OD Practitioner, 34, 33–39.
Fischer, C. S. (1982). To dwell among friends: Personal networks in town and city. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Goldberg, R. W., Rollins, A. L., & Lehman, A. F. (2003). Social network correlates among people with psychiatric disabilities. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 26, 393–402.
Goldstrom, I. D., Campbell, J., Rogers, J. A., Lambert, D. B., Blacklow, B., Henderson, M. J., et al. (2006). National estimates for mental health mutual support groups, self-help organizations, and consumer-operated services. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 33, 92–103.
Hardy, C., Phillips, N., & Lawrence, T. (2003). Resources, knowledge and influence: The organizational effects of interorganizational collaboration. Journal of Management Studies, 40, 289–315.
Holter, M. C., & Mowbray, C. T. (2005). Consumer-run drop-in centers: Program operations and costs. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 28, 323–331.
Holter, M. C., Mowbray, C. T., Bellamy, C. D., MacFarlane, P., & Dukarski, J. (2004). Critical ingredients of consumer run services: Results of a national survey. Community Mental Health Journal, 40(1), 47–63.
Janzen, R., Nelson, G., Trainor, J., & Ochocka, J. (2006). A longitudinal study of mental health consumer/survivor initiatives: Part 4–Benefits beyond the self? A quantitative and qualitative study of system-level activities and impacts. Journal of Community Psychology, 34, 285–303.
Kasinsky, J. (1987). Cooptation. In S. Zinman, H. T. Harp & S. Budd (Eds.), Reaching across: Mental health clients helping each other (pp. 177–181). Sacramento, CA: California Network of Mental Health Clients.
Kiresuk, T. J., & Lund, S. H. (1978). Goal attainment scaling. In C. C. Attkisson, W. A. Hargreaves, M. J. Horowitz & J. E. Sorensen (Eds.), Evaluation of human service programs. New York: Academic.
Maton, K. I., & Salem, D. A. (1995). Organizational characteristics of empowering community settings: A multiple case study approach. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23, 631–656.
Mohr, W. K. (2004). Surfacing the life phases of a mental health support group. Qualitative Health Research, 14, 61–77.
Mowbray, C. T., & Tan, C. (1993). Consumer-operated drop-in centers: Evaluation of operations and impact. Journal of Mental Health Administration, 20, 8–19.
Nelson, G., Ochocka, J., Janzen, R., & Trainor, J. (2006). A longitudinal study of mental health consumer/survivor initiatives: Part 2–A quantitative study of impacts of participation on new members. Journal of Community Psychology, 34, 261–272.
Riessman, F. (1965). The “helper” therapy principle. Social Work, 10, 27–32.
Rodgers, R., & Hunter, J. E. (1991). Impact of management by objectives on organizational productivity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 76, 322–336.
Segal, S. P., Silverman, C., & Temkin, T. (1993). Empowerment and self-help agency practice for people with mental disabilities. Social Work, 38, 705–712.
Segal, S. P., Silverman, C., & Temkin, T. (1997). Program environments of self-help agencies for persons with mental disabilities. The Journal of Mental Health Administration, 24, 456–464.
Smith, D. H. (2000). Grassroots associations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Teague, G. B., Johnsen, M., Rogers, J. A., & Schell, B. (2005). Research on consumer-operated service programs: Effectiveness findings and policy implications of a large multi-site study. Retrieved March 10, 2009, from http://www.power2u.org/cosp.html
Trainor, J., Shepherd, M., Boydell, K. M., Leff, A., & Crawford, E. (1997). Beyond the service paradigm: The impact and implications of consumer/survivor initiatives. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 21, 132–140.
Van Tosh, L., & del Vecchio, P. (2000). Consumer-operated self-help programs: A technical report. Rockville, MD: U.S. Center for Menal Health Services.
Wituk, S. A., Vu, C., Brown, L. D., & Meissen, G. (2008). Organizational capacity needs of consumer-run organizations. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 35, 212–219.
Yanos, P. T., Primavera, L. H., & Knight, E. L. (2001). Consumer-run service participation, recovery of social functioning, and the mediating role of psychological factors. Psychiatric Services, 52, 493–500.
Acknowledgements
Support for this research comes from Kansas Social and Rehabilitation Services, Division of Mental Health.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Brown, L.D., Wituk, S., Meissen, G. (2010). Consumer-Run Drop-In Centers: Current State and Future Directions. In: Brown, L., Wituk, S. (eds) Mental Health Self-Help. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6253-9_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-6253-9_7
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-6252-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-6253-9
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)