Mission Statement:

To promote, advocate, or develop community based education, health care, and mental health services for children and adults. To empower children at risk, as well as mental health consumers and their family members, through education, advocacy and programs promoting independence, self-esteem and confidence and creating better health and futures for children and adolescents.

Background

Since 1913, MAMH has been recognized as an independent information resource within the mental health community. Through its network of volunteers, MAMH provides education, advocacy, leadership and information to agencies, individuals, and families on national, state and local mental health issues. MAMH is results-orientated and attracts like-minded individuals to its network. MAMH uses its network of volunteers to advocate, plan, and advise on all aspects of mental health, including the provision of community based services, housing, employment, and education for consumers and family members.

Programs and Activities

MAMH operates programs designed to build strength in children, families and communities, preventing mental health and social welfare problems and the costs associated with these conditions. MAMH is widely recognized for our effective community building programs, the results of which include:

· Tutoring and Mentoring for Kids

Our year round program, Kids On Campus, conducted in partnership with Boston College, and the Col. Daniel Marr Boys and Girls Club, provides youngsters from Dorchester and surrounding neighborhoods with one on one tutoring/mentoring

on the BC Campus. Each youngster is assigned a volunteer under-graduate student, who becomes a tutor and mentor throughout the academic year. In the summer, educational activities are provided under our Boston College Athletes Care Program.

· Housing Services

Developing community based housing for consumer independence, the MAMH Housing Network Project advocates for the creation of community based affordable housing options for the mentally ill.

Our People Are Waiting Reports provide information on the 3,000 plus adult clients of the Department of Mental Health who are waiting for housing and residential services. The Reports have become a focal point for awareness and an impetus for the adoption of funding strategies to provide more community based services for people with mental illness.

· Advocacy

Advocacy leads the way to the advancement of legislation, funds and programs for people with mental illness. In addition, MAMH advocates for specific consumers and family members to guide them through the human service maze to obtain the services they require. Some recent examples of public policy initiatives include:

· MAMH secured language in the FY 2005 budget giving the Department of Mental Health (DMH) significant new authority over the proposed development of the property formerly used for Medfield State Hospital.

· MAMH successfully advocated to provide DMH oversight authority over any proposal to limit or restrict access to medications used in the treatment of mental illness. Under funding obtained from a private foundation, MAMH is presently engaged in a project to review public policies on psychiatric medications and attempt to develop consensus policy in Massachusetts.

· MAMH successfully advocated for the establishment of a special commission to review the proposal for a new state of the art psychiatric hospital in Central Massachusetts.

· MAMH is currently advocating for the continuation of the Commonwealth's Medicaid Waiver, in particular the provision waiving the so-called IMD Exclusion.

· Each year, MAMH advocates for the DMH Budget and for funding levels to allow it to serve its clients and to reduce its waiting lists.

MAMH provides case advocacy for individuals or families seeking services, whether treatment, housing, health insurance, education or employment.

· Planning

MAMH initiates dialogue among Massachusetts “thought leaders”, policy makers, providers, advocates, and family members on the impact of state and national reforms to coordinate, collaborate, and integrate services across multiple systems for consumers, children and their families. Whether helping to coordinate a response to a suicide cluster in South Boston, or providing objective information on mental health managed care; the exchange of accurate information and the continuation of dialogues are critical elements to any successful planning effort.

· Services for Consumers

Citizens who have mental illness, and the individuals who care for them, are the dedicated focus of MAMH’s work. Through forums, conferences, task forces, programs of outreach to the mentally ill, and assisting in the development of strategies to obtain resources and services, MAMH works to empower mental health consumers, families, the refugee communities, and providers.

· Changing Minds

Working with the Department of Mental Health, MAMH develops programs and strategies to eradicate the stigma of mental illness through educational efforts targeted to the general population, as well as specific segments of society. Activities have included the production and purchase of media time for public service announcements by Mrs. Tipper Gore, and CBS Journalists Mike Wallace and Lesley Stahl. A seminar for medical and science newswriters to assist the media in providing accurate and current information on mental illness, research and related topics, and a series of legislative forums on mental illness for Massachusetts legislators and staff have been held. An outreach to elementary, middle and high schools across the Commonwealth to help with creating safe schools and identifying youngsters in need of services is ongoing.

· National Institute of Mental Health – Outreach Partnership Program

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has designated MAMH as the Massachusetts Partner under the NIMH Constituency Outreach and Education Program, designed to disseminate accurate and science based information on mental illness. If you or your organization in interested in receiving materials or information about mental illness, whether in general or about a specific illness or phobia, contact us at 617-742-7452 or email Tim O’Leary at timfleary@aol.com

· U.S. Center for Mental Health Services – Elimination of Barriers Initiative
In recognition of the leadership of MAMH in illuminating the challenges faced by persons with and recovering from mental illnesses, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been chosen as one of eight states in the country to roll out the nationally formulated Elimination of Barriers Initiative. Because of its historical work to eliminate the barriers posed by stigma and discrimination, MAMH has been asked by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH), to staff and direct the Initiative in full partnership with DMH.

2006 ANNUAL REPORT

Message from the President – James Hooley

2006 was a very productive and successful year for MAMH, and for the people who look to us for advocacy, planning and for services. There is always more to be done and the unmet need is still significant. Nevertheless, it is important to take a few minutes to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year and to thank our many friends, colleagues, and supporters for the work they did in 2006.

The Executive Director’s report that follows provides an outline of our activities for the year, and it need not be repeated here. I do want to mention the following highlights:

· In 2003, MAMH drafted and led the successful advocacy effort to provide the Department of Mental Health with oversight authority on the placement of any restrictions on access to medications used in the treatment of mental illness. Although vigilance is always necessary to ensure that the provision is carried forward with each budget cycle, DMH oversight has become established policy in the Commonwealth.

· In January of this year, MAMH, with support from The Boston Foundation, published and distributed Medications and Mental Illnesses: Preserving access and meeting the needs of patients, clinicians and taxpayers. This publication is faithful to our long tradition of educational outreach and our commitment to rational public policy to provide for the needs of people with severe and persistent mental illnesses and emotional disorders. It provided exhaustive research into other states and established a framework to help policy makers ensure that clinical judgments and patient well being (and not simply costs) form the underpinnings of our Medicaid behavioral health benefit.

· By the end of the 2006 fiscal year (June 30, 2006), the Commonwealth will have completed the three-year plan to create and fund 268 community placements for “discharge ready” DMH clients waiting in state hospitals or other continuing care facilities. MAMH called attention to these individuals in its March 2004 People Are Waiting Report. We are grateful to the Administration, the Legislature and to our friends and supporters for helping to create community placements, independence and dignity for these people.
I have enjoyed the past two years as MAMH President. I am grateful for the work, professionalism, energy and spirit of our Board of Directors, our staff and Executive Director. I look forward to continuing our work together to meet the challenges and opportunities that await MAMH and the people we serve.

Report from the Executive Director - Bernard J. Carey, Jr.

Throughout its long history, MAMH has used partnerships, collaborations and volunteers to plan, develop and advance our programs, initiatives, and activities. Our
accomplishments this year - as they have always been – resulted from the goodwill and hard work of our volunteer Board of Directors, legislators, city and state officials, and our many friends and supporters. Whether a Boston College student-athlete helping an inner city 6th grader understand the complexities of fractions, or a CEO helping us find part-time employment for an individual with mental illness, our success stories belong to our volunteers, and to our network of supporters and friends. What follows is a brief overview of our activities this past year, as well as, some of the challenges that lay ahead in 2007.

United Way of Massachusetts Bay:

For the year July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, our allocation from the United Way of Massachusetts Bay (UWMB) was $100,189. We do not know at the present time what our funding level will be for the next fiscal year.

Friend and Leader Award:

· The 2006 Friend and Leader event honoring Dr. Gary Gottlieb and Larry Cancro was very successful. We added a second award, the Spirit of Compassion, which was presented to Larry Cancro. We were able to surpass our targeted goal of $130,000 by raising $199,250.

· The 2007 Friend and Leader honoree will be Jack Connors, and former State Representative Kevin Fitzgerald will receive the Spirit of Compassion Award.

Advocacy for Children, Adolescents, Adults and Seniors:

· As an outgrowth of our advocacy work in specific Boston neighborhoods (South Boston/Charlestown) MAMH staff continue to build bridges across Boston Neighborhoods and the community schools with its advocacy work. Additional advocacy activities in FY 2006 included:

· Individual case advocacy and interventions to obtain services and independence for consumers and family members.

· MAMH representation on the Governor’s Commission on Mental Retardation and on the Massachusetts Aging and Mental Health Coalition.

· Creating individual service plans (ISPs) for disabled adults and children in need of community-based services.

· Education and employment counseling for disabled adults seeking the opportunity to return to school or work. MAMH is working with the Commonwealth’s Mental Health Planning Council (which receives and allocates $8 Million in Federal Community Block Grant funding) to sponsor council meetings to bring together the diverse organizations focusing on education & employment for the mentally ill to plan more effectively as part of an effort to increase client outcomes.

Public Policy Advocacy:

(1) Housing

· For the past three years, our People Are Waiting initiative has focused on 268 “discharge ready” patients in state hospitals or continuing care facilities who were waiting for community placements. Our 2004 Report set forth a timetable for the funding and creation of the community placements over a three-year period (FY
2004, 2005, 2006). We are delighted to report that at the end of the FY 2006 year (June 30, 2006), all of the community placements will have been created, funded and 268 patients will have community-based housing.

· MAMH successfully assisted DMH in securing 40 new units of housing for DMH clients as a result of the transfer of the property formerly used as Metropolitan State Hospital. MAMH Board members Eleanor and Barry White worked with MAMH staff on this initiative.

· We are presently engaged in an effort to secure more than 40 units of housing for DMH clients in connection with the proposed sale of the property formerly used as the Medfield State Hospital.

· MAMH successfully advocated for expansion of services to the homeless mentally ill. This additional funding ($2,700,000) will leverage approximately $14 Million in federal “bricks and mortar” funding and provide new housing and support services for about 160 at risk or chronically homeless individuals with mental illnesses.

· MAMH successfully advocated for an additional $500,000 in rental assistance for people with mental illnesses. This will provide the necessary assistance approximately 80 DMH clients to obtain housing.

(2) Preserving Access to Medications:

· MAMH secured through the Commonwealth’s budget, a continuation of the Commissioner of Mental Health’s oversight authority over any proposed restrictions on access to medications used in the treatment of mental illness.

(3) Health Care Expansion

· MAMH collaborated with other advocacy organizations and were successful in securing language in the Senate version of the health plan legislation which gives the DMH Commissioner approval authority over the behavioral health benefits; including policies, protocols, standards, contract specifications, utilization review and utilization management criteria and outcome measurements for organizations contracting with the Commonwealth under the MassHealth program.

(4) Mental Health Awareness and Educational Outreach:

· MAMH continued its work as the designated Massachusetts partner with the NIMH for its Outreach Partnership Program.

· Educational outreach to help individuals with mental illnesses understand the new Medicare Part D drug benefit and its impact on the dually eligible population (those who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (MassHealth)

Kids On Campus / Boston College Athletes Care:

· We expanded our work with the Edwards Middle School in Charlestown. What began as a summer program providing six (6) Boston College student-athletes to work as teaching assistants in the summer school program for youngsters failing math and/or English has expanded to provide academic assistance and mentoring for these youngsters during the academic year.

· We expect to further expand our educational collaboration with the Edwards School in 2007.

· MAMH Kids programs continue to receive critical financial support to carry out our activities from the Fuller Foundation, Bain Children’s Fund, the Yawkey Foundation, Filenes, and Boston College.

I am grateful to Jim Hooley for his leadership and the energy and commitment he has extended to MAMH during his first year as our volunteer President. I look forward to working with him, the other members of the board and all our volunteers in 2007.

Annual Financial Report - for Year Ending June 30, 2006

Revenue

United Way of Massachusetts Bay $117,563
Special Events/Grants 244,705
Chapters & Allied Agencies Dues 9,577
Individual Membership Dues 17,625
Investment Income (Net) 72,904
Specials Projects (Housing Network) 234,386
Gifts 20,000
Interest & other Income 21,987

Total Revenue $738,747.

Expenses

Program Services $447,231
Support Services:
Mgmt & General 84,486
Fund Raising 48,738

Total Expenses $580,455

Corporate & Other Contributors

Associated Industries of Massachusetts Magellan Health Services
Astra-Zeneca Mass. Behavioral Health Partnership
Bain Children's Fund Mass. General Hospital
BankNorth Garden MGH – Smart Choices
Beacon Health Strategies, LLC Mass. Hospital Association
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Mass. League of Community Health Centers
Bournewood Hospital Mass. Medical Society
Boston College Massachusetts Mentor
Boston University Psychiatric Associates Maureen Pompeo
Boston Medical Center McLean Hospital
Boston Red Sox Neighborhood Health Plan
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. Ortho-McNeil
Brigham & Women’s Hospital Partners HealthCare
Eli Lilly and Company Pfizer
Extell PhRMA
Faulkner Hospital Public Consulting Group
Filene's Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications
Finnegan, Underwood, Ryan & Tierney South Bay Mental Health Center, Inc.
Foley Hoag, LLP Technical Assistance Collaborative
GlaxoSmithKline The Fuller Foundation, Inc.
Gourmet Caterers Tufts-N.E. Medical Center, Dept. of Psychiatry
Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Tufts Health Plan
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care UMass. Medical
Hill Holliday Vinfen Corporation
INTELL Walden Behavioral Care
Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc Walter Channing Memorial Fund
Live Nation Work, Inc.
Yawkey Foundation