What
Is Community Mental Health?What
Is Community Mental Health?
Newaygo
County Mental Health was first established in 1972. This was a time of
dramatic change with the idea that people living in state institutions would be
released to the community if the local mental health center would provide
counseling, foster care, medications, and regular monitoring. This agency
was very successful in accomplishing the goal of not
using state institutions.
At
Community Mental Health, all of us are responsible for treating every person,
without exception, with respect and compassion. We see it everyday
-
those triumphant moments when someone takes a step toward independence. Perhaps
the step is small, perhaps it is larger,
but
it is always magnificent.
And
every single time, the benefit achieved by the individual is also of benefit to
the community as a whole.
That's
what we do at Community Mental Health. We cultivate hope. The hope that someone
has when taking their first small step toward recovering from a mental illness.
We nurture dreams. The dream of much larger steps, toward becoming gainfully
employed or living independently. Simply
put, what Community Mental Health does is grow
human potential.
The CMH system is accountable to citizens through County Boards of Commissioners, which typically appoint a twelve-person CMH board. Our board establishes the policy direction for each program, consistent with state and federal law, standards and guidelines. Furthermore, at least 1/3 of each board’s membership is comprised of consumers.
Who do we serve?
Carol,
an independent minded young woman, would love nothing more than to move out of
her mother's home and into her own place.
With
a broad smile, John will describe with enthusiasm what he's done to seek
employment. John wants to work outdoors, even if the work is hard.
Mike,
on the other hand, enjoys socializing while playing board games. Mike looks
forward to the rest and relaxation he's discovered at the local drop-in
center.
These
descriptions paint a portrait of who is served by Community Mental Health. We
serve people who want to live, work and play in our community
- just
like you. They have hopes, dreams, desires and expectations - along with the
added challenge of a mental illness or developmental disability.
CMH serves persons with:
