Office of Consumer and Family Affairs
The Office of Consumer & Family Affairs (OCFA) provides information, education and support for children and youth, families, adults and older adults who are dealing with the challenges of mental illness. Our goal is to facilitate consumer and family input into all aspects of the state-funded mental health system as well as the Bureau of Behavioral Health's planning and policy development. Consumer and family experience is invaluable in the identification of mental health care needs, planning and program development. Consumers and families can tell us what is working for them - and what isn't. Their window on reality will guide and ensure the quality of the services that we deliver. By recruiting, organizing and empowering consumers and families, the OCFA seeks to support them in establishing and maintaining strong input and mental health leadership on a local, regional, state and national level.
Established in 1990 as the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA), it was one of the first two such offices in the country. There are now offices in over thirty-seven states. The office was re-established in December 2007 as the Office of Consumer & Family Affairs.
Leadership and empowerment are gained through information and education – learning the skills to take charge of our own futures – to be active participants in our own treatment planning – to work together toward improving the mental health system. A first step is to be able to access informational resources. We have set up the OCFA Resource Center--a small library with a computer that provides easy access to resource materials as well as to the World Wide Web. Just outside the center is a bulletin board and resource table containing important notices and information. The library is open during ordinary business hours.
The OCFA newsletter is published quarterly and features articles and information of interest to adult and youth consumers, family members, and older adults. Contact Michael Bilson at mbilson@dhhs.state.nh.us or 1-800-852-3345, X5045 (TDD Relay 1-800-735-2964) to be added to our newsletter mailing list.
OCFA meets with consumer groups, visits peer support and community mental health centers, and listens to families. Please contact Marty Fuller, Director at mfuller@dhhs.state.nh.us or 1-800-852-3345, X5138 (TDD Relay 1-800-735-2964) to make suggestions or communicate ideas.
OCFA also works closely with the NH Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council, the PSA Directors' Association, the Mental Health and Aging Consumer Advisory Council, and the NH Mental Health Consumer Council.
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NH Peer Support Agencies
The Peer Support Agencies (PSAs) are located throughout New Hampshire. They are private not-for-profit agencies that have contracted with the NH Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Behavioral Health (BBH). Peer support agencies provide services to people with mental illness who are 18 years of age or older and self-identify as a recipient, former recipient, or as at significant risk of becoming a recipient of publicly funded mental health services.
Peer support services are provided by and for people with a mental illness and are designed to assist people with their recovery. Peer support consists of supportive interactions based on shared experience among people and are intended to assist people to understand their potential to achieve their personal goals. Interactions are based on trust, respect, and mutual support. Peer support agencies accomplish this by providing choice, using non-medical approaches to help, sharing decision making, encouraging informed decision making about all aspects of people's lives, challenging perceived self-limitations, etc.
Services include, but are not limited to: face-to-face and telephone peer support; outreach; monthly educational events; activities that promote self-advocacy; wellness training; after hours warm line; crisis respite (24 hours, short-term, non-medical crisis program).
| REGION I |
The Alternative Life Center(ALC)
Pat Tal, Director
486 White Mountain Highway, PO Box 241
Conway, NH 03818-0214
Telephone: (603) 447-1765
E-mail: alccenters@gmail.com |
The Alternative Life Center South
Robin Liakos, Team Leader
94 Center Street
Wolfeboro, NH 03896
Telephone: (603) 569-9121
E-mail: alcsouth@gmail.com |
Serenity Steps
Ellen Tavino Team Leader
567 Main Street
Berlin, NH 03896
Telephone: (603) 752-8111
E-mail serenitystepspsc@gmail.com |
The Haven
Mary-Ann Gilbert, Team Leader
27 Lombard Street
Colebrook, NH 03576
Telephone: (603) 237-4353
E-mail: colebrookhaven@gmail.com |
Littleton Peer Support
Laura Locke, Team Leader
46 Cottage Street
Littleton, NH 03561
Telephone: (603) 444-5344
E-mail: littletonpsc@gmail.com |
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| REGION II |
Stepping Stone
Judith Dolan , Executive Director
108 Pleasant Street
Claremont, NH 03743
Telephone: (603) 543-1388 or (888) 582-0920
E-mail: stepping_stone@myfairpoint.net |
Next Step
109 Bank Street
Lebanon, NH 03766
Telephone: (603) 448-6941 |
| REGION III & IV |
Lakes Region Consumer Advisory Board DBA Cornerbridge
David LaCroix , Director
328 Union Avenue
Laconia, NH 03247
Telephone: (603) 524-0801 or (800) 306-4334
E-mail: lrcab1@metrocast.net |
Cornerbridge Of Laconia
Linda Lamontagne,
Program Manager
328 Union Avenue
Laconia, NH 03247
Telephone: (603) 528-7742
E-mail: linda.cornerbridge@metrocast.net
Outreach is available in Plymouth, Franklin, and areas nearby. |
Concord Peer Support
Kimberly Drysdale, Program Manager
55 School Street
Concord, NH 03301
Telephone: (603) 228-0083 or (603) 224-0894
E-mail: cornerbridge@comcast.net |
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| REGION V |
Granite State Monarchs
Damien Licata, Director
64 Beaver Street
PO Box 258
Keene, NH 03431
Telephone: (603) 352-5093 or (866) 352-5093
E-mail: dlicata@gsmonarchs.org or
granitestatemonarchs@myfairpoint.net |
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| REGION VI |
HEARTS Peer Support Center of Greater Nashua
Ken Lewis, Director
5 Pine Street Extension Unit B
PO Box 1564
Nashua NH 03060
Telephone: (603) 882-8400
E-mail: hearts-psa@harborhomes.org |
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| REGION VII |
On The Road To Recovery
Warren Bouchard, Director
13 Orange Street
PO Box 1721
Manchester, NH 03105-1721
Telephone: (603) 623-4523 or (800) 306-4334
Transitional Housing: (603) 623-4523
E-mail: warren.b@otrtr.org |
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| REGION VIII |
Seacoast Consumer Alliance Peer Support Center, Inc.
Charlotte Duquette, Director
544 Islington Street
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Telephone: (603) 427-6966 or (877) 432-5433
E-mail: scallian@aol.com |
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| REGION IX |
Tri-City Consumers' Action Co-operative
Hilary Clarke, Director
36 Wakefield Street
Rochester, NH 03867-1929
Telephone: (603) 948-1043 or (603) 948-1036
E-mail: tricitycoop@metrocast.net |
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