Consumer Services

Peer Outreach Support Teams (POST)
Peer Support is not a new concept.  The field of addictions introduced the concept of integrating peer workers into the service delivery team.  This concept formally expanded to the mental health field during the 1980's when mental health consumers began demonstrating the value of the peer worker’s input in programming, support services, and policy development.  NJ consumers began working and volunteering throughout the state.

The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County [MHAAC] has a long history of creating job opportunities for consumers of mental health services, who are people who have themselves experienced mental illness.  In 1986, the first Peer Outreach Support Team was created, by consumers working with MHAAC.  This program employs trained staff, who provides outreach services to those unwilling, unable, or unmotivated to leave their homes.  They also provide in-home peer counseling to consumers in crises and assist them on their road to recovery.  Home visits and referrals mimic existing professional services with a twist, peers helping peers. 

The purpose of a Peer Outreach Support Team is to work towards addressing the needs of an increasing number of consumers who lack the resources, knowledge or skills needed to the make those next steps on their road to recovery.  Peers offer other mental health consumers assistance in linking to concrete services, advocate with consumers on both an individual and systems level, and serve as role models. 

The Atlantic County POST staff gained a reputation for providing services to consumers needing assistance, which enable them to remain in the community. There is an increasing number of consumers being referred who do not meet the criteria for PACT or ICMS.  However these referrals do need some concrete services.  Many of these referrals need short-term interventions to stabilize a current crisis or to overcome a roadblock, while the smaller number are in need of more intense long term services. 

Peers who currently work on the POST teams have demonstrated that, they are sometimes better able to engage consumers in services, due to their knowledge of the mental health system from a consumer perspective.  Peer staff allow consumers to see that mental illnesses are cyclical, that consumers are capable of doing things that in the past were only within the scope of the “professional,” and that having a mental illness does not diminish their ability to do a job.  This is empowering for consumers who have not worked or are not in the workforce.  Providing consumers with positive role models is a real advantage of a POST program.  

For more information contact Jaime Angelini, 609-652-3800 ext. 308, jangelini@mhanj.org 

ICE Wellness Programs
The purpose of our Wellness Programs is to provide an environment of support and empowerment that promotes wellness and recovery. Mental health recovery is a journey of healing and transformation enabling a person with a mental health problem to live a meaningful life in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve his or her full potential. For more information on the programs offered through ICE, please contact: Carolyn Quinn, Wellness Program Manager at 609-652-3800 ext. 303 cquinn@mhanj.org 

Individuals Concerted in Effort (ICE) began in 1983..Our current programs offer a variety of recreational activities, self help groups, individual advocacy and education/training in several areas. Our programs currently meet at a variety of sites throughout Atlantic County, please visit our suport groups page on this website for our monthly calendar. 

Boarding Home Outreach
The Boarding Home Outreach Program provides services to over 200 persons with mental illness living in Atlantic County’s Boarding Homes and Residential Health Care Facilities. A team of peer helpers schedule visits to each home in order to explain the social and recreational services being offered by the program in conjunction with the ICE Wellness Programs.

Trained BHO staff work to encourage residents to take advantage of these social and recreational opportunities.  Often times it is an encouraging word that may help someone decide to participate. Schedules for in house and out of house activities are arranged with each Boarding Home. 

During the year special trips are arranged such as visits to local cultural events, attendance at sporting events etc.. When these events are scheduled, the Wellness Program staff to arrange pick up points for the buses that are used for transportation.
For more information contact Jaime Angelini, 609-652-3800 ext. 308, jangelini@mhanj.org 

Family Services

Intensive Family Support Services 
Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) is a county-wide support program, administered by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County for families of relatives with mental illness. Throughout NJ many families take an active role in care for a relative who has mental illness. This can be an especially difficult and challenging task.  IFSS provides tangible coping skills to address these challenges. IFSS is open to all Atlantic County families with a relative with mental illness; the family member does not have to be in treatment for the family to receive services. IFSS was designed with extensive input and assistance from families caring for relatives with a long history of serious mental illness.

When your loved one is diagnosed with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression or bi-polar disorder, finding appropriate medical and psychiatric care is your first priority. But once treatment begins, you and your family member soon discover that the illness affects many aspects of life and you need more than medical help.

IFSS is a comprehensive program of supportive services and activities designed to assist families with a mentally ill relative.
Services available:

• Bi-Monthly Support Groups: Members of families coping with mental illness meet together with a mental health professional for mutual support and information exchange.
• Individual Family Consultation: Family members meet with a mental health professional to develop strategies for coping more effectively with problems resulting from their relative's illness. 
• Respite Care: Families are offered opportunities to have a break from the responsibilities of care taking.  
• Psycho-Educational Series: Informal programs provide up-to-date information about mental illness and treatment options and also teach skills that enable caregivers to better manage their loved one's illness and improve the functioning of the family. 
• Advocacy:  Family members learn effective ways to obtain and maximize available resources. 
• Referral & Linkage: IFSS staff assist families in locating additional relevant programs and services. 
• Transportation: IFSS staff provide transportation to families to group, to Ancora to visit a loved one, to other provider agencies for family meetings or to public entitlements providers to assist in securing benefits.     

For more information and to begin participation, email Christine Miller cmiller@mhanj.org 609-652-3800 ext. 301

Acute Care Family Program
Acute Care On-Call Phone Number: 609-517-8614
The Acute Care Family Program is the newest edition in services to families.  Program staff assists families while their family member is in crisis and receiving services from the acute care system.  Staff meets with families, who are often experiencing the mental health system for the first time.  They educate the families about the illness and the system and help them navigate their way towards the help their loved one needs.

For more information and to begin participation, email Christine Miller cmiller@mhanj.org 609-652-3800 ext. 301