MISSION

The mission of the Mental Hygiene Administration is to promote recovery, resiliency, and health for individuals who have emotional or psychiatric disorders, through publicly-funded services and supports.

THE VISION

There will be a comprehensive and accessible array of coordinated age-appropriate, culturally sensitive public and private services that focus on treatment, behavioral health, support, recovery, and resilience.  These services will be developed in collaboration with stakeholders to help empower individuals with mental illnesses to attain the highest level of participation in community life, while striving to achieve their fullest potential.

The vision of our public mental health system is drawn from a statement of fundamental values. The values underpinning this system are:

BASIC PERSONAL RIGHTS

Persons with psychiatric disabilities have the same rights and obligations as other citizens of the state.  Consumers have the right to choice, to retain the fullest possible control over their own lives, and to have opportunities to be involved in their communities.

RESPONSIVE SYSTEM

The Public Mental Health System must be responsive to the people it serves, coherently organized, and accessible to those individuals needing mental health care.  Information must be readily available for individuals to enter and proceed through the system in a more appropriate and timely manner and the Public Mental Health System must be linked to other systems as needed to allow for continuity of care.  The hospital is one part of the community-based mental health system.  The Public Mental Health System must collaborate with other public and private human health service systems in order to facilitate support with all activities of life.

EMPOWERMENT

Consumers and families will be involved in decision-making processes, individually at the treatment level and collectively in the planning and operational aspects of the mental health system.  An array of services and programs must be available to allow for consumer choice in obtaining and using necessary services.  Relevant programs and services that recognize varying cultural, ethnic, and racial needs are imperative.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

We must provide families with the assistance they need in order to maintain or enhance the support they give to their family members.  We will strive to provide services to persons within their communities with the availability of natural/family supports. 

LEAST RESTRICTIVE SETTING

An array of services will be available throughout the state to meet a variety of consumer needs.  These services should be provided in the least restrictive, most normative, and most appropriate setting.

WORKING COLLABORATIVELY

Collaborations with other agencies at the state and local level will be fostered so support to consumers is inclusive of all activities of life.  This will promote a consistently acceptable level of mental health services.

EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountability is essential to consistently provide an acceptable level of mental health services.  Essential management functions include monitoring and self-evaluation, responding rapidly to identified weaknesses in the system, adapting to changing needs, and improving technology.  We must put the highest priority on measuring consumer satisfaction with the services they receive.  Outcome measures will be a key component for evaluating program effectiveness.

LOCAL GOVERNANCE

Local management of resources, resulting from the implementation of Core Service Agencies, will improve continuity of care, provide needed services in a timelier manner, improve the congruence of services and resources with needs, and increase economic efficiency due to the closer proximity of the service delivery level.

STAFF RESOURCES

The presence of a competent and committed staff is essential for the provision of an acceptable level of mental health services.  Staff must be provided with adequate support systems and incentives to enable them to focus their efforts on the individuals who receive care from them.  Opportunities must be provided for skill enhancement training or retraining as changes in the service system take place.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Early identification and prevention activities for risk groups of all ages, public education, and efforts that support families and communities must be incorporated into our service system.  Increased acceptance and support for mental health services comes from increased awareness and understanding of psychiatric disorders and treatment options.