On Our Own Together-Peer Programs For People With Mental Illness

Sally Clay has been a leader in the mental health consumer / survivor movement for over twenty years. Instrumental in founding three consumer-run organizations, she worked as a therapist for Windhorse Associates, an alternative treatment program, and was a founder of Altered States of the Arts.

• Part I. Introduction and Background; 1. About Us: What We Have in Common Sally Clay; 2. The Historical and Philosophical Development of Peer-run Programs Jean Campbell; Part II. Drop-In Centers; 3. Mental Health Client Action Network (MHCAN) - Santa Cruz, California Bonnie Schell; 4. Portland Coalition for the Psychiatrically Labeled - Portland Maine Janine Elkanich; 5. The St. Louis Empowerment Center - St. Louis, Missouri Helen Minth; 6. The PEER Center, Inc. - Oakland Park, Florida Compiled by Bonnie Schell, Nancy Erwin, PEER Center directors and staff; Part III. Peer Support and Mentoring Services; 7. GROW in Illinois Con Keogh, Lorraine Keck, Joan Baynes, and Carol Mussey; 8. Friends Connection - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jeanie Whitecraft, Terrance Means, James Scott Bill Burns-Lynch,; Joseph Rogers, and Mark S. Salzer; Part IV. Educational Programs; 9. Advocacy Unlimited Inc. - Connecticut Yvette Sangster; 10. BRIDGES - Tennessee Louetta Hix; Part V. Conclusion; 11. Common Ingredients as a Fidelity Measure Matthew Johnsen, Gregory Teague, and Elizabeth McDonel Herr; 12. With Us: Where are We Going? Sally Clay, Bonnie Schell, Pat Corrigan, and Jean Campbell

"This is a book like no other. While it contains most all the knowledge one would need to develop successful peer programs, it also addresses the philosophy, values, and passion one needs to do it. The various examples of peer programs weave together to tell the larger story of how and why peer programs do work." - William A. Anthony, Director Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University; "On Our Own, Together is an important book providing us with an understanding of the philosophy, work and healing power of peer-run programs. Rising up from the lived experience of people diagnosed with major mental disorders, these peer programs have evolved over decades. Sally Clay and her co-authors teach us about the principles and practices that form the common ground for all these programs while also highlighting some of the differences between them." - Patricia E. Deegan, Ph.D."