In the Community

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences’ program for community engagement will include the identification and engagement of representatives from various mental health and substance abuse community-based organizations, as well as other community leaders, community clinicians, government officials, and members of the community at-large.

Our aim is to create an effective two-way dialogue and to develop an infrastructure that allows individuals working on the ‘front lines’ across our community to voice suggestions and concerns – and, at the same time, learn what the department has to offer.

We are currently developing the following components for engaging the community:

• Regular meetings with community leaders
• Ongoing focus groups of varying age and ethnicity
• In-depth interviews about attitudes and beliefs regarding mental health
• Open forums with the public at-large
• Create a Community Advisory Board whose first task will be to develop a task force on homelessness and mental illness

If you are interested in being part of our Community Advisory Board Committee, or wish to share your experiences or suggestions with us, please contact 305-243-6400.

We fully support the following recommendations from the NIH Director’s Council of Public Representatives (http://copr.nih.gov/about.asp) and will integrate them in every aspect of our work.