...taking charge together

	News to Note...
	Project Return Peer Support Network remembers director Bill Compton, who passed away in August.  Among remembrances, Mental Health America called him a “giant in the mental health movement in America.”

Introduction

Project Return Peer Support Network is Los Angeles County’s oldest program run by and for people with mental illness. With the motto of “taking charge together,” PRPSN offers peer-to-peer support to help individuals reach their personal goals, such as living independently, going to school, getting a job, having friends and enjoying life in the community.

As one of MHA’s service models, PRPSN demonstrates that self-help is a valuable part of recovery from mental illness. It shows the benefits of helping people with mental illness build a base of support among their peers – to share goals, conquer fears, celebrate successes – and the importance of having self-help programs as an integral part of mental health systems.

PRPSN recognizes that recovery is a real and reachable goal for people with mental illness. It believes that people are not defined by their illness; they should be recognized for their skills and be encouraged to develop their abilities. This belief is reflected in all of its programs.

Services

		Peer Support Clubs PRPSN’ network of more than 100 self-help clubs stretches across Los Angeles County to make peer support within easy reach of interested individuals. The clubs meet weekly for discussion, friendship and social activities. Its network includes clubs that are tailored to bilingual individuals, young adults, and people who have both mental illness and substance abuse problems.
		Wellness Centers The Wellness Centers blend physical and mental health care strategies to help individuals achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles. Located in South Los Angeles and Long Beach, our centers offer awareness classes on living with health conditions, sponsor support groups to help individuals build a peer network, provide goal-oriented counseling and train individuals to become peer supporters.
		Discovery Center Located in the Antelope Valley area of Los Angeles County, this center offers opportunities to discover new skills, new friends and new activities in the community. It has life and work skills training classes, a variety of recovery group meetings, a computer room and a resource library.
		Friendship Line This is Los Angeles County’s only telephone help line run by and for people with mental illness. Using a toll-free number, the Friendship Line operates 365 days a year and is available weekday evenings plus has daytime hours on weekends and holidays. It offers peer-to-peer support and information about mental health resources, with the capability to make a connection to crisis lines. Its toll-free number is 888-448-9777.
		Employment PRPSN believes that jobs are crucial to recovery and helps its club member s grow toward greater self-sufficiency by employing people with mental illness. Its club aide positions are a training ground for individuals to learn leadership skills, gain work experience and develop self-confidence. It provides a career ladder to PRPSN region and office positions and is the stepping stone to jobs within the community at large.
		Community Involvement To help its club and center members be more active in the community, PRPSN organizes large events. PRPSN offers a range of low-cost camping, concert, sporting event and theater excursions to meet different interests and to encourage its members to explore new hobbies.
		Gifts for Giving Each December, PRPSN sponsors a holiday program for people with mental illness. Staff and volunteers collect donations of gifts and cash contributions. We host holiday parties across Los Angeles County, and along with enjoying food and festivities, individuals choose a gift to keep or share with a loved one.
		Advocacy PRPSN encourages its members to serve on advisory boards, testify before elected officials and speak to college classes. This helps create a cadre of advocates to articulate a recovery message to a larger audience.
		Training As another way to empower people with mental illness, PRPSN provides training. It has a new training course for individuals who are interested in working as peer supporters in the mental health field. Other training topics include advanced health care directives, which are documents for expressing choices about treatment when individuals are unable to make decisions; communication skills for self-advocacy; stress management; and recovery.

Honors

PRPSN is our latest program to earn distinction as a “Partners in CARE” (Community Access to Recovery and Empowerment) model, a National Mental Health Association initiative to spread successful ways of serving people with mental illness. The Friendship Line was honored at Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s 2001 “Service Innovation Festival.”

Our staff have received recognition for their work in the self-help movement. PRPSN’ director was honored with Eli Lilly’s Moving Ahead Award in 2003 for mentoring people with mental illness. He was named 2002 Consumer Advocate of the Year by the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. In 2001, he received the Clifford Beers Award, the highest honor given by the National Mental Health Association. PRPSN’ associate director was honored as 2004 Consumer Advocate by the Los Angeles County Mental Health Commission.

Funding

Project Return Peer Support Network receives funding from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, complemented by support for special projects. Special activities, such as Gifts for Giving and an annual awards picnic for our club members, rely on the gifts of individuals and the business community.

Contact Us

All of PRPSN’ services are free of charge. We invite interested individuals to join a club, call the Friendship Line, come to a Wellness or Discovery Center, or attend a training.

You may contact PRPSN at 6055 Washington Blvd, Suite 900, Commerce, California 90040. Its phone number is 323-346-0960. To reach the Friendship Line, call 888-448-9777 from 6 to 10 p.m. on weeknights and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and holidays.