WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and, Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health - the ADS Center.  This program and its Web site assists organizations in battling stigma through informational brochures, teleconferences, and trainings.  It also provides practical assistance in designing and implementing anti-stigma and anti-discrimination initiatives by gathering and maintaining best practice information, policies, research, practices, and programs to counter stigma and discrimination; and actively disseminating anti-stigma/anti-discrimination information and practices to individuals, States and local communities, and public and private organizations.  Content on the website is organized by both topic and audience.

Teleconferences
The ADS Center invites you to participate in free training teleconferences.  Past trainings include "Funding Anti-Stigma Efforts" and "Art Works! Using the Arts to Counter Stigma and Discrimination."  For additional teleconference information, please refer to the ADS Center web site or contact a technical assistance representative by e-mail at promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov or by telephone at 1-800-540-0320.

Campaigns
The ADS Center Web site supports the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery (CMHR), which was was developed in collaboration with the Ad Council and launched in December 2006.  The reference could be WI participated as one of eight states in a former SAMHSA, CMHS anti-stigma project, called the Elimination of Barriers Initiative (EBI). Current anti-stigma efforts also continue through the ADS Center (Acceptance, Dignity, and Social Acceptance) with a focus on the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery (CMHR)

The ADS Center has conducted teleconference training events and provided online materials designed specifically for people working on campaign-related activities. The ADS Center Web site also is home to materials for campaign grant applicants and helps individuals and groups to connect with the campaign.

History
Since its original launch in 2003, the ADS Center Web site has offered materials, information and resources to help individuals and organizations counter discrimination and stigma associated with mental illness. The ADS Center Web site will continue to include:

• Information on upcoming training teleconferences that are free of charge and open to the public.
• Descriptions of effective campaigns and programs working in communities across the country and around the world.
• Resources that meet the needs of specific audiences such as consumers, health care providers, older adults, faith leaders, policymakers and the media.