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ADS Center

ADS Center LogoThe 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 newly redesigned website (as of October 2007) 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 now organized by both topic and audience to help users quickly navigate to items that meet their needs.

Teleconferences

The ADS Center invites you to participate in free training teleconferences, which can be found at: http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/teleconferences/default.aspx  From that page you can access and listen to archives of the 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 Training section of the SAMHSA ADS Center web site, http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/, or contact a technical assistance representative by e-mail at promoteacceptance@samhsa.hhs.gov or by telephone at 1-800-540-0320. Please note: teleconference registration closes at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the day prior to each training event.


Campaigns
The SAMHSA ADS Center Web site supports SAMHSA’s Campaign for Mental Health Recovery (CMHR) (formerly known as the National Anti-Stigma Campaign).  The name change reflects a strengths-based, affirming approach to mental health recovery, and avoids reinforcing negative attitudes, behaviors and beliefs. CMHR was developed in collaboration with the Ad Council and launched in December 2006.  The “What a Difference a Friend Makes” campaign aims to encourage, educate, and inspire people between the ages of 18 and 25 to support their friends who are experiencing mental health problems. 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.
For more information, visit the redesigned ADS Center Web site at http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/.

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the nation’s substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health services delivery systems.