NIMH Expands its Outreach
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) continues expansion of its Outreach Partnership Program (OPP), selecting a new Partner to serve Southern California. The new Outreach Partner is: The Latino Behavioral Health Initiative (LBHI). OPP is a national outreach and education initiative that enlists one organization in each state, including the District of Columbia. In recognition of the growing size and diversity of certain regional populations, the Program has been recently added Partners in New York, Texas, and California. The Outreach Partnership Program plans to continue its expansion by soliciting for a new Partner in Puerto Rico.
Visit the Outreach Partners page for a complete list of current partners.
Outreach Partners work to increase public awareness of the critical role research plays in expanding the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders. Each Partner conducts a statewide mental health outreach and education program to deliver science-based messages to the public, a broad range of health professionals, and traditionally underserved populations. Partners also collaborate with universities and other research institutions to increase opportunities for volunteer participation in NIMH and NIH sponsored clinical studies.
The Program now has 52 state partner positions, including three vacancies. In addition to the state Outreach Partners, there are also over 80 National Partners, including professional, consumer, advocacy, and service-related organizations that represent groups primarily concerned with mental health, alcoholism, and drug abuse disorders. The Partnership is an initiative of the NIMH with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The NIMH provides Outreach Partners with research updates, opportunities to network with state and national organizations at the OPP’s annual meeting and other regional meetings, access to NIMH educational publications, and a small annual stipend. For more information, visit the NIMH Outreach Partnership Program Web page.
