Outreach Partners Selected in 2007
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) expands its Outreach Partnership Program (OPP), selecting three new Partners via a competitive selection process. 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 will enlist a second Partner in California, New York, and Texas. To initiate the planned expansion, the Program recently selected new Partners in New York City and the Texas Border Region. A third new Partner was selected to fill the partner vacancy in the state of Virginia. The Outreach Partnership Program plans to continue its expansion by soliciting for a second Partner in California, as well as a new Partner in Puerto Rico.
The new Outreach Partners are:
| Region | Organization |
|---|---|
| New York City | Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc. |
| Texas Border Region | East Texas Area Health Education Center in partnership with the South Texas Area Health Education Center and the West Texas Area Health Education Center |
| Virginia | NAMI Virginia |
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 55 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.
