Office of Consumer Affairs
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Mission
The Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) of The New York City Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH), Division of Mental Hygiene, responds
directly to consumers needs in three distinct disability areas: mental health,
mental retardation / developmental disabilities and chemical dependency. OCA has
a dual mission: (1) To ensure that consumer voices and perspectives are heard
and integrated at all levels of the DOHMH’s Division of Mental Hygiene and (2)
To empower consumers through education and exposure to resources. Furthermore,
we are working towards incorporating recovery principles and practices into the
City’s mental health system, including the Division of Mental Hygiene. For more
information on recovery, click here.
Every individual deserves the opportunity to fulfill his or her potential no
matter what their disability and the OCA makes every effort to educate consumers
about their rights, but also to advocate on their behalf. Likewise, the OCA
informs service systems and departmental operations of the practical needs
facing our community.
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Roles and Functions
We partner with the consumer community and it is their direct input that
informs our choices about where to apply energy, resources and innovative
programming. Some of the ways in which we serve the community are by providing
the following:
- User-friendly, consumer-oriented information and referrals
- Internet access and use of our library
- Scholarships for attendance at conferences and seminars
- Leadership skills development
- Public speakers at forums and special events
- An art gallery with annual exhibitions displaying works by consumer
artists
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Recovery
Recovery as it applies to people with psychiatric disabilities, “is a
process, sometimes lifelong, through which a consumer achieves independence,
self-esteem and a meaningful life in the community.” (Power and Manderscheid).
The NYC mental health services system has begun to support recovery for mental
health consumers. DMH is pursuing opportunities within New York City to promote
a more recovery-oriented mental health system in the following ways:
- Educating DMH staff and mental health community stakeholders on
recovery-oriented principles and practices
- Incorporating recovery in the local governmental plan by including input
from both consumers (a key element) and family members
- Gathering data directly from consumers to inform DMH decisions on how to
improve mental health services. Consumers participate in Quality IMPACT
workgroups that develop new quality improvement initiatives, and complete
perception of care surveys that drive quality improvement efforts
- Designing and implementing a Recovery Pilot Project that will incorporate
peer recovery facilitators into the programmatic staff of two selected
continuing day treatment programs (CDTs) to promote recovery-oriented services
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Contact Information
We maintain an open atmosphere and welcome your inquiries and comments.
Please feel free to contact us to make an appointment, to view our library or
art gallery, or simply say hello. If you have concerns or requests for further
information, please contact us by telephone at 212-219-5393 or by e-mail at:
bfoster@health.nyc.gov.
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