Mental health day programs serve a very special and supportive role in the lives of individuals who live with mental illness. They change people’s entire concept of their diagnosis, and the life they are able to live after being diagnosed.

    Here, we incorporate the Georgia Consumer Council Recovery Principles (2001) into our daily services and activities. We uphold the philosophy that:

  • each individual is the director of his/her rehabilitation and recovery process;
  • there is value in self-help, peer support, and personal empowerment to foster recovery;
  • information about mental illness and coping skills must be promoted;
  • peer-to-peer training of individual skills, social skills, community resources, and group and individual advocacy must occur within the peer support center;
  • concepts of employment and education to foster self-determination and career advancement must be discussed and taught occur within the peer support center;
  • we (staff) support each individual to “get a life” using community resources to replace the resources of the mental health system no longer needed;
  • we (staff) support each individual to fully integrate into accepting communities in the least intrusive environment that promote housing of his/her choice; and
  • we (staff) actively seek ongoing consumer input into program and service content in order to meet each individual’s needs and goals and foster the recovery process on a continuous basis.

Empowerment Model

We empower peers in two ways: 1) by transferring power to them, and 2) encouraging and facilitating opportunities for them to take power. Likewise, we know that this transition and opportunity to operate in such a manner takes time. Therefore, our team of Certified Peers Specialists (CPS), Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioners (CPRP), and Mental Health Practitioners and Paraprofessionals (MHP) promotes an atmosphere conducive for peers to be self-directed. Daily, we work with peers to develop and implement skills necessary for them to live safe, independent, sound decision-making, and fulfilling lifestyles.

    To make good on our word, we illustrate our commitment in empowering others through offering the following daily experiences and activities:

  • Peers are able to attend classes that address the process of becoming a Certified Peer Specialist, preparation and application submittal process.
  • Elected Peers run the Genesis Advisory Board. They meet with their peers at large and follow up with a meeting with administration and clinical staff teams addressing specific issues.
  • Peers co-facilitate groups. We find this important as we assist them in developing leadership and advocacy skills.
  • Peers have the opportunity to work along with staff on special projects to help them gain vocational skills and build their resume.
  • Peers openly talk about their mental health and/or substance abuse diagnosis as it relates to life experiences, stressors, obstacles, recovery and hope while gaining support from other peers.
  • Peers attend groups that focus on navigating their own journey to wellness and/or staying well; seeking peer support and supporting other peers.
  • Peers receive information regarding mental health and coping skills with the opportunity to ask questions and share information.
  • Peers receive training in areas including social skills, community resources development, and advocacy, educational advancements, employment, housing options and integration into their own community.
  • Peers are able to speak up and use their voices; and expect support, reassurance and clarity in return.