ADVOCACY
Since very beginning we were paying a lot attention
on human rights and legal issues in the field of mental health. Activists
of organization - mostly users and ex-users of the services and family
members - were trained as advocates by foreign trainees. Armenian Mental
Health Foundation participated in differetn regional training events
and training.
Advocacy training project
In 1998-1999 US based Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI)
organization held advocacy training for representatives of different
non-governmental organizations. Leading trainer was Elisabeth Bauer,
Director of Michigan State Advocacy Service, USA. Users from Vanadzor,
as well our advocates from Yerevan were interested in learning more
about advocacy on behalf of the community integration of children and
adults with disabilities. Participants could potentially become trainers
themselves and were people willing to make such a commitment of their
time and energies. The training program provided people with exposure
to many of the kinds of programs, including models for integrated education,
employment, health care and housing, community-based health and welfare
support services. In total six activists of our organization participated
in that training program.
Study Tour to USA of representatives of advocacy organizations
In 1998 Armenian Mental Health Foundation jointly with Mental Disability
Rights International organized study tour of representatives of different
Armenian NGOs to United States. This project was sponsored by Open Society
Institute Assistance Foundation. During a tour two groups of representatives
of four Armenian NGO-s get acquainted with mental health services in
East Coast of United States,particularly in Washington, D.C., Upstate
New York and Western Massachusetts. In Washington, D.C. our representatives
visited one of the oldest psychiatric hospital of the country - St Elizabeth’s
hospital, famous Green Door Supported Employment Center and Bazelon
Center for Mental Health Law in Washington. They have had a possibility
to visit rural area mental health services in Berkshire County. Transition
Day Center staff welcomed the delegation with National Flag and National
Anthem of Armenia. On September 11,1998 president of Armenian Mental
Health Foundation Dr.Arman Vardanyan made a panel presentation at Fordham
University in New York City, NY. Everywhere, Americans warmly welcomed
their Armenian colleagues. This was the first such kind of study tour
to United States.
Caucasus Regional Advocacy Training
In November 2000 Armenian Mental Health Foundation was invited to participate
in Caucasian Reginal Training event organized by Hamlet Trust. Event
was held in Tbilisi, Georgia. Georgian Mental Health Association, Caspian
Mental Health Association along with us gained a lot of practical experinece
of that event. One of the important outcomes of that event was further
strenghtening of links between British and Caucasian partners.
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