We try to have our Annual Meetings at a local affiliated consumer group. It gives attendees the opportunity to visit a consumer-operated center and highlight the important role that consumer-run support services provide throughout Maryland. Members of the various groups took time to celebrate accomplishments during the past year and to share plans for the coming year.
We were very fortunate to have as guest speakers Rick Rock, Executive Director of the Washington County Mental Health Authority and Ethel Nemcek, Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Advocates. Rick and Ethel gave an overview of the new pilot project on Self-Directed Care for Mental Health Consumers being implemented in Washington County. Rick presented his views on how this project will help give consumers more control over the services they receive and make consumers more of an equal partner in the mental health service paradigm. Ethel and the Office of Consumer Advocates are implementing this pilot project.
We also had a presentation by Kay Bhagat, Staff Attorney with the Maryland Disability Law Center. Ms. Bhagat gave an overview of potential legislation which would make it easier to force medicate people who are involuntarily committed to psychiatric hospitals and gave ideas on how the consumer movement and legal advocates might oppose such a move.
On Our Own of Maryland extends a big thank you to Ethel and the folks with the Office of Consumer Advocates and Soul Haven for hosting our annual meeting. It was fun meeting old friends and making new ones and learning about the new Self-Directed Care project.