title: A citizens' coalition in mental health advocacy: the Maryland experience.
abstract: In July 1983 four statewide Maryland citizens' organizations formed a coalition to advocate for persons with mental illnesses. The groups were the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Maryland; On Our Own of Maryland, a state-wide consumer group; the Maryland Association of Psychosocial Services, representing consumers and providers of rehabilitative services; and the Mental Health Association of Maryland. The chief focus of their advocacy is on making a place in the community for citizens with long-term mental illness. The coalition's rules are simple: to advocate jointly on issues on which they all agree and to not mention their disagreements in public. With a paid lobbyist, the coalition's advocacy has helped produce significant financial and programmatic gains for Maryland's mentally ill citizens.
authors.affiliation: Way Station, Inc., Frederick, Maryland.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cromwell
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Rear
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003255:Consumer Organizations / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D006265:Health Care Coalitions; D006288:Health Planning Organizations; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008119:Lobbying; D008396:Maryland; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000639:trends*