New York State
Office of Mental Health
Recipient Advisory
Committee (RAC)
General Facts
PURPOSE
The RAC is an advisory committee to the Commissioner of OMH
and assists the Bureau of Recipient Affairs in its mission to obtain
broad, grassroots input into how to foster activities that promote
recovery, growth and autonomy in environments that are
respectful of the rights and dignity of the individual. The
committee can also provide technical assistance and ongoing
support to recipient-run and self-help initiatives.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE
The Recipient Affairs Bureau and the Recipient Advisory
Committee work to attain meaningful recipient participation at all
levels of the mental health system.  The goals of self-help and
empowerment are reflected in the guiding principle of "Nothing
about us without us."

STRUCTURE
The Committee is comprised of current and former consumers,
survivors and ex-patients of mental health services from all five
OMH regions.  Recipient Affairs Specialists from the regional
offices serve as ex-officio members, and the Director of the
Bureau of Recipient Affairs staffs the committee.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Recipient Advisory Committee meets quarterly and meetings
are open to everyone.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF RAC MEMBERS
The general responsibilities of RAC members may include:

  • Disseminate factual information obtained from RAC meeting
  • Facilitate dialogue between OMH staff and recipients in local
    communities across the state
  • Represent recipient viewpoints on system issues
Serve as a liaison among grassroots groups with local mental
health departments
  • Review and comment on draft documents
  • Meet periodically with OMH staff for updates on current issues
  • Sit on task forces and committees that address mental health
    issues and new initiatives
  • Help to create opportunities for other recipients to speak for
    themselves

Please refer to the "RAC Policies and Procedures"
for more detailed information.

DUTIES OF RAC MEMBERS
The RAC shall have no executive, administrative or appointive
duties.

The committee shall have the power to consider any matter
relating to the improvement of the state mental health program
and shall advise the commissioner of mental hygiene on any
matter relating to the performance of their duties with relation to
persons with mental illness on policies, goals, budget and
operation of mental health services.

STATE PLANNING DUTIES
The committee shall assist the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene
with the development of state plans. To ensure the full use of
existing specialized and generic services in the community; to
ensure that all providers and appropriate local governmental
agencies are involved; and to ensure that local services to
individuals with mental illness and their families are readily
available and accessible, the committee shall periodically assess
the local planning process and make recommendations to the
Commissioner and to the Director of Recipient Affairs.

The committee shall assist the Director of Recipient Affairs in
creating and expanding networking opportunities for recipients
and recipient organizations across NYS.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
  • To be a Member, and individual must have
    demonstrated grassroots ties to other
    consumer/survivors within the region they represent

  • Members must be able to act as liaisons between
    people in their regions and the Office of Mental
    health by bringing information from their respective
    regions to the Recipient Affairs Committee, and to
    the Director of the Bureau of Recipient Affairs, and
    the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Health.
Members are expected to take back information
received at meetings to disseminate among people in
their region.

  • Members are selected for their experience with and
    knowledge of the mental health system and their
    willingness and ability to serve as a conduit for
    consumer/survivor/ex-patient input from their
    region.

  • Members will be appointed who represent and
    reflect the diversity of cultural, geographical and
    service populations around the state.
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