Mental Health Association

Annual Report

2006

improvingmental

healthfor years60

of San Francisco

The Mental Health Association of San Francisco (MHA-SF) is dedicated to improving the mental health of residents in the diverse communities of San Francisco through education, advocacy, research, and service. In all its programs, MHA-SF works together with people and families challenged by mental illness and with the agencies that serve them to promote prevention, access to services, leadership, and independence.

The Mental Health Association of San Francisco envisions a just, humane, and healthy community where, free from stigma and prejudice, all people are accorded respect, dignity, and the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

our vision

The impact of mental illness is particularly great on people of lower incomes, especially those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. MHA-SF programs particularly target the needs of the tens of thousands of San Franciscans living near or below poverty level and those who cannot access the mental health services they need.

mission

Proud graduates of this year’s Tenant Leadership Training

In 2007 the Mental Health Association of San Francisco will mark 60 years of service. Much in our field has changed since our founding. Today institutionalization is no longer the primary treatment option for mental illness. Decades of research and experience have shown that people can recover from mental illness, especially with community support and by developing skills that lead to their own recovery. During this time, MHA-SF has continued to adapt and to serve. We focus on high-impact systems change and leadership development, influencing the availability and disbursement of millions of government dollars which touch the lives of thousands.

What will never change is our commitment to bettering the lives of those affected by mental illness and improving the health of our community. Even today, stigma, poverty and lack of quality treatment prohibit many from obtaining effective care. We aim to increase access to mental health services by using the valuable knowledge and first-hand experience of people affected by mental illness and their families.

Over the past year, we have seen success on many fronts. MHA-SF directly served more than 2,000 San Franciscans affected by mental illness, and our work impacted thousands of others. Our Tenant Leadership Training built the skills of marginally housed individuals. Our efforts on the “No on Proposition D” campaign successfully fought discrimination against people with psychiatric disabilities. Our community outreach and advocacy work with city and state officials ensured that those most affected by mental health policy are heard and valued. We are also proud to have received the National Mental Health Association’s 2006 “Innovation in Programming” award for our Hoarding and Cluttering Project. None of this work would have been possible without your support. Thank you to the many individuals, businesses and foundations who have made our achievements possible. With your partnership, our outlook for our anniversary year and beyond is even brighter. We will continue and expand our leadership trainings, build skills among those affected by mental illness, lead and participate in important policy discussions, and continue to positively impact mental health policy in San Francisco. Our constant goal is to realize that future day when all people with mental illness are treated with dignity and compassion and have access to the care they need and deserve. I hope you will all join us to celebrate this vision at our 60th Anniversary Luncheon in May 2007!

Belinda LyonsExecutive Director

from the executive director

MHA-SF’s Education and Training programs include trainings for people with mental illness and mental health providers, support groups, and educational events for the public.

We believe in improving mental health through active community building; people’s mental health cannot be seen in isolation but must be viewed as part of the larger society.

community

highlightsprogram

Education and Training

Programs include:

Information & Referrals: MHA-SF offered resources and referrals for mental health services by telephone to 300 callers this year.

Health and Wellness Action Advocates: This monthly gathering of people with mental illness is an interactive advocacy group dedicated to improving housing and mental health services for all people with psychiatric disabilities in San Francisco. Twenty-seven people participated as advocates this year.

Training for Advocacy—Skills—Connections (TASC): This five-week class provides leadership training for men and women who have been personally challenged by mental illness. This year TASC trained twenty-four participants to speak about their experience and reduce stigma by providing workshops on public speaking, city and county political structures, and community organizing.

Tenant Leadership Training Program: This seven-week skills-building training series provides formerly homeless tenants living in supportive housing with the leadership and community organizing skills they need to improve the quality of life in their communities. Thirty-three people participated in this program this year.

“I have learned a lot from this training; I hope to serve on the Mental Health Board. I could have never been involved without this training.”TASC Participant

Policy & AdvocacyMHA-SF’s Policy and Advocacy efforts include representing the needs of people with mental illness at local policy meetings, organizing people with mental illness to advocate for mental health reform, participating in city policy committees, and coordinating collaborative coalition groups. Programs include:

Public Policy Committee: This group identifies and monitors local mental health issues and leads efforts to advocate for implementation of recommended policies.

Community Organizing and Outreach: MHA-SF organizes people with mental illness and their families as well as other community members to speak out at public hearings and provide testimony about mental health needs in the community.

MHA-SF partnered with local organizations serving the Latino community to provide a day long outreach event, engaging this underserved community and providing an opportunity for dialogue about mental health needs among the Latino population. Sixty-five people attended.

In May, MHA-SF organized eight San Franciscans with mental illness to take part in MHA-California’s Mental Health Advocacy Day in Sacramento. Participants met with legislators to raise awareness about mental health.

Throughout the year MHA-SF organized community involvement in our city’s Mental Health Services Act implementation process. We organized more than 180 people to speak at public hearings and outreached to thousands in churches, schools, community centers, and mental health programs.

Advocacy: With input from our constituents and ongoing collaborative meetings with public health officials, we provide ongoing policy briefs and advocacy papers to Department of Public Health officials and the community with our recommendations for improvements to San Francisco’s mental health system.

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Supportive Housing Network: This monthly gathering of support service staff, property management, and tenant leaders strives to create innovative solutions to issues facing the supportive housing community. Forty-six people participated in this network and thousands of formerly homeless tenants benefitted from this project.

Hoarding and Cluttering Project: This unique Bay Area program addresses compulsive hoarding. Over 300 participants at this year’s conference learned the latest research about this disorder and shared strategies to address the problem. Thirty-seven men and women also participated in a bi-monthly Hoarding and Cluttering Support Group.

help make a positive change today

Your contributions to the Mental Health Association of San Francisco are key to fulfilling our mission. Together we are improving the mental health of individuals and families living in San Francisco’s diverse communities.

Your generosity is vital to support our efforts to improve the mental health of individuals and families living in our community.

generosity

Donations Mail or PhoneSend your check, or call or mail your credit card information to MHA-SF. Our address and phone number are listed on the next page.

OnlineVisit www.mha-sf.org to donate online by credit card.

Matching GiftsDouble or even triple your gift! Ask your employer if your company will match gifts, then return your employer’s form with your donation.

Stock Gifts of appreciated stock can provide you with valuable tax savings. Please contact us to transfer gifts of stock.

Memorial Gifts A donation in honor or remembrance of a friend or loved one makes a special personal tribute. When you make a donation, please tell us the name of the person the gift is honoring and we will notify the individual or family.

Legacy Gifts Remember the Mental Health Association of San Francisco in your will, life insurance policy or retirement plan to give your gift a long-lasting impact.

Other Ways of Giving In-kind Donations

Goods, services, and time are all valuable gifts to MHA-SF. Please call us to find out what our needs are.

Community Thrift StoreDonate your unwanted clothes, furniture, and other

items to Community Thrift and designate MHA-SF as the beneficiary of the sales proceeds.

United WayDesignate your United Way gift to the Mental Health

Association of San Francisco.

For more information about these and other giving opportunities, please call Belinda Lyons at 415.421.1882Donations may be mailed to: Mental Health Association of San Francisco, 870 Market Street, Suite 928, San Francisco, CA 94102. All donations to MHA-SF are tax deductible as allowed by law. MHA-SF is a 501(c)(3) organization.Federal Tax ID# 94-1218623

highlightsHeld a successful eight week “Making Room for YOU”

stigma busting group

Coordinated the 2005 Hoarding and Cluttering Conference: Community Effect, Community

Response, for over 300 participants

2005 - 2006

Received the 2006 Innovation in Programming Award from the National Mental Health Association for

our Hoarding and Cluttering Project

Held a well-attended film screening of the documentary “Out of the Shadows” about

schizophrenia told through the first hand experience of a family member

Completed our first Training in Advocacy — Skills–Connections (TASC), which provided policy and advocacy

training for people living with mental illness

Led the successful campaign to defeat Proposition D, a discriminatory proposition

attempting to prevent all people with a primary psychiatric condition from

accessing services at Laguna Honda Hospital

MHA-SF Board member Joel Bosch with Leadership Council member and honoree Marion Schwartz at our Donor Appreciation Event in May

thank you!bell of hope giving circle

Leadership $5,000+Joel Bosch Sustainer $2,500 - $4,999 Sejong & George Sarlo

Partners $1,000 - $2,499 Ruth & Fred BrousseauLorraine E. CantorHerbert DonaldsonStacy G. FisherMichael & Sue FriedenbachJim GonzalezJ. Gary & Lilly A. GwilliamDavid & Virginia Sullivan

Sponsors $500 - $999 Amanda M. HamiltonSusan MattoxBette D. MoormanMarion Schwartz Bruce & Dianne Spaulding

Friends $250 - $499 Shiv & Shobha BajajPatricia & Bob BennettLisa Covey & Rikke CoxGerald Cahill & Kathleen KingBelinda Lyons & Daniel Newman Roslyn M. LyonsLaura Jo RuffinLouise SampsonLi Katherine Tsang

supportersRudolph & Kikuko ArsagaWilliam G. Barton Barbara L. BawdenJay BeadnerAbner Joseph Boles Helynna L. Brooke Ruth E. Burton Arlene Rothschild BushWilliam S. ClarkKevin J. Conroy Robin CooperSteven CrabielMilagros D. De AsisLorraine DongJan Dyer Joseph Ehrman IIIBruce W. FayMartin FleishmanCarol FreglyRosemary T. FrenchBrooke FoxWilliam A. HargreavesKathy HarvillWilliam HopperSusan F. GawPeter & Virginia GertlerVirginia GrabRuth Gravitt Cynthia GyoriEileen Hansen & Denise WellsSuzanne H. HarrisRichard HewetsonBill HirshCarolyn K. Hoke Rita Hovakimian & Robert WeinbergVivian Imperiale Cori & Chad JacobsRalph & Judith A. JacobsonDenise JonesMerton T. JonesMabel JungRuth S. Kadish Margel Foote Kaufman Warren KitchenVivian & Sidney Konigsberg Joseph & Carole La TorreThomas F. LandersDaniel F. Lee

Enid & Irwin Leff Susan C. LeongEugene E. LeungKenneth & Marie LibesonNancy Lim-Yee Marilyn A. LindseyEric R. Lloyd Wilma LouieCindy LowJoel A. LuebkemanDavid & Sandra Lyons Carolyn MacabeoFrank E. McLaughlinMichael MedemaElena R. MerrickBruce MilinSusan MiznerHelene H. OppenheimerKaren PattersonCarla PerezRichard A. PerezTerry PrincePatrick ReganJo C. RobinsonElizabeth W. RotterDeborah SaitoRichard H. SamplesBrian SchmittMarilyn SchrickMichael & Laura ScottKarin A. SelliteValerie SkorupCarol SnowRay & Louise StagnaroRobert SurberMarlo TellschowMatt ThomasWing TseHimeo TsumoriCatherine S. WalkerJason WalthallLinda WangGeorgia WestdahlLisa WeylandK. Margaret White Carol S. Winetsky Selwyn WoodworthAnonymous

Gifts up to $250

Bell of Hope donors are a special group of visionary leaders committed to maximizing the impact of MHA-SF’s work.

Gifts given between July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006

Please call 415.421.1882 if you have any corrections to the list

corporate

foundation and corporate donorsAvrum Katz FoundationCloroxCommunity Thrift StoreDisability Rights Advocates FundEli Lilly & CompanyHarrington GroupIris Alliance FundJanssen PharmaceuticaJohn & Lisa Pritzker Family Foundation Mental Health Association of CANational Mental Health AssociationPhRMA

ProvidianThe California EndowmentThe California Wellness Foundation The GapThe San Francisco Foundation United Way of the Bay AreaUnited Way of the California Capital RegionVanLobenSels/RembeRock Foundation Wells Fargo Foundation

in-kind donorsDavid BlazevichJoel Bosch Charley BurgdorfDennis M. DavisGayle FrankJon Gingrich, Baker & McKenzie, LLPJ. HaasKQED Alexandra KutikH.M. LeBelinda Lyons & Daniel Newman

Terence McKecwaGreg Schopf, Nixon Peabody LLPJulia ScottSuzanne ShadeRich SnowdonFrances StrassmanRonald TauberBruce Thomas & Mill Creek WineryGloria Tseng

gratitude

government fundersSan Francisco Mayor’s Office on Criminal JusticeSan Francisco Mental Health Board

In 2005 - 2006 MHA-SF has been the recipient of fee-for-service contracts from the following organizations: Corporation for Supportive Housing, Resource Development Associates, Tenderloin Housing Clinic/Central City SRO Collaborative, and San Francisco’s Department of Public Health, among others.

organizational membersChinatown Community Development CenterCVE, Inc.Edgewood Center for Children and FamiliesEpiscopal Community ServicesFamily Services Agency of San FranciscoNational Mental Health Association

Progress FoundationRichmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. San Francisco Study CenterSan Francisco Suicide PreventionSEIU Local 535Westside Community Mental Health Center, Inc.

Special thanks to the Harrington Group for their sponsorship of this Annual Report.

board of directorsKarin A. Sellite, PresidentProgram Manager County of Sonoma

Patricia Marrone Bennett, Vice PresidentPresident & CEO Resource Development Assoc.

Joel Bosch, TreasurerExecutive Vice President E-Loan

Patrick Regan, SecretaryVP Community Relations CVE Inc.

Stacy G. FisherSenior Vice President Wells Fargo

Sejong SarloVice President Sarlo Foundation

leadership councilRuth BrousseauDirector of Evaluation and Organizational Learning The California Wellness Foundation

Steven FieldsExecutive Director Progress Foundation

Laura KerrAffiliated Scholar Beatrice M. Bain Research Group, UC Berkeley Carol LamontProgram Officer, Neighborhood and Community Development The San Francisco Foundation

Susan MiznerDirector Mayor’s Office on Disability

Daniel O’ConnorCommunity Liaison St. Anthony Foundation

Catherine PykeProgram Officer The William Randolph Hearst Foundations

Laura Jo RuffinFormer Director of San Francisco Community Mental Health Services (Retired) Marion SchwartzRetired Geriatric Therapist

“MHA-SF and its members work tirelessly and effectively in San Francisco to increase public awareness about mental health and ensure access to quality care. We are pleased to support its efforts.”Gwen Foster Program OfficerThe California Endowment

“I want to compliment you for the wonderful programs you put on. This is a great example of a prevention/early intervention program, not to mention the empowerment that comes with knowledge. Keep up the good work!”

Sandra Naylor Goodwin, PhD, MSW Executive DirectorCalifornia Institute for Mental Health

finance reportASSETSCurrent AssetsCash $8,596 Total Accounts Receivable $274,512Security Deposit $3,191TOTAL ASSETS $286,299

LIABILITIES & NET ASSETSLiabilitiesAccounts Payable $150Other Liabilities $14,711Total Liabilities $14,861Net AssetsTemporarily Restricted $282,716Unrestricted -$11,278Total Equity $271,438TOTAL LIABILITIESAND EQUITY

$286,299

REVENUE / EXPENSERevenueGrants $240,186Fees $47,629Contributions $36,097Other Revenue $1,299Total Revenue $325,211

ExpensePersonnel $253,008Facilities $39,884Independent Contractors $22,042Supplies $15,215Other Expenses $32,168Total Expense $362,317REVENUE -$37,106

financial position - June 30, 2006

statement of activitiesexpenses

personnel

other

ind.contractorssupplies

facilities

education advocacy

administrationfundraising

July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2006

revenue

grantsfeescontributionsother

Cast from iron chains and shackles that once restrained people in asylums, the Mental Health Bell is both a powerful reminder of the harrowing treatment individuals endured and a sign of hope for continued progress in understanding and care.

In the early 1950s, the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) issued a call to asylums across the country for their discarded chains and shackles. In April of 1953 NMHA melted down these inhumane bindings at the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, Maryland, forging the 300-pound Mental Health Bell.

Today the Mental Health Bell tolls to end misunderstanding and discrimination and rings out hope in the fight for victory over mental illness.

The Mental Health Association of San Francisco is an affiliate of the Mental Health Association of California and the National Mental Health Association.

mental health bellthe story

www.mha-sf.org

Mental Health Association of San Francisco 870 Market Street, Suite 928, San Francisco, CA 94102

415.421.2926