ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan School of Social Work has received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to fund its Assessing Consumer-Centered Services (ACCS) project, announced Carol Mowbray, professor of social work and the School’s associate dean for research.

The ACCS, directed by Mowbray and fellow social work faculty member Mark Holter, will study characteristics of consumer-centered programs in Michigan. These programs provide a place for persons with mental illness to socialize, network, access community resources and services, and receive social support in an environment of peers.

The project is currently under way, with the Justice in Mental Health Organization (JIMHO) as one of the primary consultants. Located in Lansing, JIMHO has operated a consumer drop-in center for 22 years and provides technical assistance to consumer-operated programs throughout the state.

“Michigan has the largest number of consumer drop-in centers in the country, which makes the state a perfect place to study these programs,” says Jean Dukarski of JIMHO. “Although consumer-operated services have received attention in recent program development, little research has been done on these programs. This can be problematic when it comes to creating or expanding consumer-centered programs.”

ACCS will collect data from 60 consumer-centered programs located in Michigan from
For information, contact the ACCS Project at accs@umich.edu or at (734) 998-9325.

School of Social WorkMark HolterJustice in Mental Health Organizationaccs@umich.edu