National Mental Health & Aging Resources

Aging Organizations

Gerontological Society of America
GSA provide researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers with opportunities to understand, advance, integrate, and use basic and applied research on aging to improve the quality of life as one ages.  This is a non-profit professional organization with more than 5000 members in the field of aging

The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
This is a national non-profit organization established by the American Geriatrics Society.  It aims to build a bridge between the research and practice of geriatrics and the public, and to advocate on behalf of older adults and their special health care needs.

American Society on Aging
ASA is the largest organization of multidisciplinary professionals in the field of aging.

National Institute on Aging
Is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health and leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life.

Administration on Aging - Information on Older Persons and Services for the Elderly
Provides a wide variety of topics, programs and services related to aging. Whether you are an older individual, a caregiver, a community service provider, a researcher, or a student, you will find valuable information provided in a user-friendly way.

Healthy Aging Research Network
Is designed to better understand the determinants of healthy aging in older adult populations, to identify interventions that promote healthy aging, and to assist in the translation of such research into sustainable community-based programs throughout the nation.

Assisted Living Federation of America
The Assisted Living Federation of America is the largest national association exclusively dedicated to professionally operated assisted living communities for seniors.

Resource Center on Aging, University of California, Berkeley

Center for Demography of Health and Aging
The Center for Demography of Health and Aging at the University of Wisconsin - Madison is one of eleven P30 demography centers on aging sponsored by the National Institute on Aging.

Institute on Aging
Is an online source of information about the Institute on Aging and Department of Aging and Geriatrics with the University of Florida. 

AARP Policy and Research
AARP Policy & Research features authoritative information on issues affecting the 50+ population. This expanding collection of research publications, speeches, legal briefs and opinion pieces seeks to provide deeper insight and fresh perspectives to opinion leaders, scholars and other professional audiences.

The National Council on the Aging
Founded in 1950, the National Council on Aging is a nonprofit organization with a national network of more than 14,000 organizations and leaders.  Members include senior centers, area agencies on aging, adult day service centers, faith-based service organizations, senior housing facilities, employment services, consumer groups, and leaders from academia, business, and labor. 

Administration On Aging
Is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of a wide variety of topics, programs and services related to aging.

Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services
To ensure effective, up-to-date health care coverage and to promote quality care for beneficiaries.

The US Senate Special Committee On Aging
Has served as a focal point in the Senate for discussion and debate on matters relating to older Americans. Often, the Committee will submit its findings and recommendations for legislation to the Senate. In addition, the Committee publishes materials of assistance to those interested in public policies which relate to the elderly.

U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services
The United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

Long-term Care

Long Term Care Association
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) is a non-profit federation of affiliated state health organizations, together representing more than 10,000 non-profit and for-profit assisted living, nursing facility, developmentally-disabled, and subacute care providers that care for more than 1.5 million elderly and disabled individuals nationally. 

National Citizens Consortium for Nursing Home Retirement
Consumers and advocates who define and achieve quality for people with long-term care needs.

Center for Long-Term Care Reform
Is a private institute designed to educate others about the problems which plague America’s long-term care financing system and to advocate public policy that targets public resources to the neediest, while encouraging everyone else to plan ahead for the risk of expensive long-term care.

American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
Members help millions of individuals and their families every day through mission-driven, not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing the services that people need, when they need them, in the place they call home

Mental Health

National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health.

Geriatric Mental Health Foundation
Established by the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry to raise awareness
of psychiatric and mental health disorders affecting the elderly, eliminate the stigma of mental illness and treatment, promote healthy aging strategies, and increase access to quality mental health care for the elderly.

National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging
Positive Aging Act Provisions Included in the Older Americans Act Reauthorization

Bazelon Center For Mental Health Law
The Center envisions an America where people who have mental illnesses or developmental disabilities exercise their own life choices and have access to the resources that enable them to participate fully in their communities.

National Association Of State Mental Health Program Directors
The national representative and advocate for state mental health agencies and their directors.

National Technical Assistance Center
Is focused on effectively identifying and responding to the training and technical assistance needs of State Mental Health Agencies, consumers, families, and planning and advisory councils in a variety of administrative, financial, clinical, and program areas.

The National Alliance For The Mentally Ill
It is a self-help organization made up of families of persons with Mental Illness, of those persons themselves, and of friends.

The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Research Institute, Inc.
A national organization resource to provide leadership and support in the areas of analysis, evaluation, and research, NRI facilitates the application of research findings to management of state mental health programs.

American Association For Geriatric Psychiatry
A national association representing and serving its members and the field of geriatric psychiatry. It is dedicated to promoting the mental health and well being of older people and improving the care of those with late-life mental disorders.

American Association Of Community Psychiatrists
The Mission of AACP is to inspire, empower, and equip Community Psychiatrists to promote and provide quality care and to integrate practice with policies that improve the well being of individuals and communities.

Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness
The national voice for behavioral health and wellness companies committed to improving health care access and outcomes and promoting health and wellness by effectively treating mental health, substance use, and other behaviors that impact health.

American Psychiatric Association
It is over 35,000 U.S. and international member physicians work together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental disorder, including mental retardation and substance-related disorders. It is the voice and conscience of modern psychiatry.

American Psychological Association
A scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With 148,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide.

Association For Medical Education And Research In Substance Abuse (AMERSA)
Is a multidisciplinary organization of health care professionals dedicated to improving education in the care of individuals with substance abuse problems.

Center For Mental Health Services
is the Federal agency within the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that leads national efforts to improve prevention and mental health treatment services for all Americans. CMHS pursues its mission by helping States improve and increase the quality and range of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services for people with mental health problems, their families, and communities.

Center For Psychiatric Rehabilitation
The Center is a research, training, and service organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons who have psychiatric disabilities.

Florida Agency For Health Care Administration
Links to information about hospitals, nursing homes, extended care facilities and other health care facilities can be found on this site.  The links will let you compare the retail cost of prescription drugs in your neighborhood and look at the performance of health care facilities.  It also provides information that may help you lower your prescription costs and select a medical facility that best meets your needs.

Florida Council On Community Mental Health
The Florida Council for Community Mental Health (FCCMH) is a statewide association of 70 community-based mental health and substance abuse agencies.

Human Service Research Institute
The Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) was established in 1976 with the express purpose of assisting states and the federal government to enhance services and supports to people with mental illness and people with mental retardation, and to support the development of alternatives to congregate care facilities.

Florida Commission on Mental Health & Substance Abuse
The mission of FMHI is to improve the lives of people with mental, addictive, and developmental disorders through research, training, and education.

US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
An organization of psychiatric rehabilitation agencies, practitioners, and interested organizations and individuals dedicated to promoting, supporting and strengthening community-oriented rehabilitation services and resources for persons with psychiatric dis­abilities.

Drugs and Substance Abuse

Center For Substance Abuse Prevention
CSAP works with States and communities to develop comprehensive prevention systems that create healthy communities in which people enjoy a quality life. This includes supportive work and school environments, drug- and crime-free neighborhoods, and positive connections with friends and family.

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions Of America
CADCA supports its members with training and technical assistance, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, conferences and special events.

Florida Alcohol And Drug Abuse Association
The mission of FADAA is to represent its members in advancing addiction treatment, prevention and research through public policy leadership, communications, professional development and quality member services.

Florida Commission On Mental Health & Substance Abuse
Has a purpose of conducting a systematic review of the overall management of the state's mental health and substance abuse system. A final report to the Governor and State Legislature will contain recommendations for change improvement in areas including planning service strategies, funding, accountability, emergency health services, and the unique needs of older persons.

National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University

Nationalwide organization that brings together professional disciplines needed to study and combat abuse of all substances--alcohol, nicotine, as well as illegal, prescription and performance enhancing drugs in all sectors of society.

 National Association Of State Alcohol And Drug Abuse Directors
In general, NASADAD members are charged with the effective and efficient administration of their State's public treatment and prevention systems and are responsible for managing in excess of $4 billion service dollars every year.

The American Council For Drug Education
The ACDE  is a substance abuse prevention and education agency that develops programs and materials based on the most current scientific research on drug use and its impact on society.

National Association Of Addiction Treatment Providers
The mission of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) is to promote, assist and enhance the delivery of ethical, effective, research-based treatment for alcoholism and other drug addictions.

National Association Of Drug Court Professionals
The NADCP, a not-for-profit organization, was founded in 1994 by a group of visionaries to reduce the negative social impact of substance abuse, crime, and recidivism.

Health

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), 1 of 12 agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is committed to helping the nation improve our health care system.

The Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research.

National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the largest scientific organization in the world dedicated to research focused on the understanding, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders and the promotion of mental health.

Mental Help Net
It exists to promote mental health and wellness education and advocacy.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Facilitates recovery for people with or at risk for mental or substance use disorders.

The National Psychologist
A publication intended to keep psychologists informed about practice issues.

Positive Aging Resource Center (PARC)

PARC mission is to promote positive aging by providing information and resources to older adults and caregivers, health and social service porfessionals, and policy makers.

American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association is a medical specialty society recognized world-wide. Its over 35,000 U.S. and international member physicians work together to ensure humane care and effective treatment for all persons with mental disorder, including mental retardation and substance-related disorders.

American Psychiatric Foundation
The mission of the American Psychiatric Foundation is to advance public understanding of mental illnesses.

Primary Care - Mental Health Collaborative Models

Older Americans with Mental Illnesses
An online store to purchase publications.

Evaluating Primary Care Behavioral Counseling Interventions: An Evidence-based Approach
Began to address adapting existing US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) methods to issues and challenges raised by behavioral counseling intervention.

Medical Newswire
A health care, medical and bio-tech news headquarters. Daily news and analysis for healthcare professionals.

Screening for Mental Illness in Nursing Facility Applicants
The following section describes the various ways in which States have interpreted and implemented the program, including screening, specialized services, and alternative placements.

National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
The National Council is committed to delivering member-focused information, education, and initiatives designed to help members promote the recovery and integration of consumers into your communities.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association:  Older Adult Programs
SAMHSA has developed a multisite study to compare the effectiveness of service delivery models that treat older adults with mental health/substance (MH/SA) abuse problems in primary care as opposed to enhanced specialty MH/SA settings.

IMPACT - Evidence Based Depression Care
The IMPACT model of depression care more than doubles the effectiveness of depression treatment for older adults in primary care settings.

The PC-BH-Integration Archives

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) Center
This is a one-stop resource for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).

The MacArthur Initiative on Depression Primary Care
The mission of the MacArthur Initiative on Depression and Primary Care is to enhance the ability of primary care clinicians to recognize and manage depression.

Depression in Primary Care
Depression in Primary Care: Linking Clinical and System Strategies is a Robert Wood Johnson national program with the goal of increasing the use of effective models for treating depression in primary care settings.

The American Geriatrics Society - Education - Depression In Older Adults Management in Primary Practice
The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a not-for-profit organization of over 6,700 health professionals devoted to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policy makers and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy.

Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
For over 65 years, the Foundation has accomplished its mandate through grantmaking to mental health service, research, public education, and policy projects in the state of Texas.

Integrated Primary Care: Combining Behavioral Health and Primary Medical Care
This is a resource and networking site for patients, health professionals and health administrators interested in Integrated Primary Care. Integrated primary care combines medical and behavioral health services to more fully address the spectrum of problems that patients bring to primary medical care.

Collaborative Family Healthcare Association
The Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA) promotes a comprehensive and cost-effective model of healthcare delivery that integrates mind and body, individual and family, patients, providers and communities.  CFHA achieves this mission through education, training, partnering, consultation, research and advocacy.

ICARE mind
The ICARE Partnership seeks to increase access to quality, evidence-based behavioral health care services for North Carolinians.

Intermountain Mental Health Online Center - Other Web Resources

HRSA - Provider Reimbursement - Technical Assistance Materials
Official Health Resources and Services Administration Web site of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Models in Asheville
Part of a three conference series on Integrated Care done over the course of the Spring 2003 in Asheville, NC.

Older Adult System of Care Framework
This document describes the framework.

Best Practices and Model Programs for Older Adults (Courtesy of San Diego Mental Health)

Resources:

A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Community-Based Mental Health Outreach Services for Older Adults (Stephen Bartels)
This review evaluates the evidence base for effectiveness of outreach services for older adults with mental illness in non-institutional community settings.

Analysis of the Older Adult System of Care Demonstration Project

Transitional Adult Fact Sheet
The ASOC/OASOC Transitional Adult Subcommittee is a subcommittee of both the CMHDA Adult System of Care (ASOC) Committee and the CMHDA Older Adult System of Care (OASOC) Committee.

Survey results summary from February 2005 survey on assessing risk for transitional adults
A Report from the CMHDA ASOC/OASOC Transitional Adult Subcommittee.

Others

National Governors Association Statement on Medicaid
The National Governors Association--the bipartisan organization of the nation's governors--promotes visionary state leadership, shares best practices and speaks with a unified voice on national policy.

New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
NYAPRS is dedicated to improving services and social conditions for people with psychiatric disabilities or diagnoses and those with trauma-related conditions by promoting their recovery, rehabilitation and rights so that all people can participate freely in the opportunities of society.

National Association for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
The World's Leading Charity Dedicated to Mental Health Research is the largest donor-supported organization in the world that supports research on brain and behavior disorders.

National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is the leading patient-directed national organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses. The organization fosters an environment of understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically-based tools and information written in language the general public can understand.

International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred)
An organization dedicated to researching causes of depression, to support those dealing with depression, and to combat the stigma associated with depression.

Mental Health America
Mental Health America (formerly known as the National Mental Health Association) is the country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping ALL people live mentally healthier lives. They represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well-being of the nation – everyday and in times of crisis.

National Center on Elder Abuse
It serves as a national resource center dedicated to the prevention of elder mistreatment.