National Organizations Directory

Find additional information and support on recovery, resiliency, substance use and peer support from the advocacy, academic research, and SAMHSA-funded technical assistance center organizations on this page.

Advocacy organizations

Children’s Mental Health Network CMHN promotes and supports high-quality services and solutions for children with mental health needs and their families. It is an independent, donor-funded 501-c3 non-profit organization that seeks to provide current, relevant information and ideas about children’s mental health policies and programs.

Depression-Bipolar Support Alliance DBSA is a comprehensive resource for more than 23 million people in the U.S. who live with mood conditions. It provides education, tools, peer support and a wealth of inspiring stories to help individuals pursue their own path to wellness.

Faces and Voices of Recovery Faces and Voices of Recovery is dedicated to organizing and mobilizing the over 23 million Americans in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs, their families, friends and allies into recovery community organizations and networks, to promote the right and resources to recover through advocacy, education and demonstrating the power and proof of long-term recovery.

Mental Health America MHA is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental health conditions and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. MHA’s programs and initiatives fulfill its mission of promoting mental health and preventing mental illness through advocacy, education, research and services.

National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions. It is an association of more than 500 local affiliates who work to educate, advocate, listen and lead to improve the lives of people with mental illness and their loved ones.

National Association of Peer Supporters The mission of N.A.P.S. is to grow the peer support profession by promoting the inclusion of peer specialists throughout healthcare and other community systems. Members of this network come together to share their ideas and innovations, exchange resources and information based on real world application, and join forces on concerns and issues affecting the peer support profession.

National Federation of Families The Federation is a national family-run organization linking more than 120 chapters and state organizations focused on the issues of children and youth with emotional, behavioral or mental health needs and their families. Its emphasis on advocacy offers families a voice in the formation of national policy, services and supports for children with mental health needs and their families.

Youth MOVE National Youth M.O.V.E is a youth-driven, chapter-based organization dedicated to improving services and systems that support positive growth and development by uniting the voices of individuals who have lived experience in various systems including mental health, juvenile justice, education and child welfare.

Academic research organizations

Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University The Center’s work is guided by the most basic of rehabilitation values, that first and foremost, persons with psychiatric disabilities have the same goals and dreams as any other person. Its mission is to increase the likelihood that they can achieve these goals by improving the effectiveness of people, programs and service systems using strategies based on the core values of recovery and rehabilitation.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the mental health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities The Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion is engaged in research and knowledge development activities that are translated into practical information to support full and meaningful community participation of individuals with mental illnesses.

The Child Mind Institute The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Its teams work every day to deliver the highest standards of care, advance the science of the developing brain and empower parents, professionals and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most.

The National Resource Center for Participant-Directed Services NRCPDS is the only national center of its kind to assist states and other agencies or organizations that want to offer, or already offer, participant-directed services to people with disabilities. NRCPDS provides technical assistance, research, education and training to both Medicaid and non-Medicaid funded programs.

The National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives NRCPAD is a resource for consumers, family members, health and legal professionals about psychiatric advance directives. It includes state-by-state information regarding psychiatric advance directives.

UIC Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy The Center conducts projects in the areas of vocational, residential and educational rehabilitation; integration of mental and physical health services; crisis management and prevention of psychiatric and medical hospitalizations; the needs of women and people from diverse cultural backgrounds; and systems change. It fully involves people with mental health disorders, their friends and family members, service providers and other stakeholders in its efforts.

Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health PRCH works to transform mental health programs, agencies and systems to be culturally responsive and re-oriented to facilitating the recovery and social inclusion of the individuals, families and communities they serve. It seeks to promote the recovery, self-determination and inclusion of people experiencing psychiatric disability, addiction and discrimination through focusing on their strengths and the valuable contributions they have to make to their communities.

Doors to Wellbeing D2W is a program of the Copeland Center, focused on disseminating information and resources and providing training on evidence-based practices, such as psychiatric advance directives and supported employment and education, that promote recovery and wellness.

National Empowerment Center The mission of NEC is to carry a message of recovery, empowerment, hope and healing to people with lived experience of mental health issues, trauma and/or extreme states. NEC provides information about topics such as advance directives, shock treatment, schizophrenia, self-help groups in your area, legal services in your area, meditation and self-help techniques, coping with depression, etc.

National Family Support Technical Assistance Center The NFSTAC is focused on supporting families and caregivers of children, regardless of their age, who experience serious mental health and/or substance use conditions. NFSTAC advances positive partnerships between families and providers to promote stronger and more sustainable outcomes for families and their children across the lifespan.

Peer Recovery Center of Excellence The Peer Recovery Center of Excellence exists to enhance the field of peer recovery support services through four focus areas: Clinical Integration of Peers into Non-Traditional Settings, Recovery Community Organization Capacity Building, Peer Workforce Development and Evidence-Based Practice & Practice-Based Evidence Dissemination.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the mental health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

The CAFÉ TA Center The CAFÉ TA Center is a program of The Family Café, a cross-disability organization that has been connecting individuals with information, training and resources since 1998. Technical assistance, training and resources provided by the Center facilitate the restructuring of the mental health system through effective consumer-directed approaches for adults with mental health conditions across the country.

Youth MOVE National Peer Center Youth MOVE National Peer Center builds the capacity of the current and future peer workforce, consumer-run organizations, including youth and family organizations, mental health service providers, and individuals with lived experience to promote the resilience and recovery of those experiencing mental health challenges. YMN uses multiple approaches, including tailored technical assistance, coaching and training, to improve implementation and enhance the integration of recovery-oriented services into the traditional mental health services array.