The Citizen Advocacy programs ask ordinary citizens to respond to the increased vulnerability of the disabled poor through one-to-one, freely given relationships. People who are poor and disabled are far more susceptible to harm than the general population. Advocates offer a safety net for a vulnerable person. The programs strive to make matches for those with the fewest supports and for those who are the most stigmatized because of their disabilities or life circumstances. Citizen Advocacy is not a service program. Our aim is to increase the safeguards for our community’s most vulnerable individuals. Each program recruits citizen advocates and continues to support the partnerships it initiates. The programs initiate long-term connections between ordinary citizens and people labeled as mentally ill. Hundreds of citizen advocacy relationships exist through these programs. It is the responsibility of the citizen advocacy office to bring to the advocate's attention the most serious vulnerability in the life of his or her partner. The citizen advocate's roles vary and may change over time.

In addition to facilitating relationships, the Citizen Advocacy programs strive to educate the communities in which they work about the consequences of the devaluation of people who are labeled "mentally ill".

Sean has had a citizen advocate for eight years. He used to have a case manager and a myriad of services. He no longer has a case manager, but he has friends. Besides Ed, his advocate, he has the friends he met through Ed. Now he has people in his community with whom he can enjoy social events and friends he can call if he needs help. In the last two years, Sean has had a 50% decrease in the medications he relied upon to stabilize his moods, and he feels much more energetic and positive about his life.

All the programs are governed by boards made up of local citizens from all walks of life who have a commitment to the protection and enhancement of lives of vulnerable citizens. The boards make decisions on policies and priorities while supporting and supervising staff.

Perhaps the boards' biggest responsibility is to ensure the programs' stability and longevity by developing deep roots in their communities. Not only do they try to increase community awareness of citizen advocacy and its powerful potential for change, but they also look for community support by cultivating friends and financial supporters. Boards have sponsored a wide variety of activities both to establish their identities in the communities and to obtain financial support. The Citizen Advocacy programs strive to remain a grassroots movement within the individual communities.

Contact:
In Holyoke, Chicopee, South Hadley, Palmer, Granby, Ware and Belchertown
Friends In Deed:
Andres Martinez
(413) 533-9633
E-mail: Andres Martinez