Wellness and Recovery

Office of Consumer Affairs

In 1991, the State of Maine created the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) for the express purpose of involving current and former consumers of mental health services into state mental health policy and planning. There are several primary areas of responsibilities for the Office of consumer Affairs including: promotion of a recovery oriented system, expansion of peer support and consumer directed programs, as well as ensuring that the views of consumers are considered in policy regulation and development, program planning, evaluation and monitoring, training, finance and contract management. The office hired its first director in 1993.The current staff configuration includes three consumer affairs specialists and a director.

The office facilitates the input of current and former mental health service recipients into these focus areas in the state adult mental health system. Additionally, the office provides support and technical assistance to the state wide consumer community and consumer run organizations. OCA also promotes systems advocacy and provides the necessary expertise and technical support to other staff within the Office of Adult Mental Health Services around consumer issues and involvement.