Getting Involved/Advisory Councils

Consumer Advisory Council

The Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) for Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) is a group of individuals or family members who currently or have in the past received services from WCCMH. Members are elected to the council and advise on all aspects of services, policy and procedure for WCCMH. The Council reports to the WCCMH Board on a quarterly basis.

The CAC also assists with the State wide annual Walk-A-Mile. Twice a year we distribute a newsletter we produce. We interact with the Regional Consumer Advisory Council which represents Lenawee, Livingston, Monroe and Washtenaw. We also help recognize the successes of staff and fellow consumers. On a regular basis we hear from different programs of WC-CMH as they report on the impact they have on our community.

We welcome new members particularly from the I/DD and Youth & Family programs to serve on the Council and help impact the services of a County agency that serves us all. If you are interested in serving on the Council, please come to one of our meetings on the second Wednesday of a month at 12:30pm or contact WCCMH Customer Service at 734-544-3050 or [email protected]

Speakers Bureau

The mission of the Speaker’s Bureau of Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) is to put a face on mental illness, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders, and to overcome stigma and discrimination by sharing successful stories of hope, resiliency, and recovery. We are individuals in recovery and our speakers include family members, treatment providers, and treatment agency leadership.

Recovery is the way people are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in a community. For some, recovery means being able to live a fulfilling and productive life with a disability. For others, recovery implies the reduction or complete remission of symptoms. Having hope and gratitude play a vital role in an individual’s recovery. The hope that things can and will get better is a motivating message for those who face barriers to persevere until they overcome. Hope is internalized, but can be cultivated by peers, families, friends, providers, and others. Hope is the key to actually taking steps towards recovery.

The Speakers Bureau aims to present the real hope that people can recover and that there are possibilities for improved lives and share the personal stories of those who have experienced the reality of this hope. Presentations are free of charge. If you are interested, please contact WCCMH at 734-544-3050 or [email protected] Let us know what you need and want. Be sure to share the following: 

  • Your organization's name and address 
  • Contact name, email, and phone number for event coordinator
  • Topic(s) requested 
  • Length of presentation you are interested in
  • Date, time, and location of the event
  • Type of any audio-visual elements, if any, preferred at the even

Recipient Rights Advisory Committee

This committee:

  • Ensures the Rights Office is adequately funded and staffed to perform it's mandated function
  • Protects the Rights Office from undo pressures that could interfere with impartial, even-handed, and thorough performance of its functions
  • Serves in an advisory capacity and consults with the Executive Director prior to the hiring or dismissal of Rights Office staff
  • Reviews Recipient Rights data and provides recommendations to the CMH Board of Directors
  • Serves as the Appeals Committee for any appeal of a Recipient Rights investigation

The RRAC is always looking for new members. If you are interested in joining please contact the Rights Office at (734) 219-8519.