The Office of Consumer & Family Affairs (OCFA) provides information, education and support for children and youth, families, adults and older adults who are dealing with the challenges of mental illness.  Our goal is to facilitate consumer and family input into all aspects of the state-funded mental health system as well as the Bureau of Behavioral Health's planning and policy development.  Consumer and family experience is invaluable in the identification of mental health care needs, planning and program development.  Consumers and families can tell us what is working for them - and what isn't.  Their window on reality will guide and ensure the quality of the services that we deliver.  By recruiting, organizing and empowering consumers and families, the OCFA seeks to support them in establishing and maintaining strong input and mental health leadership on a local, regional, state and national level.

Established in 1990 as the Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA), it was one of the first two such offices in the country.  There are now offices in over thirty-seven states.  The office was re-established in December 2007 as the Office of Consumer & Family Affairs.

Leadership and empowerment are gained through information and education – learning the skills to take charge of our own futures – to be active participants in our own treatment planning – to work together toward improving the mental health system.  A first step is to be able to access informational resources.  We have set up the OCFA Resource Center--a small library with a computer that provides easy access to resource materials as well as to the World Wide Web.  Just outside the center is a bulletin board and resource table containing important notices and information.  The library is open during ordinary business hours. 

The OCFA newsletter is published quarterly and features articles and information of interest to adult and youth consumers, family members, and older adults.  Contact Michael Bilson at mbilson@dhhs.state.nh.us or 1-800-852-3345, X5045 (TDD Relay 1-800-735-2964) to be added to our newsletter mailing list. 

OCFA meets with consumer groups, visits peer support and community mental health centers, and listens to families. Please contact Marty Fuller, Director at  mfuller@dhhs.state.nh.us or 1-800-852-3345, X5138  (TDD Relay 1-800-735-2964) to make suggestions or communicate ideas.

OCFA also works closely with the NH Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council, the PSA Directors' Association, the Mental Health and Aging Consumer Advisory Council, and the NH Mental Health Consumer Council.