The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
www.nami.org

NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support, and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders. Their website provides support, education, advocacy, and research for people interested in NAMI.

Assertive Community Treatment
www.actassociation.org

ACTA promotes, develops, and supports high quality Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) services that improve the lives of people with serious and persistent mental illness.

National Center on Institutions and Alternatives
www.igc.org/ncia

It is the mission of the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA) to help create a society in which all persons who come into contact with the human service or correctional systems will be provided an environment of individual care, concern and treatment. NCIA is dedicated to developing quality programs and professional services that advocate timely intervention and unconditional care.

Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children
www.gahsc.org

GAHSC provides leadership and resources to the dedicated agencies and professionals serving our State's at risk children and their families. A member investment in GAHSC provides:

• Advocacy and lobbying on behalf of child welfare agencies with continued emphasis on promoting legislation supporting our mission.
• Representation at key state, legislative and volunteer committees involved in regulation, policy making and service delivery to at risk children.
• Access to valuable and timely information regarding Georgia's legislative process, including state department budgets and legislation impacting member operations.
• Comprehensive information on national and local issues related to at risk children.
• The opportunity to network with industry peers and assume a leadership role in statewide forums.
• Professional assistance in training and certification of member staff.
  Assistance with funding resources.

University of Arizona: James E. Rogers College of Law
www.law.arizona.edu

Law School Homepage

The Georgia Association of Community Service Boards, Inc.
www.csbassoc.org/bylaws.htm

Their Mission is promote the exchange of information, to represent the Community Service Boards (CSB’s) on legislative and administration matters; and to advocate for the highest quality of life for consumers of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse services.

Treatment Advocacy Center
www.psychlaws.org/

The Treatment Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating legal and clinical barriers to timely and humane treatment for millions of Americans with severe brain disorders who are not receiving appropriate medical care.
This site provides up to date information on Mental Health issues in the news across the nation. A list of other resources available on this website include:
General Resources / Legal Resources / Medical Resources / Briefing Papers / State Activity / Hospital Closures / Preventable Tragedies / Press Room.

NHeLP: National Health Law Program
www.healthlaw.org/index.shtml

The National Health Law Program is a national public interest law firm that seeks to improve health care for America's working and unemployed poor, minorities, the elderly and people with disabilities. NHeLP serves legal services programs, community based organizations, the private bar, providers and individuals who work to preserve a health care safety net for the millions of uninsured or underinsured low income people. NOTE: Please be advised that NHeLP cannot provide legal advice to individuals. They are not a direct service agency.

International Academy of Law and Mental Health
www.ialmh.org/

Each year, the IALMH holds an International Congress on Law and Mental Health, bringing together the international community of researchers, academics, practitioners and professionals in the field whose wide ranging perspectives provide for a comprehensive look at important law and mental health issues. This site also provides information on past congresses, links to the International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, and announcements of upcoming events in the academy.

Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
www.bazelon.org

The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has been the nation’s leading legal advocate for people with mental disabilities for three decades. The Center's advocacy has helped establish and advance the constitutional rights of people with mental illnesses and mental retardation, outlawing abuse and neglect in state institutions and ending the wholesale exclusion of children with disabilities from public schools. This website provides links to legislative update and alerts, publications, and articles about issues affecting Mental Health Law, etc.

National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors: Forensic Division
www.nasmhpd.org/forendiv.htm

This organization is in charge of development and operation of forensic programs and facilities. The website provides description of the responsibilities of the Forensic Division and lists the director for each state. This site also provides links to other programs within the NASMHPD.

Criminal Justice Program

The CSG/ERC Criminal Justice Program assists state policy makers across all levels of state government. The program works with ERC member jurisdictions to:

• evaluate, develop and promote innovative state and regional criminal justice policy;
• facilitate the sharing of expertise and knowledge;
• evaluate new programs and trends; and
• works to improve the effectiveness of the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems.

This site also provides links to national and regional projects in the Criminal Justice Program.

The National Organization of Forensic Social Work
www.nofsw.org/

It was established to provide for the advancement of education in the field of forensic social work through:

• Training Programs, Forums, Panels and Lectures
• Annual Conferences
• Opportunities leading to Diplomate status in the Academy of Forensic Social Work
• Newsletter Publication
• Networking Opportunities
• Political Action

University of Pennsylvania Psychiatry Department: Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research
www.uphs.upenn.edu/cmhpsr/

The CMHPSR researches the organization, financing, and management structure of mental health care systems and the delivery of mental health services and provides consultation and technical support to those individuals and programs involved in implementing system change. The Center has attempted to use the results of its research and evaluation efforts to inform the decision making of public policy makers at local, state, and national levels. This website also provides publications and presentations, information about programs in its organization, educational opportunities, and upcoming conferences and training seminars.

Medical College of Georgia: Georgia Mental Health Sourcebook Online
www.mcg.edu/resources/mh/sourcebk/index.html

It provides information for mentally ill patients and/or family and friends of mentally ill individuals on how to get started in helping the mentally ill individual.

Sourcebook Guide

• Introduction
• Where to Start
• DSMIV Lite
• Children's Issues
• Georgia MHA Chapters
• Special Issues
• Resources
  - Glossaries and Case Studies
  - Legal/Ethical Issues
  - Insurance/Financing
  - Contact Information
  

Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy at the University of Virginia
www.ilppp.virginia.edu/

This site also provides a link to the Macarthur Research Network
The Macarthur foundation is a private, independent grant-making institution dedicated to helping groups and individuals foster lasting improvement in the human condition. The Foundation seeks the development of healthy individuals and effective communities; peace within and among nations; responsible choices about human reproduction; and a global ecosystem capable of supporting healthy human societies. The Foundation pursues this mission by supporting research, policy development, dissemination, education and training, and practice.

The National GAINS Center for People with Co-Occurring Disorders
www.gainsctr.com/

The National GAINS Center for People with Co-Occurring Disorders in the Justice System was created in 1995 as a national locus for the collection and dissemination of information about effective mental health and substance abuse services for people with co-occurring disorders who come in contact with the justice system.

Legal Resources

Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
www.ganet.org/rules/

Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project
www.consensusproject.org/

American Bar Association: The Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law
www.abanet.org/disability/webboard.html

The Law Reporter Web Board allows subscribers to access current issues of the Reporter about one month before it is published in print. The Special Alerts Web Board allows subscribers to track the latest and most important disability law developments (i.e. case law, legislation, and regulations) as they occur. Both Web Boards also allow subscribers to exchange and disseminate information with other subscribers and expert staff.

www.legalaid-ga.org

Legal educational materials, sample forms, and information about the courts, community resources and free and low cost legal aid programs to help you with your legal problem.

Mental Health News and Publications

Medical College of Georgia: Georgia Mental Health Network
www.mcg.edu/resources/mh/MHnewsevents.html

This site provides links to different Mental Health news and events.

Fulton County Daily Report
www.ljx.com/

The Fulton County Daily Report, Fulton County's official legal newspaper, is Georgia's leading source for legal news and information.

Mental Health News on the Net
www.mentalhealth.org/newsroom/Default.asp

This website provides links to sites about Mental Health in the News across the nation

The University of Alabama Law & Psychology Review Home Page
www.law.ua.edu/lawpsychology/

The Law & Psychology Review was founded by students in 1975 and dealt mostly with the rights of the mentally retarded. Today, The Review encompasses an ever broadening array of issues including the jury's decision making process, consent to treatment, capital punishment, psychological aspects of expert testimony and character evidence, and the rights of juveniles. Published once each Spring, The Review features articles by students as well as noted legal scholars and psychologists. All articles are revised and edited by the Editorial Staff.

American Psychology Association: Psychology Online
www.apa.org/

This website provides lists of publications on Psychology, useful resources about different psychiatric seminars and conferences around the country, helps find psychologist around the country, informs on how to get psychiatric help, etc.

Mental Health Works Online
www.workplacementalhealth.org/

A new quarterly publication of the American Psychiatric Association and American Psychiatric Foundation, focuses on mental health/workplace issues.