CFN's Mission: Together we are dedicated to ensuring the mental healthcare system of North Dakota, including community recovery support programs, are consumer and family driven.  We will work together to be informed and advocate for our recovery choices and possibilities.

CFN Council Members:

Brenda Bergsrud

I find it is important to have members from all areas so that we are able to bring information and use each other as a resource for obtaining information. The returning veterans are suffering with mental illness and it is a privilege for me to able to give them multiple resources. It is also important for all of us to continue to be advocates and bring awareness.

Ella Davis:

Sara Highum:

I think it is important to be a part of the CFN Council for a couple of reasons. The first is to give a voice for people that currently do not have one, especially in regards to policies and budgets. The second is to inspire hope and combat stereotypes by proving that we are capable and intelligent people, regardless of our challenges in life.

Marcia Hettich:             

I’ve been on the CFN Council since June, 2012 representing MHAND. I support and am an advocate for all consumers experiencing behavioral health and substance abuse issues. My mission is to represent you, the consumer.

Beckie Child:

As a consultant for Peerlink National Technical Assistance Center, which is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through Mental Health America of Oregon, I am proud to participate on the CFN to provide technical assistance to support the development of the Consumer Family Network that facilitates recovery and the development of peer-delivered services. I'm excited to work with the CFN and hope to learn from you as well.

Nancy McKenzie:

Working with the CFN gives me the opportunity to assist in developing strong advocates and leaders in our network. After working many years in the mental health field, it is exciting to now be a part of this growing and exciting consumer movement. I am proud of what the CFN in North Dakota has already accomplished.

Dawn Pearson:

The ND Department of Human Services, through its Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (DMHSAS), provides funding to Mental Health America of North Dakota to serve as the coordinating center for the development and ongoing management of a statewide Consumer and Family Network.

I am the program administrator with DMHSAS, and oversee the fiscal and programmatic monitoring of the contract to ensure service delivery is consistent with contract provisions and to ensure performance objectives and measures identified in the contract are met. The DMHSAS supports consumer and family participation in the design and delivery of public mental health services and appreciates the work of the Consumer and Family Network in their efforts to ensure mental health care is recovery focused and consumer and family driven.

Liza Casey:

I feel it’s vital to give a "name and a face" to consumers by participating as a consumer. CFN is a chance to be truly active and begin changing the public’s views and to further explore my interests in this area.

Denise Harvey

I've enjoyed working in the mental health field and being an advocate for persons with disabilities for many years. It is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the Consumer Family Network. I look forward to working with empowered consumers and family members to see their input contributing to the development of new and effective mental health services. 

CFN Strategic Plan Highlights

History of Consumer Movement in North Dakota

1991

• North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) awards grant to then Mental Health Association in ND (MHAND) and now Mental Health America of ND (MHAND) to develop the first statewide Consumer Network.

1992

• Consumer Network Board of Directors creates by-laws and hires staff.

1995

• Loss of funding, staff and board. Informal regional consumer groups kept going.
• Wellness Recovery Action Program (WRAP) starts up statewide.

1999

• MHAND receives funding for Consumer Organization and Networking Technical Assistance program from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

2002

• Continued funding from SAMHSA.
• Consumer conferences held with statewide attendance.

2004

• ND DHS awards Consumer Organization Grant to MHAND.
• Leadership Academy Training for statewide consumer participants.

2006

• ND DHS awards Consumer and Family Network (CFN) grant to MHAND.
• MHAND creates and implements CFN curriculum program to ND consumers and family members with the support of an advisory committee and a consultant.

2007

• ND DHS issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Consumer Family Network (CFN).

2008

• ND DHS awards Western Sunrise, a consumer operated organization, a contract for the period of 2/01/08 - 6/30/09.

2009

• The DHS issues Western Sunrise a contract for the period 7/01/09 - 6/03/11.

2011

• ND DHS issues a Request for Proposal for Consumer Family Network on 06/03/11.
• ND DHS awards MHAND a contract for the period of 10/01/11 – 09/30/13 to focus on transformation of services that will be consumer and family member driven.

Mental Health America of North Dakota (MHAND) holds the CFN program in North Dakota.


Movement History of the Consumer/Client/Survivor/Ex-patient/Ex-Inmate/User Community (Timeline)