About Us

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 (President) Region 3

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.

Siobhan Deppa (Vice Preseident) Region 5

I am serving on the CFN Council for Region 5. I live in Fargo and have been active with volunteering as a consumer/advocate in the CFN since 2014. CFN is important to me because it teaches individuals how to advocate for better mental health services which families and their loved ones can incorporate into their self care and continued recover. The CFN is on the side of the consumer, a voice and face of many individuals liveng their lives in recovery. Tin the CFN the consumer's lived experience is valued and respected.

Travis Day: ( Secretary) Region 4

Marcia Hettich: Rural Rep.

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.

Sheryl Beard: Region 1

Brenda Munson: Region 2

I was appointed to the CFN Board in 2018. Serving as a CFN Board member alows me the opportunity to ensure that the North Dakota mental healthcare system is inclusive to all consumers, family members and caregivers. Working together allows our voices to be heard statewide as an advocate for choices and positive change.

Chasity (Chaz) Brobst: Region 6

Jessica Bowers: Region 7

Julie Menard: Region 8

Renee Wezsteon: NDFFCMH rep

Mary Otteson: MHAND rep

EliseOlson: NAMI rep

Denise Harvey: P& A rep

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

STRATEGY	OUTCOME/RESULT
I. Establish strong roles and functions for the council and network	Clearly defined expectations/roles of council members Develop a Statewide CFN and a supportive community Increase membership/capacity Recovery is consumer and family-driven
II. Develop membership opportunities in the 8 service regions and the 4 tribes	Increase membership in all areas in Year 1 Include tribal consumers/families in transformation & networking Eliminate disparities among underserved populations in access to advocacy
III. Conduct annual conference for CFN, providers, and advocacy organizations	Increase involvement in conference and transformation Conference has broad range of programming
IV. Conduct September Recovery Month activities	People of ND learn about recovery, importance of care options and access to consumer-driven services
V. Establish a website to host recovery-oriented supports and connections	Consumers, families, advocates and providers have access to local and national recovery and advocacy information and resources
VI. Participate as advocates in State and Regional activities related to transformation	Consumers and family members are advocates for transformation and recovery
VII. Empower consumers to be well-informed of choices and possibilities beyond those presently available	ND CFN representatives to the Alternatives Conference provide information to the CFN Council, Recovery Centers, and the CFN website
VIII. Develop the CFN Collaborative and a network relationship with providers and service centers	Recovery concepts and contributions of consumers/families are embraced by providers

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)