Mentally Challenged

Hearts & Minds - Information for Change^SM

Mentally Challenged

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
3615 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.,
Washington, DC 20016
Phone: 1-202-966-7300 or 1-202-966-2891
Website: www.aacap.org/
       "The AACAP is the leading national professional medical association dedicated to treating and improving the quality of life for children, adolescents, and families affected by these disorders. Its members actively research, evaluate, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders, as well as give direction to and responde quickly to new developments in addressing the health care needs of children and their families.
       "The AACAP widely distributes information on the website, in a effort to promote an understanding of mental illnesses and remove the stigma associated with them; advance efforts in prevention of mental illnesses, and assure proper treatment and access to services for children and adolescents."
       The site provides information about issues that affect children, teenagers and their families (from alcohol to violence on television) in six languages. There is also information about research, training, clinical trials and links to related organizations. -SLG

American Association on Mental Retardation
444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 846
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 1-202-387-1968 or 1-800-424-3688
Website: www.aamr.org/
      "AAMR promotes global development and dissemination of progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual disabilities."
      The AAMR website has plenty of information about helping those who have mental disabilities. - RT
      The site facilitates discussion groups for those working in the field, there is a great bookstore to browse and AAMR sends out regular newsletters per e-mail. -slg.

The ARC of the US
1010 Wayne Ave.,
Suite 650
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 1-301-565-3842
E-mail: Info@thearc.org
Website: www.thearc.org/
"The Arc of the United States is the nation's leading national organization on mental retardation. The Arc represents more than seven million children and adults with mental retardation and their families. The Arc has more than 140,000 members within approximately 1,000 state and local chapters nationwide."
The ARC website has information on how to contribute to the organization. There is a lot of information regarding the issue of mental retardation and what the state is doing for it. - RT

Best Buddies
100 SE Second Street, #1990
Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 1-800-89-BUDDY or 1-305-374-2233 or 1-305-374-5305
Email: LaverneLewis@BestBuddies.org
Website: www.bestbuddies.org/
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization involving 50,000 participants in all 50 of the United States, as well as in Canada, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, Ireland, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden; with programs developing in Brazil, Mexico, and Turkey. It has grown from one chapter to more than 1,000 middle school, high school, and college campuses across the country and internationally.
There are several ways to get involved - business parties, become an e-buddy, buy a t-shirt, collect fine art, employ someone with a disability - as well as volunteering, from middle schools to colleges to beyond. -SLG

The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation
1325 G Street, N.W., Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 1-202-393-1250
Email: info@jpfk.org
Website: www.jpkf.org/
       "The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, established in 1946 by Ambassador and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, honors their eldest son who was killed in World War II. The Foundation has two major objectives: to improve the way society deals with its citizens who have mental retardation, and to help identify and disseminate ways to prevent the causes of mental retardation."
       The Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation website has information on how to help with mental retardation. There are also links to related sites. - RT
     The website contains general guidelines on how to request funding for innovative and new projects for the mentally challenged. -SLG

UCLA Mental Retardation Research Center
760 Westwood Plaza, 68-177 NPI
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: 1-310-825-5189
E-mail: mrrc@mednet.ucla.edu
Website: www.mrrc.npi.ucla.edu/mrrc/page1.html
       "The mission of the Center is to elucidate the molecular, cellular and behavioral mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of developmental dysfunctions causing mental retardation and to translate this fundamental knowledge into novel diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic approaches which can be ultimately applied in clinical care."
       This website has information about new research regarding mental retardation. There is information about when the group meets. - RT
       The organization provides training for scientists in the field of the causes, prevention and treatment of mental retardation and related developmental disorders. -SLG

President's Committee on Mental Retardation (PCMR)
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Suite 701
Washington, DC 20447
Phone: 202-619-0634 or 202-205-9519
E-mail: pcmr@acf.dhhs.gov
Website: www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/pcmr/
       "The PCMR acts in an advisory capacity to the President and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on matters relating to programs and services for persons with mental retardation. Since 1974, the Committee has organized national planning, stimulated development of plans, policies and programs and advanced the concept of community participation in the field of mental retardation."
       The PCMR website has information about how the organization is helping with the issue of mental retardation. - RT
       The organization provides a lot of services to families and the website has very good information about these. -SLG

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Aging with Developmental Disability
Email: lisab@uic.edu
Website: www.uic.edu/orgs/rrtcamr/index.html
"The RRTCADD's mission is to promote the independence, productivity, community inclusion, full citizenship and self-determination of older adults with mental retardation through a coordinated program of research, training, technical assistance and dissemination activities. The main goal of the RRTC is to translate knowledge gained from research into practice through broad-based training, technical assistance, and dissemination to persons with mental retardation, their families, service providers, administrators and policy makers, advocacy groups, and the general community."
This website provides information on the latest research, model programs, and policy issues pertaining aging people with this mental disability. It describes training and technical assistance opportunities, conferences, and available resources. These resources are available in various formats, including written products, videotapes, and CDs. Many of the products can be downloaded at no cost. -SLG

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