MMHA's Awareness Campaign for Local (Mental Health) Advisory Councils & Service Area Authorities

The MMHA created this webpage to help broadcast the Local (Mental Health) Advisory Councils (LAC's) and Service Area Authorities (SAA's) work across Montana.

What is a Local Advisory Council?

A local advisory council is a coalition of community members that serve as the foundation for assessing, planning and strengthening public mental health services in the community and to provide input and recommendations to other governing entities. LACs are one of the elements of a system of public mental health care that emphasizes the importance of local participation in planning for mental health services in the community.

Specific objectives of a LAC may include the following:
• Identify gaps in services.
• Recommend potential additions to services within the community.
• Analyze and discuss problems with service providers, advocacy groups, public officials and the general public.
• Facilitate accurate and timely communications between the local community and other governing entities.
• Assess the effectiveness of local mental health services and suggest ways services may be more effective.
• Serve as a catalyst and facilitator in solving local mental health service problems.
• Organize and coordinate needed services in the community.
• Educate the local community on mental health issues.

LACs are not intended to duplicate or replace service delivery agencies but to coordinate and collaborate with other councils, boards and advisory groups involved with the planning, delivery and evaluation of mental health services.

What does it mean to my community?

Those impacted by the effects of mental illness can ensure that their voice, suggestions, ideas, can make a difference in how services are planned and provided.

Who can participate?
All those concerned and interested in how persons with mental illnesses are treated and helped to achieve independence and health.

If you or someone you know have been impacted by depression, anxiety, or other serious mental health problems, your mental health Local Advisory Council needs your voice and skills/talents.

What is a Service Area Authority (SAA)?

The mission of an SAA is to ensure that consumers, their families, and other interested community stakeholders have a strong voice in defining, developing, managing and monitoring public mental health care delivery in Montana.  The Service Area Authorities (SAA's) were established by statute to collaborate with the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and Local Advisory Councils (LACs) in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the public mental health care system. See the WSAA and ESAA websites listed on the left for more information.