Training for Advocacy—Skills—Connections (TASC)

2006 TASC Graduates

Training for Advocacy—Skills—Connections (TASC) is a five-week leadership training series for men and women who have been personally challenged by mental illness.  The TASC helps build the leadership skills of people with mental illness in San Francisco.  Research has found that the most effective way to reduce stigma is by having direct personal interaction with people with mental illness who speak out and share their stories. TASC trains a team of people affected by mental illness to speak about their experiences, reduce stigma and increase access to mental health services—leading to improved mental health in our community.

The TASC educates consumers on how to be active participants in changing and improving local mental health policy. The TASC teaches consumers how to research the mental health issues they care about, how to give public comment at policy meetings, and the importance of fighting stigma so that the crucial voices of those who experience mental illness firsthand are heard.

The TASC is typically held for 5 consecutive Tuesdays during Mental Health Month in May. The innovative training workshops focus on the structure of city and state systems (including the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, San Francisco Department of Public Health and Community Behavioral Health Services), public speaking training, writing skills, stigma busting, community organizing, budget advocacy, and information about getting involved in mental health policy.  Participants also attend a Health Commission meeting to see advocacy in action, and receive a comprehensive resource binder with articles on TASC training topics as well as additional reading materials.

This year's TASC graduates said:

“Thank you for such an enlightening experience!”

“I have learned a lot from this training. I hope to serve on the City of San Francisco Mental Health Board. I could have never been involved without this training class.”

Click here for the survey results from the last TASC.

Get involved!
The 2007 TASC will be held starting May 29, 5:30-8pm.  Registration is open!  Click here for flyer registration and more information

If you are interested in learning about our next training, please contact Alecia Hopper, Public Policy Coordinator, at (415) 421-2926 ext. 302 or at alecia@mha-sf.org.