Grassroots Empowerment Project Inc (GEP) is Wisconsin’s only state-wide non-profit organization that is controlled and directedby mental health consumers.  90% of the Board of Directors and 100% of the staff are persons with mental illness.  We are funded by the State of Wisconsin- Department of Health and Family Services, Bureau of Community Mental Health with federal Mental Health Block Grant dollars.  With the $454,000 we received from DHFS and additional donations in 2007 we were able to:

• Fund 10 mental health consumer run organizations throughout WI that provided peer support  such as:  support groups, non-crisis phone line services, community presentations on mental health, consultation to state and local mental health committee’s, formal and informal education seminars, social activities and participating in community events. All services were provided by mental health consumers. 

Consumer run services:       

• Provided 14,033 hours direct peer services to 2169 consumers
• Provided information and assistance to 1,871people (consumers and non-consumers)
• Provided volunteer opportunities for 239 consumers who worked 18,266 hours
• Provide training and technical assistance to those organizations to assure their success
• Hold anannual consumer conference- a 2 day educational opportunity by consumers for consumers with over 150 participants
• Hold our annual Empowerment Days- a  3 day event that brings together over 150 consumers to the State Capitol to meet with their Legislators and discuss issues and concerns regarding the mental health system and other health care needs.

Click to view a map of the sites.

For more information on Grassroots Empowerment Project contact:
Molly Cisco, Executive Director
800-770-0588 or mollycisco@msn.com