C.H.I.P. Purpose

[RCCAtl]

Our purpose is to build and nurture an interfaith coalition in which public, private, non-profit agencies and faith communities work collaboratively and cooperatively to assure that every person, family, and community in the Atlanta metropolitan area have meaningful access to the full range of information and services related to mental and addictive illness including awareness, prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery services. We work together so that all people with mental and addictive illnesses may experience the highest possible level of recovery, resiliency, and integration into their families, their communities, and the economy and so that the stigma and discrimination associated with mental and addictive illnesses may be eliminated. Short history of this coalition

In the spring of 2010, SAMHSA convened the Community Leaders and Interfaith Partnership Summit. The purpose was to share a vision for responding to the needs of those affected by substance abuse and mental health disorders through community-level collaborations. The Atlanta team consisted of fifteen participants representing a wide variety of faith and community-based organizations, both public and private. Discussions focused on the particular challenges facing our community, as well as Atlanta’s unique assets and resources. Following the summit, the Atlanta team sought to expand ita diverse group of partners, including clinicians, service providers, faith-based non-profits, public agencies, and concerned citizens. As the group’s numbers increased, so did its capacity to undertake significant work in the community. In September 2010, the group adopted the name C.H.I.P. (Community Health Interfaith Partnership) to communicate its role in the community clearly.