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THE PHILADELPHIA ALLIANCE MISSION STATEMENT

The Philadelphia Alliance, a professional society of fifty specialized agencies, working cooperatively, is committed to improving the quality of services for people with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and challenges from addictions to drug and/or alcohol through leadership and support of the human services system.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Michael Link, Gaudenzia

The business of this organization shall be managed by a Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall consist of a designated representative from each member agency. The Executive Committee, consisting of the current Officers, Domain Chairpersons, and any other Director appointed by the President, shall be empowered to act for the Board between regular meetings. The current Officers of the organization are:

President,          Michael Link, Gaudenzia
President-Elect,  Paula Cullinan, Center for Autism
Vice President,    Kathleen Brown McHale, SPIN
Secretary,          Debra Lacks, Wordsworth
Treasurer,          Theodore Glackman, JJPI/PHMC

Immediate Past President, Jeffrey Wilush, Horizon House

Other Members Appointed as Domain Chairs are:

Behavioral Health, Gerald Skillings, Horizon House,

Co-Chairs:            Terence McSherry, NET

Children & Family, Richelle Gunter, RHD

Intellectual Disabilities, Traci Gardner,

                                Barber National Institute

Membership Task Force, Antonio Valdés, CcTC

HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA ALLIANCE

The Philadelphia Alliance was formed in 1969 to provide a framework within which specialized agencies might endeavor to strengthen their working relationships with community mental health / mental retardation centers and the Philadelphia County OMH/MR; to guarantee to consumers a choice of community-based MH/MR services; and to maintain the role of specialized agencies as an integral part of the community-based MH/MR system in Philadelphia. The Alliance later (1989) welcomed into its membership ranks organizations that are committed to assisting individuals with substance abuse needs.

THE PURPOSES OF THE ALLIANCE

"The purposes of the Alliance are to bring together agencies providing community mental health, mental retardation and drug and alcohol services to improve, participate in and help implement the planning and coordination of these services throughout the Philadelphia area; to strengthen the working relationships among member agencies and with the City Administration and other relevant governmental offices; to further the opportunity and ability of member agencies to contribute to the effective delivery of services to the city's citizens affected by mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and drug and alcohol dependency."
Article 1, By-laws of the Philadelphia Alliance.

THE ROLE OF THE ALLIANCE

The Philadelphia Alliance is committed to the delivery of the best possible service systems and supports for people served by our member agencies.  The Philadelphia Alliance, through Domains, Committees, and teams of members, maintains communications with professionals, City of Philadelphia, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania officials.

The Board of Directors of the Alliance draws upon and utilizes the professional expertise and enthusiasm of its members in its advocacy work; it publishes position papers and promulgates opinions. It promotes necessary legislative, financial or programmatic changes to appropriate legislators or governmental agencies at local, state or national levels. The Alliance assists member agencies in collaboration for mutual benefit and for the benefit of individuals served.

MEMBERS OF THE PHILADELPHIA ALLIANCE

See Link to Members for more information about member agencies and leaders.

ALLIANCE DOMAINS AND COMMITTEES

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Composed of elected Officers and Domain Chairs. Meets monthly and has authority to act on behalf of the entire Board of Directors in between scheduled board meetings.

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES DOMAIN: Composed of Alliance members involved in Mental Retardation Services. Meets jointly with members of the Philadelphia Coalition. 

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DOMAIN: Composed of Alliance members involved in Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Services.

CHILDREN & FAMILY DOMAIN: Alliance members collaborating on issues related to children's services issues.  Domain members also work in concert with members of the Philadelphia Coalition on the Children's Mental Health Committee. [There is also a joint Subcommittee on School-Based Services for children.]

ANNUAL ALLIANCE BREAKFAST COMMITTEE: Plans and implements annual event.

WORKFORCE INITIATIVES COMMITTEE: An assortment of agency roles participates in this group of broad interests related to workforce issues, including Human Resource staff, training coordinators, administration and others from member agencies.  Their work is driven by stated priorities from the Board of Directors to promote and actively facilitate development of the workforce.

CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE:  plans the Annual Conference for Direct Service Professionals, of which the Alliance is very proud!

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: Promotes membership and recruits similar agencies for membership in the Alliance.

INFORMATION SERVICES COMMITTEE: Alliance members collaborating on issues related to information technology.

FINANCIAL OFFICERS COMMITTEE: Alliance members collaborating on issues related to financial management; also often dealing with system changes that have significant financial impact for member agencies.

PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE:  A select group of members of The Philadelphia Alliance.  The group establishes and promulgates, with the Executive Committee and/or Board approval, Alliance opinions and propositions.

ALLIANCE STAFF

The Alliance is staffed by an Executive Director, an Office Manager, and a part-time Special Assistant.