What is the Treatment Advocacy Center?
The Treatment Advocacy Center is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illnesses. TAC promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Our full mission statement ... and our Case Statement brochure

What are the primary activities of the Treatment Advocacy Center?
The principal activities of the Treatment Advocacy Center include educating policymakers and judges about the true nature of severe brain disorders, advanced treatments available for those illnesses, and the necessity of community ordered treatment in some cases; assisting individuals in states working to promote laws that enable individuals with the most severe brain disorders to receive assisted treatment; promoting innovative approaches to diverting the psychiatrically ill away from the criminal justice system and into appropriate treatment; ensuring that individuals receive adequate psychiatric services and maintain medication compliance upon release from hospitals; and supporting the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.                                                                                                                

Why does TAC focus on assisting those with SEVERE mental illnesses?
The Treatment Advocacy Center focuses on the subpopulation of those with the most severe mental illnesses - people whose brain disorders are the most severe and debilitating. Often, this is the group underserved by the mental health advocacy community at large. This is also the group most likely to benefit from tools like assisted outpatient treatment.

Who is on the board of directors for the Treatment Advocacy Center?
The Treatment Advocacy Center's board of directors is made up of mental health advocates, consumers, medical professionals, and representatives of law enforcement and the courts. For more information, see a full list of board members and read their bios. We also have an honorary advisory committee.

Where does the Treatment Advocacy Center get its funding?
The Treatment Advocacy Center is funded by a host of individual donors and grants. Since its inception, the Treatment Advocacy Center has not accepted funding from pharmaceutical companies or entities involved in the sale, marketing or distribution of such products. This stance is unusual in the mental health advocacy field.

Does the Treatment Advocacy Center take money from pharmaceutical companies?
No. The Treatment Advocacy Center does not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies or entities involved in the sale, marketing or distribution of such products. This stance is unusual in the mental health advocacy field.

Does talking about instances of violence stigmatize the mentally ill?
The public's association of mental illness with violence is probably the major cause of stigma against mentally ill individuals. This association is very strong and has apparently increased in recent years. The most likely reason for this increasing stigma is an increasing incidence of violent crimes committed by seriously mentally ill individuals who are not receiving treatment for their psychiatric disorders. Therefore, the most effective way to decrease stigma is to reduce the incidence of such violent crimes; this can be done by utilizing various forms of assisted treatment.

I want to help the Treatment Advocacy Center with its mission. What can I do?
You may want to sign up for the Treatment Advocacy Center's free weekly email newsletter, e-news, or our periodic hardcopy newsletter, Catalyst, to keep on top of the campaigns we are supporting. We are especially pleased to work with advocates and family members in states with no assisted outpatient treatment or poor assisted treatment laws to advocate for change.

Most importantly, if you have a story to tell of how assisted treatment helped you or someone you love, please share it with your legislators. We can help you craft a letter and get it to the right people. Just let us know that you are interested.

You can also donate to the Treatment Advocacy Center - via the website or through regular mail.

How do I contribute?
You can donate to the Treatment Advocacy Center - via the website or through regular mail. Please be sure to indicate if you would like the donation to be made "In Honor Of" or "In Memory Of" a special person. "In Honor Of" and "In Memory Of" gifts will be published in our periodic hardcopy newsletter, Catalyst.

The Treatment Advocacy Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Treatment Advocacy Center does not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies or entities involved in the sale, marketing or distribution of such products. Thank you for considering supporting the Treatment Advocacy Center.

Where do I obtain a copy of the Treatment Advocacy Center's IRS form 990?
You may find a copy of our IRS Form 990 here.