Meaningful Representation of Lived and Living Experience in Governance

The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are required to ensure meaningful representation of people with lived or living experience of mental health and substance use challenges and their family members in governance and program implementation.

Establishing CCBHC boards or advisory committees that meaningfully incorporate voices of lived and living experience is a critical component of improving behavioral health services for those who need them most.

This toolkit dives into the CCBHC Certification Criteria 6.B: Governance, and outlines:

• An overview of CCBHC requirements for meaningful representation of people with lived/living experience.
• Considerations and best practices for meaningful participation of lived/living experience in CCBHC governance, including membership and recruitment, engagement and accessibility.
• Special considerations for advisory committees.