Dear Friends,

We are pleased to announce the formation of the National Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care. 

Don Cooper is on its Board of Directors and I am its Chairman.  The Foundation funded and convened a "Symposium on Medication Optimization in Service of Recovery" in Portland, Oregon on the 11^th and 12^th of February. Don Cooper, Dr. Ken Kallenbach (CooperRiis' medical director) and I attended along with fifty-one psychiatrists, therapists, consumer advocates, program providers and policy makers from twelve other states.  

The Symposium's attendees cited emerging research indicating that medications work well for some people, but that many who are diagnosed with mental illness are not always served well by the permanent use of medications. The twenty-two psychiatrists in attendance will be publishing new protocols for medication optimization for psychiatrists and professionals who are interested in using medications in a manner that is more likely to improve recovery outcomes.