Mental Health Advocacy
Empowerment, a process by which a consumer may achieve self-determination, is the central theme of our organization, and includes many activities enhanced through use of the computer.  For example, internet resources such as information sites can help a person become better equipped to navigate our mental health system and learn about medication and treatment practices.  We want people to take an active role in their treatment. 

The net can also link a person with other consumers around the country and around the world, facilitating forums for discussion of issues with relevance to those with mental illness.  Email can foster bonds between a consumer and the consumer's family, making him or her more likely to receive critical family support during times of greatest need.  The net also makes it very convenient for a person to engage in civics, understanding one's rights and responsibilities in our gifted democracy.  There are so many good uses for the computer, uses emphasized in CEP.

Volunteer Work
As mentioned earlier each pupil is expected to eventually share computer knowledge with others.  This sharing can take many forms, though many will have the opportunity to serve as CEP mentors, attracting new pupils and expanding the CEP horizon. The benefits of participating as a mentor cannot be overstated.  A mentor learns how to be part of a charitable organization.  A mentor has the opportunity to be valued for the skills he or she possesses.  A mentor starts and maintains an important social relationship with the pupils.  Certain mentors may eventually become paid EFHM staff, training the general public in PC usage, creating web sites, or building computer systems.  Others may choose to reintegrate into the mainstream work world.  Whatever one's personal direction, a CEP person is no longer "holding on." A CEP person is striving in a meaningful, positive, and measurable way.

Infrastructure
CEP requires very little cash flow to implement, and holds some promise as a way of building infrastructure for the emerging mental health consumer movement.  For the foreseeable future, there will be people needing to be linked with our information society, and people with much to benefit from a collaborative mentoring approach.