The Southwest Regional Mental Health Board was created by State mandate to assess and promote mental health and addiction services in Southwestern Connecticut. This role includes conducting a bi-annual needs assessment of the region; identifying unmet needs and working with regional and state agencies to plan for services; and evaluating DMHAS (Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services)  in our region. SWRMHB’s two Catchment Area Councils (CACs) provide a public forum for consumers of mental health services, their family members, and service providers to share and learn together. CAC initiatives focus on community education and advocacy.