We vet our database of services according to ‘best practice,’ which in short means the kind of care you would want for yourself. The person, and the family, are central: all decisions about treatment and support are theirs to make, in collaboration with doctors, therapists, and other providers.
The guiding principles are straightforward. The service must:

1. promote a person’s sense of physical and emotional safety through a culture of kindness, respect, and open communication.
2. activate the person’s awareness that he or she can lead a meaningful, purposeful life, by drawing on natural strengths and potential. It is about the person, not the ‘pathology.'
3. promise a non-restrictive environment, whenever possible.
4. ensure culturally competent support, with protocols to deal with cultural matters in as nuanced a way as possible.

​By its nature, the GPS will expose gaps in services and poor practices and highlight bright examples of hope and effective treatment.