RecovErie

-Erie County has been selected to be a part of two Statewide Recovery Initiatives, the New Freedom Initiative and the Certified Peer Specialist Initiative.

-The Recipe For Recovery Conference was held on October 19, 2005, as a Kick-Off for the New Freedom Initiative. Over 200 People attended to learn about Recovery Basics.

New Freedom Initiative NFI

Erie County applied and was selected to participate in this initiative sponsored by the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) in the spring of 2004. The County and NFI Committee receive technical assistance from Drexel University as a part of this project.

Goals - 1. Develop a recovery oriented culture in the Stairways Outpatient Clinic as a model of recovery that can be implemented throughout the county.

2. Develop an Erie County Resource Team of consumers and professionals who are trained in the theories of the recovery as a resource to other consumers and professionals.

Status - Stairways has made recovery oriented changes at the Outpatient Clinic (language, job descriptions, physical layout of the clinic including common restrooms for staff and clients) and will continue to do so as they receive feedback from focus groups and the committee.

Next Steps A post survey will be conducted. Outcomes will be measured. Information will be shared with other providers. Initiative ends September 2006.

Expected outcomes

1. A decrease in physical and behavioral health hospitalizations, incarcerations, no show rates, and drop out rates at the Outpatient Clinic

2. Positive life style changes for clients at the Outpatient Clinic.

3. Recovery information and ideas to share with other providers.

Certified Peer Specialist Initiative

March 2005 – Erie County applied and was selected to participate in this initiative sponsored by OMHSAS. The County and Peer Specialist Committee receive technical assistance from Betsy Kidwell of the Institute of Recovery and Community Integration.

Goal- To train at least twenty individuals as certified peer specialists and employ the equivalent of five full time positions. Peer involvement is integral to the recovery process. Peers in helper roles inspire hope, trust, personal responsibility, empowerment, self determination and social connectedness.

Status- Committee members have been educated on the content of peer training and what other states and counties are doing. Education of Erie community and providers is taking place to create interest in the peer specialist training. Certified Peer Specialist Training is scheduled for March 6-10 and March 20-24, 2006 , (40 hours each week.) at Gannon University .

Next Steps - Consultant Betsy Kidwell is meeting with provider/employers to assist with job descriptions. Continue with community education. Select individuals who will participate in the training.

Expected outcome

1. Improvement of a recovery culture in Erie County .

Training and Education Subcommittee

Mission Statement: To ensure that high quality, relevant, effective recovery focused training and education opportunities are available throughout the Erie County community mental health system of consumers, providers, family members and the broader community.

Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at 1:30 PM, Stairways Behavioral Health, and are open to any community member interested in assisting the committee

Current Projects:

-Developing a lunch time speaker’s series on Recovery

-Developing a list of certified recovery trainers in Erie County to share with providers.

Community Support Program (CSP)

Community Support Program meets on the second Wednesday, every other month, at the Mental Health Association, 1101 Peach Street, from 3 PM – 4:30 PM.

CSP meeting dates for 2006: April 12, June 14, August 9, October 11, and December 13.

The Community Support Program is designed for consumers, family members, professionals and other community members to meet as equals as they work to improve the Mental Health System in Pennsylvania .

The Community Support Programs in Erie County :

1. Creates a space for collaboration and information sharing

2. Helps identify the needs in local communities

3. Advises on the needs and priorities of the county based mental health system

4. Interfaces with the Regional and State Community Support Program.

Questions?

Email Joann Calabrese.

UPCOMING RECOVERY

EVENTS

Mental Health Recovery

Luncheon Speaker Series

12:10 – 12:50

Erie Insurance Auditorium

Corner of 6^th and French

(bag lunches provided to go)

April 21, Recovery and the CSP Wheel, Dave Wooledge

April 26, Wellness Recovery Action Plan, Gail Cash

May 16, Recovery vs. the Traditional Medical Model, Trisha Cloyd and Amy Hamilton

Mary 30, Art and Recovery, Lee Steadman and Kate Bender

June 13, Faiweather Lodge as a Recovery Tool, Enrico Bianco and Scott Ross

June 20, Mental Health Advanced Directives, Mark Nowotny

RSVP to Trisha Cloyd at 878-2168 or tcloyd@stairwaysbh.org

* Community Support Program meets on the second Wednesday, every other month, at the Mental Health Association, 1101 Peach Street, from 3 PM – 4:30 PM.

CSP meeting dates for 2006: April 12, June 14, August 9, October 11, and December 13.

* The Training Subcommittee of RecovErie meets the 3^rd Wednesday of the month, at the Stairways Main Building, 138 East 26^th Street, from 11 AM – noon. Call Trisha Cloyd to confirm schedule, 878-2168

Erie County Mental Health Provider Links – Adult Services

Case Management Support Services

Community of Caring

814-456-6661

Counseling Services Center of Southeast County, Inc (Corry)

814-664-7761

Crime Victim Center

Family Services

Lake Shore Community Services

814- 456-9962

Mental Health Association of Northwestern PA

NAMI, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of PA, Erie , County Affiliate