NYWe-works: Issue No. 11

March 2005

(See all NYWe-works Issues)

This issue:

Education

• APSE
• Boston University
• Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies
• Howie T. Harp
• NYCETC
• NYWE
• USPRA

• National Transitional Jobs Network
• NYC DOHMH
• Pacific Corps Foundation for Learning

News Briefs/Events

• Career Expo for People with Disabilities
• Cornell University
• Kaiser Family Foundation
• NASMHPD
• NYSOMH
• VESID
• WIA

• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Kaiser Family Foundation
• NYDLN
• NYSOMH
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal
• Psychiatric Services
• SAMHSA
• TRN

Education:

• APSE is offering a series of teleconferences for a fee March 1st- May 17th.  Some of the topics include "Fundamentals of Job Development" and "Supported Employment and Mental Health".  For more information and to register go to:  www.apse.org
• Boston University:  Four weeks remain to apply to the Certificate Program in Psychiatric Vocational Rehabilitation.  The program is designed to accommodate the long-distance learner, offering two 1-week training sessions in Boston with technical support throughout the year.  Application deadline is April 1st.  For more information go to:  www.bu.edu.cpr/training/vocrehab/
• Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies will be offering the New Manager Series, Training Session I - Introduction and Overview on March 14th from 9:30-5:30 at 90 Broad Street, 8th floor.  This session will provide an overview of the three sessions in the Professional Development Series and will focus on key issues and challenges faced by mid-level managers in behavioral health agencies.  This is open to both members and non-members.  Fee and registration information can be obtained by calling 212-742-1600, ext. 106.
• Howie T. Harp has an orientation planned for March 18th at 1PM for individuals interested in the Peer Specialist Training Program, Starr Program, and the ACE Program.  To obtain more information call 212-865-0775.  Howie T. Harp is also offering a free informational workshop on taking the CPRP (Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner) exam on March 29th from 1:00PM-3:00PM.  For more information on this workshop call 212- 865-0775, extension 133.
• NYCETC will be presenting "Using the New NYC Self-Sufficiency Benefits Calculator to Help Your Clients Obtain Work Supports" on April 19 and April 26 from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM.  The computer-based Self-Sufficiency Calculator screens income eligibility, tax credits, and estimates benefit amount for work supports.  Register by March 18.  For more information go to www.nycetc.org/calendar_trainings.html
• NYWE is offering "An Inclusive Workforce:  Working with Consumers as Colleagues", on March 17th at 90 Broad Street from 9AM-1PM.  This professional seminar will feature an expert group of panelists from the mental health sector discussing how to promote and maintain a workforce that is committed to hiring mental health recipients.  For more information and to register call 212-742-1600, ext. 235.  
• USPRA is offering an audio conference called "PSR 101:  Supported Employment:  A Working Life for People with Serious Mental Illness" on March 23rd from 3-4 PM.  Deborah Becker from Dartmouth Medical School, an expert in the field, will focus on the fundamental principles of supported employment.  For fee and registration information for Seminar code 10532 go to: www.krm.com/regonline/iapvcregs.nsf/10532 or call 800-775-7654.         

Funding and Grant Opportunities:

• (3/15) National Transitional Jobs Network has issued a request for proposals to nonprofit organizations to receive 18 months of expert technical assistance to establish transitional jobs programs for individuals with barriers to work. Deadline: March 15, 2005.  For information go to:  www.transitionaljobs.net/ProgramStartup/Downloads/Transitional%20Jobs%20RFP%2005.pdf
• (ongoing) NYC DOHMH:  The City's Division of Mental Hygiene (DMH) has a RFP for 700 Supportive Housing units for homeless persons with Serious & Persistent Mental Illness.  The deadline is ongoing with two pre-proposal conferences scheduled for March 10 and July 12.    Go to this website to obtain contract information: (http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/acco/acco-rfp-mh-20050211-housing-form.html    
• (3/15, etc.) Pacific Corps Foundation for Learning  is accepting grant applications from nonprofit organizations to address the needs of communities focusing on  civic and community betterment, arts and culture, health and human services, and education.  Deadline: March 15 (Education Organizations); June 15 (Community Organizations); December 15 (Social service Organizations).  For more information go to:  www.pacificorpfoundation.org/index.htm

News Briefs/Events:

• Career Expo for People with Disabilities will be held at the Hotel Pennsylvania at 401 Seventh Avenue at 34th Street in NYC on Friday, April 8th between 10am and 4pm.  To register on line go to:  www.eop.com/exporegistration.html   
• Cornell University has designed a website called DisabilityStatistics.org to make disability statistics and related demographic information from the National Organization on Disability available. To access the information go to: www.ilr.cornell.edu/ped/disabilitystatistics/register.cfm
• Kaiser Family Foundation has put together an overview with briefing charts on President Bush's FY2006 budget.  These resources examine health care priorities such as Medicaid, Medicare, and discretionary public health programs.  To view this resource go to:  www.kff.org/uninsured/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=51691
•  NASMHPD's E-Report provides access to panel questions and panelists' responses of three experts on recovery-based care discussing the status of a public mental health workforce about to encounter system transformation.  The panel includes Pat Deegan, Mary Jensen, and Edward Knight.  To access go to: www.nasmhpd.org/spec_e-report_fall04panel.cfm
•  NYSOMH has posted the proposed rules regarding the regulations applicable to the Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) initiative in the State Register which will begin the formal 45 day public comment period.  To view go to:   www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/policy/512pros.htm  In addition OMH has posted the newly revised Draft PROS Handbook on their website which can be accessed at:  www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/pros/handbook.htm
• OMH has scheduled two training/informational meetings on March 15^th   on the implementation of the new fingerprinting law at the Bronx Psychiatric Center.  Forms for registration can be accessed at:  www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/fingerprint/registration.htm   Disregard the February 28th cut off date.  [The Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies, Inc. is working with OMH to schedule more meetings in lower Manhattan and is collecting a list of concerns on this law.  For information on this call the Coalition at 212-742-1600, ext. 102.]
• VESID has posted dates of upcoming Designing Our Future meetings.  April 4th meetings for the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan will be held at the Harlem State Office Building on 125th Street from 1-3 PM.  On April 14th a meeting will be held in Queens at Abilities Inc., 201 I.U. Willets Road, Alberstson from 10 AM- 12 PM.  For more information call the VESID district office at 518-473-8097.
• WIA:   The President's 2006 Budget has recommended to Congress that governors be given flexibility to meet local needs by allowing them to consolidate any of the 9 job training programs (DOL Programs, VR, and Youth Employment) into one state plan.  The WIA PLUS Consolidated Grant Program, as an amendment to WIA (including Rehabilitation Act, HR 27) has had major opposition throughout NY and through intensive lobbying this was not passed as an amendment by the House of Representatives.  Lobbying with Senate staff remains on reauthorizing WIA and the Rehab Act as is.  For more information go to:  www.nationalrehab.org/website/govt/200314.html

Publications:

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a report called "The Lukewarm 2004 Labor Market:  Despite Some Signs of Improvement, Wages Fell, Job Growth Lagged, and Unemployment Spells Remained Long" (February 2005).  The report examines these categories and makes comparisons to previous years.  To read go to:  www.cbpp.org/2-16-05ui.pdf

Kaiser Family Foundation released new guides explaining the role of Medicare and Medicaid.  Basic introductions and application procedures for individuals with disabilities are some of the items included.  The guides are:   "Navigating Medicare and Medicaid" (2005) and "Keeping Medicare and Medicaid When You Work" (2005).  To view go to:  www.kff.org/medicare/med020705pkg.cfm

NYDLN (National Youth Development Learning Network) released "Mentoring Youth Work Professionals" (October 2004) in its e-newsletter.  This article looks at how to get started in forming a youth worker mentoring program, the benefits of mentoring, resources, and lessons learned.  To view go to:
www.nydic.org/nydic/documents/Prof_Series_ENews3.pdf

NYSOMH commissioned a project through PEOPLe Inc., a multi-county recipient-run program in New York State, to collate consumer feedback on the OMH 2004-2008 Statewide Comprehensive Plan.  "Infusing Recover-Based Principles into Mental Health Services" is a white paper resulting from this project (September 2004).  The paper provides consumer suggestions for improving mental health care in response to the Statewide Comprehensive Plan.  To view go to:   www.nyaprs.org/PDF/ConsumerWhitePaperfinal10.12.04.pdf

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal's "Good Days and Bad Days:  The Experiences of Children of a Parent with a Psychiatric Disability" is a free article available from the Summer issue, 2004.  The article examines secondary data analysis from a study including face-to-face interviews with children describing their experiences with a parent who has a psychiatric disability.  To access go to:  www.bu.edu/prj/summer2004/rieb-etal.html

Psychiatric Services published an essay by Bill Anthony (Boston University) in 2003 that remains timely: "Studying Evidence-Based Processes not Practices".  This essay describes Anthony's position on studying service delivery processes more fully in light of the emphasis on evidence-based practices.  To read go to:  ps.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/54/1/7

SAMHSA has released a new Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) as a toolkit for working with co-occurring substance abuse and mental disorders (January 2005).  In the toolkit SAMHSA estimates that 50-75% of individuals in substance abuse treatment programs have a co-occurring mental illness while 20-50% of mental health recipients have a substance abuse problem.  To order TIP 42, inventory number BKD515, call 800-729-6686. 

TRN is selling the "Employee Satisfaction Survey in Supported Employment Services" (February 2005).  This survey measures recipients' work and program satisfaction in supportive vocational services. This survey can be utilized on an individual and agency-wide basis.  To order go to:  www.trninc.com/products/empsatsurvey.htm

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NYWe-works is a monthly electronic newsletter for mental health and rehabilitation providers in New York City. NYWe-works contains news briefs, information on publications, funding information, and educational resources.

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