RECOVER e-works: Issue No. 19

An electronic circular of the Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery (formerly the New York Work Exchange), a project of the Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies.

The Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery provides assistance to the New York City mental health provider community through expert trainings, focused technical assistance, evaluation, information dissemination and special projects.

November 2005

(See all RECOVER e-works Issues)

This issue:

• Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies
• Hunter College
• Job Accommodation Network
• Mental Health Empowerment Project
• National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• SAMHSA
• Supportive Housing Network of NY
• US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association

• Corporation for National and Community Service
• NY Life Foundation
• Prudential Foundation

• NYS Office of Mental Health
• Social Security Administration
• SAMHSA
• US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association

• Department of Labor
• Job Accommodation Network
• Los Angeles Times
• National Institute of Mental Health
• SAMHSA

Education:

• Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery is beginning a 2005-2006 series of free half day, borough-based trainings for clinical staff in outpatient settings on the Basics of Benefits starting on November 29th at the Fordham-Tremont CDTP in the Bronx. For more information and to register call 212-742-1600, ext. 235. In addition, the Coalition's Professional Learning Center is offering the second in a series of trainings on Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT) on November 16th, from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM at Roosevelt Hospital, 59th Street & 10th Avenue. The topic is "Assessment and Screening Tools". The training is free and RSVP is required. For more information call 212-742-1600, ext. 102.
  
• Hunter College's School of Education will be hosting an orientation to their graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling November 21st from 6PM-7PM at 68th Street and Lexington Avenue, West Building, 10th Floor Community Room 1007. The orientation will include a description of the person-centered counseling services that a rehabilitation counselor gains from the program. For more information call 212-772-4624.


• Job Accommodation Network has a free training video called "ADA and Substance Abuse in the Workplace". The video helps viewers to understand when the ADA applies to employees with a substance abuse issue. To access the video go to: www.jan.wvu.edu/ppt/ADA_Substance_Abuse/ADA_Substance_Abuse.htm


• Mental Health Empowerment Project will hold its Annual Regional Conference on November 10th at Metropolitan Hospital, Draper Hall, 1901 First Avenue from 8:30AM-3:15PM. "Re-Connecting to Our Communities" will feature workshops on spirituality and recovery and wellness tools. For more information call 1-800-643-7462.


• National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy will hold its Annual Rights Conference in East Hartford, Connecticut on November 17th-20th with the theme of "Reclaiming Freedom: A Call to Action". Included will be workshops on the pros and cons of discontinuing psychiatric drugs and recovery through self-determination and empowerment. For more information go to: www.narpa.org


• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Office of Consumer Affairs will be hosting a free conference on November 16th called "Mind Your Health: Expanding the Vision of Mental Health Recovery" at NYU's Kimmel Center at 60 Washington Square South between 9AM-5:15PM. This conference will focus on wellness as a central part of recovery. Pre-registration is required by November 7th. For more information call 212-219-5375.


• SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services is presenting a live webcast of its Self Direction Education Project called "Peer Support: Disaster Preparation for People with Psychiatric Disabilities" on December 15th from 1PM-2:30PM (EDT). The webcast will focus on utilizing peer support during times of crisis. For more information call 301-589-4020, ext. 211.


• Supportive Housing Network of NY will present a workshop at 145 E. 23rd Street called "Tenant Employment Forum: Motivational Interviewing" on November 17th, from 9:30AM – 11:30AM. The workshop will focus on techniques for new case managers and experienced vocational staff. For more information and to register call 212-870-3303, ext. 7.


• US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association's 31st Annual Psychiatric Rehabilitation Conference has posted a Call for Workshop Proposals, Institute Proposals and Exhibits for its June 5th-8th, 2006 event. For more information go to: www.uspra.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3571

Funding and Grant Opportunities:

• (2/14/06) Corporation for National and Community Service has a number of AmeriCorps funding opportunities that will improve, initiate or expand organizations' abilities to help adults maintain independence, perform outreach and referral to the homeless, address needs in education and public safety (including disaster preparedness). For more information go to: www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/funding/index.asp


• (12/1) New York Life Foundation will award grants in support of its Educational Enhancement category as part of its Nurturing the Children Initiative. Educational enhancement programs that prepare young people for career advancement will be particularly eligible for a total of 6 grants of $25,000 each located in New York City's 5 boroughs and one in Westchester County. For more information go to: www.newyorklife.com/cda/0,3254,13735,00.html


• (ongoing) Prudential Foundation funds the following issue areas on a regular basis: community-based human services for underserved populations, school-to-career transition and job-creation strategies. For more information go to: www.prudential.com/productsAndServices/0,1474,intPageID%253D1440%2526blnPrinterFriendly%253D0,00.html

News Briefs/Events:

• NYS Office of Mental Health: Commissioner Sharon E. Carpinello announced the members of a quality improvement panel whose goal is to improve upon the Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program established in 1999 under Kendra’s Law. The panel includes quality improvement experts, recipients of mental health services, key stakeholder groups and family members. For more information go to: http://www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/news/aot_pr.htm


• Social Security Administration: SSI beneficiaries will receive a 4.1% increase (COLA) in 2006. In addition, changes have been made to the substantial gainful Activity figures and the SSI Federal Payment Standard. To view changes go to: www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2006.htm


• SAMHSAhas posted a new site called Schizophrenia Research Forum. The new site includes stories, live chats with archival potential and interviews from experts in the field. To access go to: www.schizophreniaforum.org


• US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA) has launched a new website that will include a link to information updates and greater networking capacity through message boards. In addition, USPRA's 2005-2008 Strategic Plan, one of the catalysts for the website revision, is available with plans for future directions. To visit the website go to: www.uspra.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

Publications:

• Department of Labor has a fact sheet describing the five important laws that protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination in employment and the job application process (November 2005). Included is a description of the ADA and the Workforce Investment Act. To access this page go to: www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/laws.htm


• Job Accommodation Network's Searchable Online Accommodations Resource (SOAR) has a paper (September 2005) that describes accommodations for workers who suffer from migraine headaches. There is a description of the different types of migraines and the types of accommodations that are suitable to improve productivity. To access go to: www.jan.wvu.edu/media/Migraine.html


• Los Angeles Times: "On-the-Job Therapy" (October 2005) is an article that speaks to the myths surrounding individuals with mental illness and work and the benefits of seeking and experiencing employment. To access go www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-mental31oct31,0,800370.story?coll=la-home-health


• National Institute of Mental Health: is launching Spanish-language publications (October 2005) to inform the Latino community about issues relating to depression and men. To learn more call the campaign's toll-free number at 1-866-227-6464 and go to: www.menanddepression.nimh.nih.gov/infopage.asp?ID=4


• SAMHSA's report "Suicidal Thoughts among Youths Aged 12-17 with Major Depressive Episode" (September 2005) presents data on the number of youth with suicidal ideation during recent episodes of major depression. To access the report go to: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k5/suicide/suicide.cfm

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