RECOVER e-works: Issue No. 22

An electronic circular of the Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery, 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.

February 2006

This issue:

• APSE: The Network on Employment
• Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies
• SAMHSA
• US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
• Workforce Professionals Training Institute

• NYC Department of Education
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• NYC Department of Homeless Services
• NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation
• SAMHSA
• US Department of Health and Human Services
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development

• Brooklyn Job and Career Fair
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Families USA
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
• NYS Office of Mental Health
• NYS Senate
• Riverdale Mental Health Association
• SAMHSA
• VESID
• White House.gov

• Consensus Project
• HR Society for Human Resources Management
• Mathematica Policy Research
• National Mental Health Association
• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• NYC Young Adult Task Force
• Psychiatric Services
• Public/Private Ventures
• SAMHSA

Education:

• APSE: The Network on Employment will hold a national symposium on employment and Psychiatric Rehabilitation on April 10th and 11th in East Elmhurst, NY featuring the Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery and other experts in the field of supported employment. More information is to follow in the March issue of RECOVER e-works. Hold the date!


• Coalition of Behavioral Health Agencies: the Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery is launching "Opening the Door to Recovery... Helping Consumers Move Forward", a three part Core Competency training series. "Introduction to Mental Health, Rehabilitation and Recovery", a two day training designed for front-line staff is scheduled for March 7th and 8th. For more information call 212-742-1600, ext. 235.
  
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  The Coalition's Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery is offering training in the "Basics of Benefits" at 90 Broad Street on March 9th from 1-4PM. This is a continuation of the Center's borough based series. For more information go to: www.coalitionny.org/ccrr/seminars
  
  The Professional Learning Center's Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment Training Series is offering "Special Populations" on March 10th from 1PM-5PM at St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Center, Cronin Auditorium. The latest research information and treatment for youth with co-occurring disorders will be presented. For more information go to: www.coalitionny.org


• SAMHSA's Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma Associated with Mental Illness (ADS Center) is offering three, free teleconferences starting in February. Topics include "Elimination of Barriers Initiative" (February 28th), "Stigma in the US Military" (March 30th) and "Self-Disclosure and the Stigma of Mental Illness" (April 27th). For more information go to: www.stopstigma.samhsa.gov/teleconferences.htm


• US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association's 2006 Audio Conference Training Series includes topics on peer support as a reimbursable service and evidence based practices. Conferences are available from March 15th for a fee. More information can be accessed at: www.uspra.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3286


• Workforce Professionals Training Institute: "Motivation: Tapping Job Seeker Strengths & Group Facilitation Skills" is being offered at WPTI on February 28th for a fee. This training will examine the significant element of motivation in the job search process including a review of asset-based tools. For more information go to: www.workforceprofessionals.org/course_calendar.php

Funding and Grant Opportunities:

• (2/28) NYC Department of Education has issued a Request for Proposals in four different components: Young Adult Borough Centers, Young Adult Learning to Work Centers, Learning to Work for Transfer School & Learning to Work for GED. The goal is to provide specialized support services for students under credited in the secondary school system. Proposals are due February 28th. For more information go to: www.nycenet.edu/opm/vendor/rfp.html


• (2/16) NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene: the deadline for the Intensive Crisis Stabilization and Treatment Program (ICST) RFP reported in January's RECOVER e-works has been extended by at least 2 weeks to February 16, 2006. For more information on the RFP go to: www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/acco/2006/acco-rfp-mh-20060103.pdf


• NYC Department of Homeless Services is soliciting proposals throughout 2006 from organizations interested in developing and operating transitional residences for homeless adults and families. There is no due date for submission. For more information go to: a856-internet.nyc.gov/nycvendoronline/vendorsearch/asp/Postings.asp


• (4/06) NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation and the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance will make available funds to provide permanent, transitional or emergency supportive housing to homeless individuals or families. An anticipated release date sometime in February is scheduled with a due date for submissions sometime in April. For more information call 518-473-2529.


• (4/4) SAMHSA has announced the availability of funds for grants to deliver and evaluate peer-to-peer recovery services towards relapse prevention and sustained recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders. Two and a half million will be available for seven grants. The due date is April 4th. To access go to: www.grants.gov or call 1-800-729-6686.


• (3/29) US Department of Health and Human Services, Family Centered Substance Abuse Treatment Grants for Adolescents and their Families, has a total of $5.2 million in funds for 17 awards for proposals addressing gaps in substance abuse services for individuals with serious emerging substance abuse problems. For more information go to: www.samhsa.gov/Grants06/RFA/TI_06_007_adolescent.aspx


• US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published the General Section of FY 2006 SuperNOFA. This notice announces that HUD will make available approximately $2.1 billion in grants through 40 programs. The aim is to give providers a head start in the application process. Complete information is forthcoming. More information on this publication can be accessed at: www.hud.gov/news/release.cfm?content=pr06-009.cfm

News Briefs/Events:

• Brooklyn Job and Career Fair, hosted by Assembly Member James Brennan and co-sponsoring organizations will be held March 9th from 6-8:30PM at PS 179, 202 Avenue C (between E. 2nd and 3rd Sts), Brooklyn. The job fair is open to everyone. Employment information will be provided in addition to job skills development and training program information. For more information call 718-940-0641.


• Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center is asking for public comment by February 26th on its proposal revising current policy to include permanent supportive housing as an allowable use of surplus real property assisting the homeless with the aim of increasing housing and service opportunities. For more information go to: a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/E6-1016.htm


• Families USA reports that the House of Representatives passed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (S.1932) on February 1st. Areas of concern include reduction in Targeted Case Management funds, reduction in utilization of Medicaid with cuts up to $1.9 million through 2010 and a requirement for Medicaid recipients to document US citizenship. State advocacy will become significant as implementation of this legislation is now at the discretion of the states. To view the actual bill go to: thomas.loc.gov
  For more information go to: www.familiesusa.org/resources/newsroom/statements/house-passes-budget.html


• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill: recently the staff from the Coalition's Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery were interviewed on NAMI's Mental Health Update. The discussion centered on the recovery benefits of employment for mental health recipients. This program will be aired on Time Warner cable station 57 and RCN cable station 112 at 10AM on Friday February 10th. For more information call the Center at 212-742-1600, ext. 235.


• NYS Office of Mental Health has a summary of mental health issues from Governor Pataki's budget, released January 17th. Included is a description of State Operations, Aid to Localities and Children's and Family Services. To access go to: www.omh.state.ny.us/omhweb/budget/2006-2007/index.html


• NYS Senate: on February 7th the New York State Senate overrode the Governor's veto of bill S.6410. This new piece of legislation will provide Medicaid prescription drug coverage for dual eligibles during the implementation of Medicare Part D. This will remain in place indefinitely until the Commissioner of Health declares differently due to operational complications. For more information go to: www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S06410&sh=t


• Riverdale Mental Health Association in collaboration with the Bronx Council on the Arts Development Corporation, is launching Handle It!, a new career preparation program for out-of-school, unemployed 17-21 year olds who live in the Bronx. Handle It! is a comprehensive program that includes training in Art Handling and Gallery Assistantship, GED preparation and skills development in money management and computer literacy. An Open House will be held February 15th at 3PM. For more information call 718-432-8099.


• SAMHSA's Federal Action Agenda, previously reported in RECOVER e-works, calls for a system that is consumer-driven aimed at recovery. A draft definition is available with an invitation for comments. To access the draft definition of consumer care go to: www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/AdvisoryCouncil/consumerdrivenDraft.asp www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/consumersurvivor/default.asp
  Comments can be sent to: chris.marshall@samhsa.hhs.gov


• VESID: updated reporting and reimbursement practices for the Unified Contract Services (UCS) has been posted as of January 24th at the VESID website. To access go to: www.vesid.nysed.gov/ucs/370.htm


• White House.gov: President Bush has sent his budget requests to Congress for fiscal year 2007. Included is a second request to eliminate funding for the Supported Employment State Grant Program and the Projects with Industry. To access the President's budget go to: www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/budget/2007/

Publications:

• Consensus Project's "The Advocacy Handbook: A Guide for Implementing Recommendations of the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project" (February 2006) addresses the increased numbers of people with mental illness within the criminal justice system. The guide is the result of combined efforts from the Consensus Project, NAMI, the National Mental Health Association, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. To access go to: consensusproject.org/advocacy


• HR Society for Human Resources Management: "Expert: HR Has Key Role in Mental Health Screening" (December 2005), an editorial by HR, looks at the impact human resource professionals can have in the design and implementation of mental health screening and programs benefiting employees and subsequently the productivity of companies. To access go to: www.shrm.org/hrnews_published/CMS_015166.asp


• Mathematica Policy Research has published 2 reports of the evaluation from the State Partnership Initiative (SPI), the first, large attempt by the Social Security Administration to promote employment for beneficiaries who receive SSI/SSDI. "State Partnership Initiative- Selection of Comparison Groups for the Evaluation and Selected Impact Estimates" (October 2005) focuses on employment and earnings in eleven state projects revealing positive results on employment. To access go to: www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/redirect_pubsdb.asp?strSite=pdfs/SPIselectimpact.pdf
  
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  "State Partnership Initiative: Synthesis of Impact Estimates Generated by the State Projects' Evaluations" (June 2005) presents preliminary findings on service interventions gleaned by the state projects' evaluations. Included is a review of literature from programs promoting employment. To access go to: www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/redirect_pubsdb.asp?strSite=pdfs/SPIsynthesis.pdf


• National Mental Health Association has made available "Get Educated, Get Enrolled- A Workbook for Mental Health Consumers" and "Cobertura de MedicarePara Recetas Medicas", 2 consumer workbooks in English and Spanish on Medicare Part D (2005). To access go to: www.nmha.org/federal/MedicarePrescriptionDrugBenefit.cfm#facts


• NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's report (in conjunction with the Department of Homeless Services), "The Health of Homeless Adults in New York City" (December 2005) describes the health status of adults who have spent at least one night in a Department of Homeless Services shelter between 2001-2003. Included is data on mental illness, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. To access go to: www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/epi/epi-homeless-200512.pdf


• NYC Young Adult Task Force: "The Time is Now: Implementing One System for New York City's Emerging Workforce (November 2005) is a summary of findings from a series of discussions held by the Young Adult Task Force, foundations, businesses and city agencies directed towards improving economic and career prospects for disconnected youth. To access go to: www.nyec.org/NYC-TF%20rept_fnl.pdf


• Psychiatric Services: "Trends in the Use of Psychotropic Medications Among Adolescents, 1994 to 2001" (January 2006) examines the trends of psychotropic drug use among adolescents between the ages of 14-18 highlighting increases, changes in regulatory policies and diagnosis and treatment. To access the abstract with an option to purchase, go to: ps.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/57/1/63


• Public/Private Ventures: "Getting Connected: Strategies for Expanding the Employment Networks of Low-Income People" (November 2005) looks at eight national programs focused on increasing the capacity and quality of low-income people's networks. To access go to: www.ppv.org/ppv/workforce_development/workforce_development_publications.asp?section_id=5#pub194


• SAMHSA's National Outcome Measures (June 2005) is a state level reporting system designed to create an accurate picture of substance abuse and mental health services. Ten domains are identified that include meaningful real life outcomes for people seeking recovery, resilience and full community participation. To access go to: www.nationaloutcomemeasures.samhsa.gov