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An electronic circular of the Coalition's Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery
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No. 51, December 2008
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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.
The Center Bids Farewell to Director Alysia Pascaris The Center staff would like to thank Alysia for her unwavering leadership, guidance, support and friendship. Over the course of her seven and a half year tenure at The Center, her expert knowledge of the behavioral health care system coupled with the heartfelt belief that people living with mental illness can and do recover has impacted our work and the greater mental health care system in more ways than we can count. Undoubtedly, Alysia will continue to do great things and make important, lasting contributions to our field. She will be greatly missed, and we wish her the best in all her future endeavors. The Center Releases User Friendly Medicaid Buy-in Fact Sheet for Working People with Disabilities The Medicaid Buy-in for Working People with Disabilities (MBI-WPD) program enables working people with mental health and other disabilities to earn more income while preserving their vital health care coverage. It is a critical and severely underutilized opportunity, especially in New York City, for eligible consumers who may want to work, or wish to work more, but are fearful of losing healthcare benefits. In response to very low utilization rates among people with mental illness in New York City, The Center, in collaboration with key stakeholders, is working on dismantling the barriers to the program’s access. To this end, The Center is now releasing a new, easy to understand MBI-WPD fact sheet to enhance program awareness and encourage enrollment. Visit our website to download the fact sheet at: www.coalitionny.org/the_center/ We encourage you to share it broadly with consumers and staff throughout your programs.
Center Training: Benefits Management for Individuals with Criminal Justice Involvement January 13th, 2009, 9:30am - 4:30pm. This full day training will include updates on legislative and policy changes relevant to benefits management. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their current cases, allowing for both expert guidance and input from colleagues. Participants will also learn how to address the special needs of consumers involved with the criminal justice system. An emphasis will be placed on coordinating care with other service providers, and methods to promote consumer independence in the community. Center Training: Leading the Way to Recovery January 15th, 2009, 9:30am - 12:30pm. This half-day training is designed for mental health providers interested in exploring innovative approaches for building leadership skills that promote recovery values. Participants will learn key elements of leadership. The training will explore communication tools directed toward change. Storytelling will be used as one approach to identify common values, improve interpersonal skills, and inspire meaningful changes within people in recovery, providers, and program cultures. Real world examples of how personal narratives can spark recovery will be included in this training. Peer-providers are encouraged to attend.
Education and Training Cornell University’s Employment and Disability Institute: New and Improved Certificate in Benefits and Work Incentives Planning and Assistance, Webinar Series Benefits Planning Services have become an integral part of a social security beneficiaries return to work. Just as we now recognize benefits planning as a unique profession we recognize the unique needs of every disabled beneficiary who considers returning to work. However, "urban myths" persist and prevent many beneficiaries from reaching their full potential. This webinar series scheduled from January-February, 2009 can help prepare you to embark upon a new profession in benefits and work incentives planning or help to fill in the blanks that may exist while providing services. Participants can take part in the entire series or register for single webinars. For more information on requirements associated with the certificate, the webinar series, and to register, go to: https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/edi/edionline/ediONLINE.cfm. If you have any questions, please contact Shelia Smith, Administrative Assistant, Cornell University, Employment and Disability Institute, [email protected], 607-255-9364. Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services (JBFCS), Martha K. Selig Educational Institute Trainings: High Risk Families: How Trying to Help Hurts and What to do Instead Participants will learn how to conceptualize risk as an interactional phenomenon and to identify systemic factors endemic to the treatment setting and child welfare environment that either impede efforts to reduce risk or contribute to its elevation. This workshop reviews what is known to be effective in psychotherapy, how clients use services and how people change, and then translates these findings into specific strategies for working with families at risk. Implications for structuring and managing systems of care to enhance their effectiveness are discussed. Actual case vignettes representative of this approach will be presented. Safety in Practice This highly interactive workshop will present a series of strategies for workers to maximize their safety in the agency and when visiting homes in the community. Participants are invited to bring real life examples for discussion and share tips they have learned in their own practice. Participants will learn: Strategies with affective and predatory aggression; tips to avoid becoming a target or precipitator yourself; and other guidelines to follow in order to stay safe during a home visit. For more information and to register for these trainings, go to: www.seliginstitute.org/ Magellan Health Services: Free Online Trainings on Resiliency and Recovery Magellan now offers 10 free e-courses for providers, consumers, family members and other stakeholders. These trainings were developed in collaboration with Recovery Innovation, Child Family Support Services, the Family Involvement Center, consumers and family members. Providers can receive one CEU hour per completed course by completing the Continuing Education Evaluation survey following each course. Trainings will help you to more effectively apply the principles of hope, choice, empowerment and education to achieve individual behavioral health goals. Go to: http://www.magellanhealth.com/training/ for more information.
Funding and Grant Opportunities American Bar Association: Disability Rights Hearne Award Deadline: April 1st, 2009 The American Bar Association's Hearne Award honors the work of Paul G. Hearne, a lawyer and leading disability rights advocate who founded the first legal services office in New York for people with disabilities, authored the first national legal handbook on disability rights, and helped draft the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Sponsored by the American Bar Association's Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law, the award will be presented to an individual who has performed exemplary service in increasing access to justice for people with disabilities, or an organization or group that furthers the goal of full participation for people with disabilities in society. The program invites nominations of an individual or an organization that has made significant contributions to improving the rights, dignity, and access to justice for people with disabilities. Examples of eligible organizations include disability advocacy organizations, law firms or practices, state or local bar associations, nonprofit legal services programs, law school clinics or academic-affiliated programs, or law-related programs providing representation for people with disabilities. Self-nominations are not eligible. To read the full RFP, click here. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Youth Violence Prevention through Economic, Environmental, and Policy Change (U01) National Institutes of Health: Research on Social Work Practice and Concepts in Health National Institutes of Health: Women's Mental Health and Sex/Gender Differences Research (R21) New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH): Concept Paper for Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Program. This program and the services described in the concept paper will replace the children’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team, more recently known as the Brooklyn Community Team. The proposed program will target Brooklyn youth in preventive services, the PINS Diversion program, identified through outpatient mental health clinics, and identified by the Children’s Single Point of Access (SPOA). Comments on the concept paper can be emailed to Joyce Scott at [email protected]. Written comments can also be sent to: Joyce Scott, Contracting Office, Office of the Agency Chief Contracting Officer, NYC DOHMH, 93 Worth St., Room 812, New York, NY 10013. To read the concept paper, go to: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/acco/2008/acco-concept-fft.pdf New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC): Project SEARCH, Youth Transition & Employment Demonstration Deadline: March 20th, 2009. One grant of $100,000 per year will be funded by the DDPC for each of two years, to implement two Project SEARCH youth transition and employment demonstration grants (at $50,000 each per year). The intent of these model projects is to demonstrate the efficacy of implementing a business sector employment approach in increasing the quality and quantity of school-to-work transition outcomes for students with developmental disabilities. Consistent with and supportive of other transition initiatives occurring in NYS, most specifically the Model Transition Projects implemented by the Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), the DDPC seeks to implement a sustainable Project SEARCH demonstration project within NYS. All interested applicants are requested to submit a one-page letter of intent by February 2nd, 2009 to Nicholas Rose, Program Planner at the address below. All final grant applications should be sent to Sheila Carey, Executive Director, and must be delivered to the DDPC office by close of business (5:00 p.m.) on March 20th, 2009. Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, 155 Washington Avenue, 2nd Floor, Albany, NY 12210 For more information about Project SEARCH, eligibility, and to read the full RFP, go to: http://www.ddpcb2b.com/rfp/Shared%20Documents/RFP%20Project%20Search.pdf Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): Depression and Bipolar Support Website in Spanish The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) has created a Spanish-language website to help Spanish-speaking individuals with depression and bipolar disorder and their caregivers. The website fosters an environment of understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date tools and information. Go to: www.dbsalianza.org National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 2009 Convention: Call for Presentation Proposals The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) invites presentation proposal for the 2009 National Convention and Leadership Institute scheduled for July 6th - 9th in San Francisco. The NAMI National Convention draws people whose lives are affected by mental illness, including family members, consumers, treatment professionals, public and private policymakers, educators, advocates, and others -- all focused on improving the lives of people who live with mental illnesses. To find out more, contact NAMI Convention Director Connie Schantz at [email protected] or 703-516-7986 or click here for more information. New York City Workforce1 Career Centers Expand Hours, Bronx Services Workforce1 Career Centers provide job resource rooms, personalized career counseling, career Workshops, GED and ESL classes, and vouchers for job training. We are happy to announce that Workforce1 Career Centers are now open evenings and on weekends to expand free job placement services throughout the boroughs. Made possible by an infusion of state funds, the centers are now open until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays and on alternate Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Until now, the centers only operated weekdays until 5 p.m. Additionally, a new Workforce1 Center has opened on East 163rd Street in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx. For Workforce1 Center locations and more information go to www.nyc.gov. For information on employment programs designed for people living with mental illness, download or search The Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery’s WORKbook at: http://www.coalitionny.org/the_center/workbook/. New York State Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities (NYS CQCAPD): Improving Quality of Life for People with Disabilities, You Can Help Others! The NYS CQCAPD, in partnership with organizations who provide services and supports, are working together to learn more about the diverse lives of people with disabilities. This information will help service providers and those who plan services and supports to make them more responsive. To gather this information they are conducting focus groups across New York State, and collecting Quality of Life Stories from people with disabilities and their families. To speak with someone about holding a focus group or obtaining the Quality of Life Story guidelines, contact Mindy Becker, Davin Robinson or Karen Malcolm at the NYS Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities at: 1-800-624-4143, or download the Quality of Life Story guidelines at: www.cqcapd.state.ny.us New York State Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID): State Plan Public Meeting in NYC Thursday, Jan 15th, 2:00pm- 4:00pm, Heiskell Library, 40 W. 20th Street VESID, in cooperation with the State Rehabilitation Council, is developing the State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment Services for Federal Fiscal Year 2010. To assist in the development of the State Plan, public meetings are being held in January 2009 to gather recommendations from individuals with disabilities, their families, advocates and services providers on how VESID can improve vocational rehabilitation and supported employment services. The current State Plan for Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment Services (FFY 2009) is available for review at the VESID website: www.vesid.nysed.gov . VESID is interested in obtaining your comments on ways to improve interagency coordination and employment outcomes during challenging economic times. VESID anticipates making changes to policies related to employer-based services such as on-the-job training and supported employment. In addition to the public meetings, recommendations can be submitted in writing or electronically. VESID Assistant Commissioner Edward Placke will be leading the discussion portion of the meeting being held on the 15th. Go to: www.vesid.nysed.gov/news/home.html for more information. Rainbow Heights Club Annual Holiday Open House Thursday, December 18th, 3:00pm-7:00pm Rainbow Heights Club is the first and only government-funded support and advocacy program that provides direct services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender mental health consumers in New York State. Located at 25 Flatbush Avenue (between Fulton and Lafayette), fourth floor, Brooklyn. This club program is currently open to 350 members on weekdays Monday from 12:30 to 5:30PM, Tuesday through Friday 12:30pm-8:00pm and Sunday 12:00pm-4:30pm. Rainbow Heights also offers training and education for health-care providers on cultural competency with LGBT people living with mental illness, free of charge. This event is open to everyone. For more information call 718-852-5211. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): New Webcast, The Multicultural Phase of the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery (CMHR) SAMHSA’s Campaign for Mental Health Recovery (CMHR) is a national campaign to educate the general public about mental health conditions, increase acceptance social inclusion, and promote recovery. In its ongoing first phase, the Campaign has produced television, radio, and print public service announcements targeting young adults who are 18-25 years of age and urges them to step up and support their friends who are experiencing mental health problems. The CMHR is initiating a second phase that continues to target this age range but it has expanded its audience to reach specific multicultural groups including; Hispanic American, African American, Chinese American, and Native American populations. This new Webcast is an opportunity to learn about the second phase of the Campaign for Mental Health Recovery and to hear the story of a young woman who has experienced the difference friends have made in her recovery. To access the Webcast, click here.Mental Health News – Spring Issue: "Providing Essential Care & Services Following Psychiatric Hospitalization" Article Submission Deadline: February 1st Mental Health News is a free, up-to-date source of mental health news, illness information, treatment options, and resources in the community. Coalition staff members regularly contribute to Mental Health News. For more information on submission guidelines, ordering, and advertising opportunities, go to: www.mhnews.org. To contact the Publisher, call: (570) 629-5960, or email [email protected] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Self-Help Guides: Recovering Your Mental Health This series provides facts, strategies, and ideas that consumers/survivors have found helpful in exercising best practices in promoting wellness and preventing illness. Recovering Your Mental Health - Speaking Out for Yourself: A Self-Help Guide Download at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA-3719/default.asp Recovering Your Mental Health - Building Self-Esteem: A Self-Help Guide Download at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA-3715/default.asp Recovering Your Mental Health - Making and Keeping Friends: A Self-Help Guide Download at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA-3716/default.asp Recovering Your Mental Health - Dealing with the Effects of Trauma: A Self-Help Guide Download at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA-3717/default.asp Recovering Your Mental Health - Developing a Recovery and Wellness Lifestyle: A Self-Help Guide Download at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA-3718/default.asp Recovering Your Mental Health - Action Planning for Prevention and Recovery: A Self-Help Guide Download at: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA-3720/default.asp United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), New Report: Integration of Mental Health/Substance Abuse and Primary Care This new report found evidence that people treated for depression in primary care clinics that provide a coordinated set of mental and physical health do better and have fewer symptoms than patients who are treated at sites that just provide health services. Additionally, findings indicate that people treated in specialty mental health centers appear to benefit when the facilities offer general medical care. The report was co-funded by HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Women’s Health, and Office of Minority Health, and conducted by the AHRQ-supported University of Minnesota Evidence-based Research Center in Minneapolis. Click here to download. |
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