Stories From The Road

Cooper Riis & Recovery For Families Through Recovery Education

 

Sharon Young presented at the  North Carolina Recovery Conference  November 14, 2014 in Clemmons NC a presentation entitled "The Power of Family Integration &  Natural Supports: Creating &  Educating Recovery Teams". The background and reason for developing such a program was born out of CooperRiis in their bi-annual family education weekends & informal staff support that they were offering to families. The families loved it and then they began to ask for more.  The research done at Cooper Riis indicated that family education like this below improved the long-term outcomes of treatment for those that they provide care for.

The Power of Family Integration & Natural Supports: Creating & Educating Recovery Teams from CooperRiis Healing Community

 

Web Resources for the Peer Support Community in North Carolina

 

 Alcohol/Drug Council of NC

Throughout its history, ADCNC has presented and promoted creative  solutions to gaps in the continuum of services for addicts and their  families. ADCNC also has provided leadership resulting in the passage of  state legislation addressing the disease of addiction.

              Link: http://www.alcoholdrughelp.org/       

 

NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services

North Carolina will provide people with, or at risk of, mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance abuse problems and their families the necessary, prevention, intervention, treatment, services and supports they need to live successfully in communities of their choice.

 

 

 

             

Link: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/mhddsas/       

 

NC Mental Health Consumers Organization

The North Carolina Mental Health Consumers' Organization is a private  non-profit organization established in 1989 to offer advocacy and  support to adults with mental illness.

NC MHCO is special because it is "peer-run" meaning all the board  members and all staff has personal life experiences with mental illness.  The board is comprised of sixteen members, four from each region of the  state. Board members are elected by the membership.

 

              Link: http://www.ncmhco.org/       

 

North Carolina Consumer Advocacy, Networking, and Support Organization

North Carolina Consumer Advocacy, Networking, and Support Organization was established in 2009.  It is fully peer operated.  The emphasis of its work has been on ensuring that people with lived experience with mental illness and recovery are valued participants in systems advocacy and change.  It has focused much of its effort on strengthening the role of peer support in our state to improve the quality of people's lives and their recovery.  It is a non-profit organization.

              Link: http://www.nccanso.org       

 

Recovery.org

If you or someone you love is trying to make a complete drug or alcohol recovery, you'll want to make sure you choose well. Whether you require a luxury residential addiction program, executive substance abuse treatment or just an outpatient program, we provide toll-free help 888-968-7541.

              Link: http://www.recovery.org/       

 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Treatment Administration

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services  Administration’s  (SAMHSA) mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse  and mental  illness on America’s  communities.  SAMHSA, in collaboration with other  Federal agencies, States, Tribes, local organizations,  and  individuals including consumers and the recovery community, has  demonstrated  again and again in research and practice -  prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from  mental  and substance use disorders.

              Link: http://www.samhsa.gov/       

 

Questions concerning the Peer Support Program? Call 919-843-3018 or email us at: pss-support@listserv.unc.edu

Behavioral Healthcare Resource Program | School of Social Work | University of North Carolina 325 Pittsboro Street | CB# 3550 | Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Mary Ellen Copeland: How To Self-Advocate

 

Link to Newsletter Article

 

"Not so many years ago, my life was a shambles.  It was hard for me to see into the future and see anything positive.  As I began my studies of how people get well and stay well, it became clear to me that I needed to stop depending on others to advocate for me and that I needed to "step up to the plate" and advocate for myself.  It took time, persistence and practice to become a strong advocate for myself.  But advocating for myself has made it possible for me to have a rich and rewarding life.  I recommend it highly." --Mary Ellen Copeland  PhD

 

Mary Ellen Copeland

 

 

Sometimes when people have difficult life issues, they forget (or perhaps never learned) how to advocate for themselves. Others have found that the ability to advocate for one’s self is necessary to wellness and recovery. You may feel as if you have lost control over your life, your rights, and your responsibilities, and that you have lost the ability and right to effectively advocate for yourself. You may have low self-esteem. Regaining your sense of control by successfully advocating for yourself will give you back the hope and self-esteem you need to work toward recovery. Attending a WRAP group is a good way to learn self-advocacy skills.

 

Ten Steps to Being an Effective Self-Advocate

 

1. Believe in Yourself.
2. Know your Rights.
3. Decide what you Want.
4. Get the Facts.
5. Planning Strategy.
6. Gather Support.
7. Target Efforts.
8. Express Yourself Clearly.
9. Assert Yourself Calmly.
10. Be Firm and Persistent.

Speaking to someone in person is the most effective way to advocate for yourself. Make an appointment. Don’t just “show up.” Plan what you are going to say and the points you need to make. Practice with the help of friends, recorders, or mirrors if you feel unsure of yourself.         

Dress neatly for the appointments and be on time. Look the person in the eye and shake hands firmly in greeting, unless your culture has different courtesies. Call the person by name. Use positive body language.

How you say something often makes a greater impression than what you say. State your message clearly and simply. Tell the person exactly what it is that you want. Explain why you need it. Tell them why it is in their best interest to respond to your request. Speak loudly enough to be heard without shouting. Expect a positive response.

Listen to what the other person is saying and ask questions for anything you don’t understand. At the end of the meeting, restate any action that has been decided upon so you both understand each other clearly. For instance, you might say, “As a result of this meeting you are going to order a thyroid test for me.” Thank the person for their time and assistance.

Send a follow-up note or e-mail thanking them for meeting with you and summarizing any agreed-upon action. It is a nice gesture. It also acts as a reminder and provides assurance that you both have the same understanding about the result of the meeting.

People have found that some of the most powerful and effective Wellness Tools have to do with support. Often one of the best responses when you are having difficulty is reaching out to a supporter – either telling them how you are feeling or just spending time with them doing something you both enjoy. A team of supporters can protect you and keep you safe, even in the hardest times.

For more information on self-advocacy and examples of Wellness Tools check out WRAP for Life and WRAP Plus. Everyone is different and you have the right to have these differences respected.

"People have found that some of the most powerful and effective Wellness Tools have to do with support. Often one of the best responses when you are having difficulty is reaching out to a supporter – either telling them how you are feeling or just spending time with them doing something you both enjoy. A team of supporters can protect you and keep you safe, even in the hardest times."-Mary Ellen Copeland

The GiveBack Challenge: The Work of Recovery in Haywood County

 

Ty Pennington and Guaranteed Rate came to Haywood County on September 26 2014 after the community won the first ever Give Back Challenge! The goal being to create a facility that will serve the homeless and get the lives of individuals back on track.

 

A wonderful recovery message was shared by Richie Tannerhill a friend and recovery allie (who is a person in long-term recovery supporting others on their recovery journey). Listen as he shares his heart:

 

 

 

Exerpt from Casey Blake's Sept 26th Article of Citizen Times

 

"WAYNESVILLE — Never has there been such excitement in Haywood County to watch a man run a table saw or paint the trim on an old building.

But the excitement ran high Thursday as celebrity carpenter Ty Pennington joined volunteers to flip the old Hazelewood prison in Waynesville into a new shelter and halfway house for former inmates, a project that gained national attention after winning the Guaranteed Rate Ultimate Give Back Challenge.

"Honestly I came here expecting Alcatraz," Pennington said with a laugh Thursday. "I thought, wow, how are we going to turn this into a warm, inviting environment?"

"This is pretty unprecedented in my mind," he said. "I have never heard of anyone doing this, flipping a prison into a shelter or a soup kitchen. But the minute I heard it I thought this is genius... this is making this space be what a prison really should be, which is about rehabilitation instead of just storage."

The Haywood Pathways Project won the grand prize in the Guaranteed Rate/Ty Pennington Ultimate Neighborhood Giveback Challenge, which awarded the project with $50,000 toward the completion of the project and Pennington's help for a day.

More than 3,500 people voted for the project over more than 50 others submitted earlier this year.

"There was obviously some very big support for this idea, which is just such a cool thing to see," he said. "It's a place where we can give people second chances, and everyone deserves that."

 

 

The Haywood Pathways project will recycle and restore the old Hazelwood prison, converting the facility into a soup kitchen, homeless shelter and halfway house.

Sherriff Greg Christopher, who spearheaded the project along with reverend Nick Honerkamp, said the support from volunteers, community leaders and even neighbors has been "overwhelming."

"I go to church with these inmates every Sunday," Christopher said Thursday. "And what I always tell them is that they aren't destined to wear an orange jumpsuit. That's not what they were put here to do."

Key Questions When Developing Natural Supports

From the Victorian Dept of Human Services in Australia as a part of the Changing Days Project, in  "A Guide To Natural Supports" they ask some important questions when beginning the process of developing natural supports in the community which include:

Preliminary Questions to Ask:

THE INDIVIDUAL-Who is this person? What are their hopes & dreams?
THEIR VALUES-What do they value? Who would they like to spend their time with?
THEIR CHOICE-Their community of choice? Where would they spend their time?
THEIR ASSOCIATIONS-Who are the people currently involved in the person's life?
THE OPPORTUNITIES-What opportunities do they bring? What could be built on?

Motivational Questions to Ask:

HAPPINESS-When is the person at their happiest?
REFLECTIONS-What does the person keep coming back to (talk about, want, enjoy)?
MOTIVATION-What energizes or motivates them?
ATTRACTION-What kinds of people is the person drawn to?
SENSE OF MISSION-What will the person sacrifice to do?
PASSION-What generates energy in the person?
SATISFACTION-What satisfies them?

Personal Questions to Ask:

THEIR ROLE-What is the individual's role in the asking? What is the relationship?
THEIR INTEREST-What are the common interests, passions and concerns of all?
THEIR STARTING POINT-What could be the "stepping stone" to something more?
THEIR EXPECTATIONS-Are the individual's expectations reasonable?
THEIR LOCATION-Where will these relationships be taking place?
THEIR TIMING-Is there time needed for reflection for the other person(s) involved?
THIER CHOICE-Have people been given the permission to say "Yes" or "No"?

This guide offers a good perspective and starting point for Peer Support Specialists as they are beginning to assist the individuals they support in developing meaningful friendships and relationships in the community.

Interview with Iden Campbell McCollum, CPRP, Social Entrepreneur, Social Activist & Human Being

 

Iden...tell us a little about yourself and your life growing up in NC?

Just to let you know a little about before we move on to ‘what I am doing.’ I am a native Brooklynight (NYC); my maternal side of the family has strong roots to NC having walked from Bennettsville, SC to Laurinburg and Gibson, NC to settle after slavery. I myself went to school sporadically in my childhood here in NC and ended up graduating from Enloe H.S. in Raleigh NC. My mother and two sisters are in Raleigh with the rest of my extended maternal family in Rockingham, Richmond, Scotland and Moore Counties.

Iden Campbell McCollum

 

( Note:  Click link to download  full interview  with Iden Campbell McCollum).

Why is the issue of identity so important to your story?

I have many covers to my book and belong to many communities that I love and honor. My most important identity is that of being a human being that must cultivate and mentor future generations to keep this world we love moving and sustaining life. However I belong to other communities that most people identify with more than being a human being and we must change this in order to survive and thrive. Some of those communities include the transgender community, the black community and the psychiatric survivor community. As a man that identifies under the umbrella of transgender, I am working to bring those in the trans community who identify as having had emotional breaks and addictions issues into the recovery community. Bring much needed diversity to our survivor community.

What gave you the impetus to pursue peer work in the communities you serve?

At Alternatives 2013 I met over 5 trans men who came up to me to personally identify and introduce themselves to me, this after I was awarded the LGBT Leadership award. Austin was my 4th Alternatives and I never before met or heard of a trans man being in the crowd. It was an amazing and exhilarating feeling to see my brothers feeling comfortable enough to come up to me and say hey I’m here! Another community, the cover people see before they see anything else is the color of my skin. I prefer the term black over African American but to cover the spectrum of people with skin that closely resemble mine I will use the term people of color.

How important are issues of diversity and advocacy in what you do?

Bringing diversity and removing the bias we hold within can only empower our movement to further heights. Building a movement that encompasses all of the many cultures and ethnicities we create change and truly embodying Gandhi’s words “Be The Change You Want To See.” Our movement is being attacked form all sides we need all of our strength to battle and to keep out those who look different, talk different and are not as educated only means sure defeat for our movement

Share with me the peer work you have been doing in DC?

To do my part in this ever expanding world I currently split my time between NC and DC building up and out the non-profit I founded in 2007. The non-profit name is the Ida Mae Campbell Wellness & Resource Center DB/a The Campbell Center. The non-profit sat dormant from June 2008 until July 2013 when we were awarded the State Networking grant from SAMSHA in DC. We have now been up and running for almost an entire year and we are excited and grateful for such an opportunity to be leaders and innovators. Before taking on the SAMSHA grant I ran the Ida Mae Campbell Foundation in DC with a 5-year contract from the Department of Mental Health. The contract was to operate the only peer run wellness center in the city. We ended this contract in 2013 with the District after 5 years. In October, we hosted Emotional eCPR to train a regional coalition of trainers, in December we partnered with The National Coalition on Mental Health Recovery and Howard University to hold a conversation on mental health and addictions. We brought together community members to build a bridge by having face-to-face conversations about real life issues and events.ou been 

Share some of the work you have been doing in NC.

We held simultaneous events in NC at the Chapel Hill Library and in DC at Saint Elizabeth Hospital on May 2nd and our Mental Health Summit on the 13th.  In July we will be kicking off our first big event in NC for National Minority Mental Health Month in Chapel Hill and in September a month long celebration during National Recovery Month.

Explain the innovative practices you are bringing to peer providers and organizations.

We are also working on a national level to bring other thought leaders together to discover ways to create new business models for our peer providers/peer organizations. I recently joined BHbusiness Mastering Essential Business Operations as a convener. The plan was to recruit 15-20 peer organizations to participate in a peer provider learning community. The learning community will allow us to work with a business coach, who will walk us through designing successful business models, learn to analyze the healthcare market and improve our current business processes. We will primarily work through a virtual learning community utilizing webinars and conference calling. We will also work independently utilizing research, reading assignments and on-line discussions. Most importantly, we will learn how to sustain the communities we have fought hard to create over the last two decades.

Iden, how do you define success?

With all that I am involved in one must wonder how do you know your being successful? Does it involve financial gain, awards or other accolades? For me success is seeing others that I have mentored start to develop their own thoughts and leadership styles. It means I wake up another day feeling refreshed and rejuvenated to start a new project or continue to develop one already in the oven, one more day of seeing the sky blue and stars at midnight.

What parting advice do you have for the peer workforce?

One of the most important things to remember whether a freshman or a senior in the field of peer work is to always honor yourself first and foremost to honor yourself is to be able to give selflessly to those we support. Take care of self, find what you enjoy and master it, and then build your brand. People don’t follow leaders they follow promise and hope, be that to your community.

 

Peer Creativity: Aurora Studio & Gallery, Asheville

 

 

Aurora Studio & Gallery is a nonprofit, founded in the spring of 2012 located in Asheville, North Carolina. The studio collaborates with local artists and healing arts instructors in order to offer a community art space for artists affected by mental health needs, addiction and/or homelessness.  Workshops are offered weekly for up to twelve artists in recovery and run for eight weeks.  The current studio is located in downtown Asheville and has been donated by local businesswoman, Susan Durrence.

 

 

The studio provides artists with the space and art supplies to explore their personal creativity, which they could not otherwise obtain or afford. The integrative structure and community support provided by Aurora Studio & Gallery enables artists to heal, grow and thrive.

 

 

Are you the creative type?  Do you like participating in small group settings?  Aurora Studio & Gallery is looking for a few dedicated volunteers to help with classes and special events this fall.  This has been a perfect opportunity for Peer Support Specialists who want to get involved in community organizing.
 

Aurora Studio & Gallery is a small grassroots nonprofit that has been facilitating art classes for artists in recovery for a little over a year.  The studio is open to up to 12 participating artists who are actively working on their recovery whether it be from mental health issues, addiction or homelessness.  We offer classes to participants for a small donation, or more frequently a small commission if the program helps sells their artwork.

 

 
Volunteers are needed to help with our Thursday classes which run from 12 - 4pm.  While there are some tasks involved; setting up tables, helping to clean up, etc., the neat part is most volunteers get to create art, along with our participants.  Local artists help teach our classes. Our fall session starts Sept. 25th and runs through Nov. 13th.  While this is a volunteer position - we are hoping to get funding for this supportive role in the future.
 

Volunteers are also needed for other areas, i.e., special events, grant writing and administrative help.

 

President, Lori Greenberg, M.Ed, is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist

 

 

President, Lori Greenberg, M.Ed, is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, who has been working in the field of human services for over thirty years. Her interest in people started at the age of 14, when she began spending her Saturdays with children with developmental disabilities. Her passion has evolved into supporting people of varying need, including: families and youth at risk; people with HIV/AIDS; persons affected by mental illness, addiction, homelessness and concerns around the environment. While living in Vermont she was an avid volunteer/supporter of the local monthly Gallery Walk, the annual Women's Film Festival, the HEALS Expressive Arts Loss Support Program, the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont and Brattleboro Community Radio. Greenberg founded Aurora Studio & Gallery in May of 2012.

 

Contact Lori Greenberg at: lori_aurorastudio@hotmail.com

 

Visit their website: Aurora Studio and Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick Tips In How to Develop Natural Supports In the Community

1. KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL-find out their interests, likes and dislikes; get info from existing natural supports
2. ENCOURAGE FREQUENT COMMUNICATIONS-determine communication abilities; network to identify interests
3. PERSISTENCE, PERSISTENCE-this is a slow, tedious, ongoing process; continue to network, attend, identify
4. FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD-learn the neighborhood; spend time getting to know those in it
5. DEVELOP ALLIES IN THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE-identify those willing to go to bat; those who open doors
6. ADVOCATE-specifically ask that group, club, community to include the person
7. STUDY THE CUES-monitor how much & how long to assist; watch relationships take root; gradually fade
8. BE A REGULAR PERSON-don't be professional; don't hog the mike; gently nudge them on stage
9. FIND OTHER GROUPS-continually seek to do all the above in other settings in the community

Stick with it. Remember, you are trying to begin the process of recovery. You are seeking to assist them to move forward towards wellness. There will come a day when they leave us behind. Assuming full ownership and responsibility in their recovery...self-directed. A glorious day that will be.

(Summarized from the Dept of Developmental Services & Supports Section in Sacramento, CA in their publication "Natural Supports: They're All Around You" )

Link To Article

 

 

 

David Abernethy, CPSS in Asheville

A Typical Day.

"It feels good to help someone else, it just does. That’s why we become a PSS. If one doesn’t like that, one shouldn’t become a PSS. For myself, I love it; I just have a knack for it. You will feel tired if you are busy. I see all sorts of people and most are needing what we’ve got to give: HOPE. HOPE is what we do as PSS.  A typical day for me includes what we call O.G. or “Orientation Group” where we do an intake on folks needing help in our community. I help with the paperwork and a clinician does triage and “funnels” the client toward appropriate services, Med. Management, Group or individual therapy, etc. Then I’ve usually got some REC (Recovery Education) plans. A few days after triage, the client will come to me and I will look at the CCA (clinical assessment) and the client and I will do the plan. I will guide the individual toward group therapy or individual therapy. I personally teach Dual Recovery, WMR (Wellness Management and Recovery) class, Depressionand Anxiety class and Grief Relief classes. I also do one-on-one sessions with clients. I find these (group and individual sessions) the most rewarding of all. People are actually getting better."

What are Peer Support Best Practices (as you see it)?

"As fully understanding the company you are working for, its mission, quirks, employee/supervisor nuances, expectations, much of it is very subtle and you WILL make mistakes initially and less as you go “down the road” with it. Developing a rhythm is helpful and lots of deep breaths and stepping back are required. The clients are usually “a breeze” at least for me and I know that this sound flippant, but they are really the best part of the job and I look forward to speaking to each one. Maybe it’s just me…

Some advice to a new PSS?

"First, foremost and most importantly, a Peer Support Specialist MUST be stable enough to be consistent in performance. This cannot be over-emphasized. As I experienced in my training and you did in yours, some are plainly and certainly NOT ready for this. We are professionals and must act professionally and there is also an art or practice (as in “law practice” or “medical practice”) involved. People’s lives are on the line, some are unstable and a few are even unsafe to themselves and others. Some clients are expert manipulators .These, fortunately, are rare. Most clients are good people enduring hardships of various kinds. But, all in all, I love my job and look forward to going to work. I hope that you will as well."

Re-Blog: Help Fellow Veterans Become Peer Specialists

 

(Re-posted from the VA Blog from May 7, 2013 at VANtage Point---Link to Article)

VA has always recognized the value and importance of Veterans being able to see recovery taking place and have a fellow Veteran help them navigate the VA system. As VA peer specialists, or peer support apprentices, you have the opportunity to share experience and knowledge with fellow Veterans as they make the transition into civilian life. The transition can sometimes be difficult with health challenges, mental health issues, employment concerns and more. However, peer specialists and peer support apprentices can help Veterans navigate their way into civilian life more successfully by offering the right tools, resources, and necessary support.

 

 

Peer specialists are actively engaged in his/her own recovery and can provide peer support services to others engaged in similar mental health treatment. Peer support apprentices meet all the requirements of a peer specialist but are not yet certified.

As a VA peer specialist or peer support apprentice, you could help fellow Veterans build fuller, richer lives. Find out if you are eligible for either position at the Peer Support Applicants FAQs page and click here to apply for positions today.