Building Community: One Relationship at a Time

1
Building Community One
Relationship at a Time
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On Transformation and Recovery

• Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community
• MBRLC

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On Transformation and Recovery

• MBRLC Presentation and Discussion
• Exploring the RLC Concept
• Overview of Transformation Activities

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On the Road to Recovery

• Comfort Agreement
• Confidentiality
• Discomfort signal
• Pass Rule
• Agree to Disagree
• I Statements
• This safety and comfort agreement is used for
  every meeting whether it is a business, support
  or community meeting.

5
Overview

• Transformation Philosophy
• Transformation Activities, National Movement
• Transformation Activities, Massachusetts
• Recovery Learning Communities
• Transformation Activities, Metro Boston RLC

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Overview

• Transformation Philosophy
• Recovery is defined in the Presidents New
  Freedom Commission Report as, the process in
  which people are able to live, work, learn and
  participate fully in their communities. For some
  individuals, recovery is the ability to live a
  fulfilling and productive life despite
  disability. For others, recovery implies the
  reduction or complete remission of symptoms.

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OverviewTransformation Philosophy

• Fundamental Components of a Recovery-Based
  System
• Self-Direction
• Empowerment
• Holistic Recovery
• Non-Linear
• Strength-Based

• Individualized Person-Centered
• Peer Support
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Hope

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Overview

• Transformation Activities, National Movement
• All states are now developing projects and
  programs that focus on recovery and the
  principals of recovery.
• Peer work, including counseling and advocacy is
  now legitimized by a state-wide credential and
  legitimized by paid jobs verses volunteer jobs.
  This has come a long way from rudimentary jobs of
  stuffing envelopes and licking stamps.

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Overview

• Transformation Activities, National Movement
• Peers are working in emergency departments,
  mental health clinics, in group homes and as
  trainers and educators.
• Peers are invited to participate in international
  as well as national committees on human rights
  and patients rights.
• Peers are now being allowed to have a direct
  impact on public policy throughout the United
  States.

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Overview

• Transformation Activities, Massachusetts
• Transformation Center
• Training, Education, Consulting
• Technical Assistance
• M-Power Organization
• Grassroots political movement
• Direct Action

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Overview

• Transformation Activities, Massachusetts
• Department of Mental Health
• Funds Six Recovery Learning Communities
• 350,000 x Six RLCs x Three Years
• 6.3Million Investment by the Commonwealth
• RLC Areas Replicate DMH Areas
• Metro Boston Metro Suburban
• Central Southeast
• Northeast Western

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Overview Recovery Learning Community

• Transformational Activities, Massachusetts
• Recovery Learning Communities are Peer-run
  organizations that work together in bringing
  unique services and opportunities to people with
  serious mental illness and frequently co-occuring
  disorders such as drug and alcohol abuse and/or
  dependence.
• These services include Employment, Support
  Groups, Activities, Outreach, Education,
  Training, Conferences and Warm Lines. These
  services are provided by Peers for Peers in a
  Peer Sensitive atmosphere.

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Overview Recovery Learning Community

• Transformational Activities, Massachusetts
• All RLCs are managed and staffed (primarily) by
  Peers.
• Peers, in this case, refer to people who have in
  the past, or who are currently, utilizing mental
  health and/or substance abuse services.
• A RLC is expected to serve as a Hub in its
  respective area.
• The main goal of every RLC is to help Peers
  achieve full community and society integration.

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Overview Recovery Learning Community

• Transformational Activities, Massachusetts
• A RLC and the services it provides, must be
  recovery-based and the principals of
  recovery-based mental health system of care must
  be incorporated into each programs governance
  and day-to-day operations.

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Overview

• Transformational Activities, Metro Boston
• Six financial partnerships of Metro Boston RLC
• Boston Medical Center (Lead Partner)
• Vinfen Corporation
• Bay Cove Human Services
• North Suffolk Human Services
• Cole Resource Center
• NAMI GB/CAN

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MBRLC

• Boston Resource Center (BRC)
• Dorchester Bay Recovery Center (DBRC)
• Peer Education Recovery Center (PERC)
• NS Transitional Employment (NSTE)
• Cole Resource Center (Cole)
• NAMI Greater Boston Consumer
• Advocacy/Affiliate Network (NAMI GB/CAN)

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MBRLC

• Howard Trachtman Anne Whitman
• Co-Executive Directors
• Chuck Weinstein
• Director of Operations

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MBRLC - Partner

• BRC
• Boston Resource Center
• 85 E. Newton Street, Ground Floor
• At the Solomon Carter Fuller MHC, BMC Campus,
  Boston
• Howard Trachtman, CPS
• Executive Director
• 617-305-9976
• Joanne Roberts, LICSW - Paul Styzco, CPS
• Director of Programs/Interns Director of
  Programs/Volunteers
• 617-305-9973 - 617-305-9991

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MBRLC - Partner

• BRC
• Boston Resource Center
• 85 E. Newton Street, Ground Floor
• Solomon Carter Fuller MHC, BMC Campus, Boston
• Open 3 Days, Monday/Wednesday/Thursday 10am 4pm
• Womens, Mens, Dual Recovery Anonymous,
  Activity, Recreation,
• Education, Employment General Support Groups
• Computer Lab, Consumer Library, Lounge
  Conference Room
• Peer Warm Line, TR/FR/SA, 4pm 8pm
• 877-733-7563 877-PEER-LNE
• Newcomers Orientation, Wednesdays at 10am

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MBRLC - Partner

• Warm Line
• 1-877-PEER-LNE
• 1-877-733-7563
• Amy Dwyer, MA, CPS
• Coordinator
• adwyer_at_MetroBostonRLC.org
• If you just want to talk to someone whos been
  there
• and who cares
• Peer Warm Line, Thursday, Friday Saturday
• 4pm 8pm

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MBRLC - Partner

• DBRC
• Dorchester Bay Recovery Center
• 132-R Park Street, Dorchester
• Janel Tan, M.Ed.
• 617-335-4401 ext. 37
• Program Director
• Vinfen Corporation

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MBRLC - Partner

• DBRC
• Dorchester Bay Recovery Center
• 132-R Park Street, Dorchester
• 5 Day a Week Drop-in Center
• Morning Afternoon Support, Recovery
  Educational Groups
• Open 930am - 400pm
• Daily Recreational Activity
• Daily Free Hot Lunch
• Programs Developed by Community Members

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MBRLC - Partner

• PERC
• Peer Education Recovery Center
• 129 Portland Street, 3rd Floor, Boston
• Sarah Berger, MS
• [phone]
• Program Coordinator
• Bay Cove

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MBRLC - Partner

• PERC
• Peer Education Recovery Center
• 129 Portland Street, 3rd Floor, Boston
• Pre and Post Employment Services
• Recovery Wellness Groups
• Saturdays at Portland Street, Drop-in Center
• Recovery is Real Discussion Group

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MBRLC - Partner

• NSTE
• North Suffolk Transitional Employment
• 25 Staniford Street, Boston
• Molly Swanberg
• Program Coordinator
• [phone] X 19

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MBRLC - Partner

• NSTE
• North Suffolk Transitional Employment
• 25 Staniford Street, Boston
• Peers Operate Lindeman Center Café (M-F)
• Peers work in DMH Central Office
• Mailroom, Gym and Reception Desk

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MBRLC - Partner

• The Cole Center
• Jonathan O. Cole Mental Health
• Consumer Resource Center
• 115 Mill Street, deMarneffe Cafeteria
• On the Grounds of McLean Hospital, Belmont
• Anne Whitman, Ph.D., MBA
• President

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MBRLC - Partner

• The Cole Center
• Jonathan O. Cole Mental Health
• Consumer Resource Center
• 115 Mill Street, deMarneffe Cafeteria
• On the Grounds of McLean Hospital, Belmont
• Advocacy, Media Outreach
• Education Training
• Consultation

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MBRLC - Partner

• NAMI GB/CAN
• National Alliance for Mental Illness
• Greater Boston Consumer Advocacy/Affiliate
  Network
• Located in the Boston Resource Center Office
• Ground Floor, SCFMHC on the BMC Campus
• Karl Ackerman
• President

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MBRLC - Partner

• NAMI GB/CAN
• National Alliance for Mental Illness
• Greater Boston Consumer Advocacy/Affiliate
  Network
• Located in the Boston Resource Center Office
• Ground Floor, SCFMHC on the BMC Campus
• IOOV In Our Own Voice - Presentations
• Information Technology
• Computer Upgrade and Support

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On Empowerment

• Change is happening in the field of mental health
  and substance abuse treatment
• Treat your client as an equal
• Respect your clients wishes, dreams, values
• Become a Cultural Anthropologist
• Develop a Trauma Sensitive Stance
• Embrace the Process not the Product
• Recognize for many people with mental illness
  recovery is possible!
• Develop Empathy instead of Sympathy
• Help to instill Hope!

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Conclusion

• Recovery Learning Communities are just seconds
  old, but they were the dream and heart-beat of
  many Peers over the last 30 years.
• Each RLC is different as it caters to the
  specific regional population, but its mission is
  the same To assist people with mental illness
  and substance abuse to work towards a higher
  level of wellness through direct support,
  advocacy, education and training to provide
  Peers with the tools that they can use as they
  work towards greater independence, a sense of
  self-worth, dignity and well-being to learn from
  and be guided by our Peers as they self-direct
  treatment and their recovery.

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Questions?

• For more information on the MBRLC
• Please call on me anytime now or in the future.
• Chuck Weinstein
• Director of Operations
• 617-305-9989
• Chuck.weinstein_at_bmc.org

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Building Community One
Relationship at a Time
www.MetroBostonRLC.org June 5, 2009