2014 Peer-Run Organization/ Recovery-Community Organization Awards to Promote Best and Emerging Practices in Peer Services
Application deadline March 3, 2014 5pm ET The purpose of the BRSS TACS Peer Best Practice Awards is to support activities that promote the adoption of peer-delivered, recovery-oriented services for people in recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorders with the goals of: 1. Promoting the use of best or emerging practices for peer-delivered recovery supports by developing informational materials that educate peer providers (e.g., peer specialists, peer recovery coaches, peer and parent support providers, promoters, and peer youth workers) and traditional service providers (e.g., the staff of programs that are not peer-run, clinically trained mental health and substance use treatment providers, and others); OR 2. Providing virtual training and educational activities for peer providers and/or traditional service providers on best or emerging practices for peer-delivered recovery supports; OR 3. Planning and developing capacity and/or infrastructure to establish new peer-delivered recovery supports. We urge you to take advantage of this opportunity. Use the following link to find information about the application and expectations of awardees-http://brsstacs.center4si.com/BRSSTACS_PeerAwards_BestPractices_RFA.pdf. |
BRSS TACS Webinar Series
Throughout 2014 BRSS TACS will be hosting a series of free Webinars on Recovery Related Topics. We hope that you will be able to join us as we convene experts in the Mental Health and Addictions Field to talk about emerging and important topics across the recovery field.
The next webinar in the series will be:
Lessons Learned from 2013 BRSS TACS Awardees Thu Apr. 10, 2014 1:00pm-2:30pm ET
Register today!
Presenters:
Description:
During its second year, the BRSS TACS project provided competitive awards to 14 peer-run organizations/recovery community organizations and 8 state coalitions to promote the adoption of peer-delivered, recovery-oriented services and supports for people in recovery from substance use and mental health conditions. These 22 awards were administered through three different funding opportunities of the BRSS TACS project: Policy Academy Awards, Peer Awards for Health Reform Education, and Peer-Run Organization/Recovery Community Organization Awards. This webinar will highlight the experiences and accomplishments of one awardee from each of the three award programs.
All BRSS TACS webinars are recorded, closed captioned, and available for viewing at your convenience.
You can find recordings of our recent BRSS TACS webinars on the Webinars section of the BRSS TACS Webpage. |
First Fridays with BRSS TACS
On-Call Technical Assistance Office Hours with Leaders in the Recovery Field
First Fridays with BRSS TACS is an opportunity for participants to meet with nationally recognized leaders to discuss specific topics each month. Participants join by calling the phone number provided and entering the “Adobe Connect Room” online by clicking the link provided.
Questions and comments will be moderated by a BRSS TACS team member.
Join us on the first Friday of the month to speak with recovery experts and leaders in the recovery field on the phone and online to get answers to your questions on various recovery-related topics.
Fridays with BRSS TACS
Who: Phillip Valentine, Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery Topic: Developing a Recovery Community Center Date: Friday March 7, 2014 Time: Noon-1 p.m. ET Where: http://center4si.adobeconnect.com/firstfridays Call-in #: 888-407-5039 (PIN 556-82-342)
Phillip Valentine Executive Director, Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery
Phil Valentine is the Executive Director for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR). He has been an integral component in this recovery community organization since January 1999. An accomplished speaker and presenter, he has gained recognition as a strong leader in the recovery community; in 2006 the Johnson Institute recognized his efforts with an America Honors Recovery award. In 2008, Faces and Voices of Recovery honored CCAR with the first Joel Hernandez Voice of the Recovery Community Award as the outstanding recovery community organization in the country. In 2009, the Hartford Business Journal named him the Non-profit Executive of the Year. Currently, he is spearheading CCAR’s effort to build a statewide network of recovery community centers that feature innovative peer recovery support services like telephone recovery support, All-Recovery groups and Recovery Works! employment services. Phil has been instrumental in the development of CCAR’s highly-acclaimed videos “Putting a Face on Recovery!”, “The Healing Power of Recovery” and “Legacy of Hope: Recovery Elders Video Project”. He served as CCAR’s point man for the first seven “Recovery Walks!”, annual walks held for those in support of recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction. He has designed and facilitated several trainings including the “Recovery Perspective – Beyond the Treatment Episode” and “The Language of Recovery”. Phil has willingly shared his experience and expertise with other Recovery Community Organizations. In recovery since December 28, 1987, he is the author of “Hooked on Recovery”, a blog that has informed the general public about his personal recovery process. Phil believes that being public about his own recovery from alcohol and cocaine addiction helps ease the discrimination surrounding addiction and recovery. He strives to “soften the community” to recovery. A University of Connecticut graduate, he has prior experience as a community counselor in a detox/residential treatment setting and in the field of prevention. He is married and has five children. He coaches youth soccer and his favorite hobbies are surf fishing, golf and movies. |
Spotlight on BRSS TACS: 2013 Consumer Leadership Forum
The annual SAMHSA Mental Health Transformation Grant (MHTG) Consumer Leadership Forum (CLF) was held in Austin, Texas, on December 2-3, 2013. Thirty-eight peer leaders, representing the twenty MHTG projects from around the nation, were in attendance. The purpose of the Forum includes the following:
Nationally recognized experts in mental health and addiction, including Dan Fisher (National Empowerment Center); Laverne Miller (SAMHSA GAINS Center), Harvey Rosenthal (New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services); Cheryl Gagne, Steven Samra, Patty McCarthy Metcalf (Center for Social Innovation); Joe Powell (Association of Persons Affected by Addiction); and Alan Rabideau (member of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Tribe of Chippewa Native Americans) co-presented with MHTG project peer leaders in a variety of workshops and plenaries. Peer participants and subject matter experts enjoyed opportunities for peer-to-peer sharing and increasing skills and knowledge related to system transformation and recovery-oriented approaches within their organizations and projects. Upon completion of the Consumer Leadership Forum attendees completed a satisfaction survey and their responses reflect the overall success of the 2013 event:
For more information about the Consumer Leadership Forum, please contact BRSS TACS at brsstacs@center4si.com or by calling (617) 467-6014 |
Free BRSS TACS Technical Assistance
Interested in FREE training for your staff?
Want expert advice and tips on creating an effective advisory board?
Is your organization ready for a new strategic plan?
Having trouble recruiting volunteers?
Thinking about certification for peer support providers?
BRSS TACS offers FREE training and technical assistance on a variety of topics such as:
Are you ready to talk to our team to see how BRSS TACS can help you?
Please fill out a Technical Assistance Request Form & submit it to us at brsstacs@center4si.com or call us at 617-467-6014 for more information. |
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Questions about the Monthly Update or BRSS TACS in general?
Let us know!
T: 617-467-6014 |