March 21: Gina Calhoun, Stirring Recovery/WRAP Proponent at NYC NAMI Event

WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) is a personalized coping strategy designed by the client, for the client.WRAPs are based on each person’s own experience on what works best for them.

Gina will run an afternoon workshop about what a WRAP is, as well as how to create and use your own WRAP.

In the evening, Gina will be joined by her mother, and her sister, who will share their stories about Gina’s journey from mental health care to peer services. We know how important family support is. And we know the value of lived experience. They’ll talk about the difficulties accessing mental health treatment, as well as how they all came to thrive today.

Tuesday March 21

Workshop:
2:30 to 4:00pm

NAMI-NYC

505 8th Ave.

Suite 1103 (at W. 35 St.)

Discussion:
6:00 to 8:00pm

Starr Foundation Hall

The New School, University Center

63 5th Ave. (btwn W. 13 & 14 Sts.)

You don’t want to miss this special event!

SEATS ARE FREE AND LIMITED

Gina Calhoun for works the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery as National Director for Wellness & Recovery Education. Previously she worked for the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. She is a certified peer support specialist and has had the opportunity to be part of 16 certified peer specialist trainings, 7 certified peer specialist supervisor trainings and 45 WRAP® trainings. Gina’s unique experience centers around Harrisburg State Hospital (HSH). She used the services at Harrisburg State Hospital for several years before escaping to live on the streets. Gina came back to offer peer support during the closing of HSH and now works on the former grounds of the hospital complex. She attributes her recovery journey to supportive relationships that choose to focus on ‘what’s strong’ instead of ‘what’s wrong’; and for the opportunity to work in a supportive environment where she is part of a team making a difference in PA. Gina was awarded the Distinguished Advocates Award from the PA Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services, chosen as the PA state representative for the National Pillars of Peer Support Summit and had the honor to be the keynote speaker for the National Veteran’s Conference as well as the National Association of Peer Specialist Conference.

In March 2012, Gina won the Timothy J. Coakley Behavioral Health Leadership Award. This award honors consumer and family leaders in the behavioral health field whose work is characterized by the highest degree of integrity and a passion for creative approaches for improving the lives of persons living with mental illnesses, especially in the public sector.