Alliance Alert: We are just 9 days away from the start of this year’s Alliance Annual Conference! We have a wonderful, jam-packed program full of extraordinary speakers, powerful advocates, and pioneers of peer services. We will be highlighting some of the great presentations and panelists we will have as we get closer to the start of the conference. Today, we’d like to highlight several incredible workshops covering Peer Service Innovations, Medicaid Programs, and Public Policy. Our Peer Services track includes a keynote and presentations from Peer Support pioneers Shery Mead, Chris Hansen, and Peggy Swarbrick. We’ll also have presentations from Peer leaders in New York such as Shannon Higbee, Jeremy Reuling, and Jonathan Edwards! Meanwhile, our panels on Medicaid services will help you understand the 1115 New York Health Equity Reform Demonstration Waiver and how you or your organization can benefit from the $7.5 Billion it will inject into our greater service system, as well as how peers fit into Medicaid funded services. Finally, our Public Policy presentations will offer an opportunity to hear about plans for the upcoming year and offer feedback to NYS Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann Sullivan and her team, explain the effective use of Psychiatric Advance Directives, and concrete ways to move your organization closer to being fully antiracist. See below to register for the conference and learn more about these fantastic presentations.
If you have not registered for the conference and secured your hotel accommodations, use the links below to guarantee your spot at the conference!
Take advantage of our buy 5 get 1 free deal, which has been extended!
Score Big with Our BUY 5, GET 1 FREE Deal!
We are also very pleased to invite you to take advantage of our exclusive offer: when you register five people, you’ll get one registration (including the hotel reservation) absolutely free!
- Hotel, meals and special offerings: Just contact the hotel directly at 1-800-727-8455 and select #1 for reservations to claim your bonus. Remember, each attendee needs an individual reservation/registration, but if they’re sharing a room, you can reserve them together in one go. Planning a short stay? For one-night-only bookings, give the hotel a call at the same number and select #1 for reservations. Don’t miss out on these fantastic savings!
- To attend the conference program, make your qualifying registrations HERE and then email Eileen Crosby for your free registration(s). Don’t forget to include the email address used for purchase and your organization.
If you plan to register less than 5 attendees, use the links to complete registration and get hotel accommodations online. Conference registration and hotel reservations are separate.
PEER SUPPORT
Keynote: Wellness and Peer Support Pioneers Panel
Mary Ellen Copeland creator of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Shery Mead, founder and Co-Director Chris Hansen of Intentional Peer Support and Peggy Swarbrick, creator of the 8 Dimensions of Health and Peer Wellness Coaching; Moderator: Harvey Rosenthal, CEO, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Come learn from legendary leaders of our recovery and peer support movements as to how their own lived experience led them to create the innovative approaches for which they’re known around the world, about what they felt was needed to help people improve their lives and the vision they’ve had to create the changes they’ve made that have inspired people, systems and policymakers to adopt.
Peer Support as Social Change
Shery Mead, Founder, and Chris Hansen, Co-Director, Intentional Peer Support
This workshop will explore what fidelity to the principles of peer support involves. It will define peer support, and what makes it unique, discuss some of the historical roots and intentions behind the evolution of peer support, outline the shortcomings dangers, harms and paradoxes and possibilities lurking in the growth and evolution of peer support within clinical mental health settings. Through the lens of Intentional Peer Support, the presenters will provide a brief overview of Intentional Peer Support and offer some possibilities and conversations about what we might do differently.
Assessing Organizational Readiness for Peer Support Implementation in Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)
Shannon Higbee, CEO, Recovery Options Made Easy; Mona Lisa McEachin, Assistant Program Director, Best Self Recovery Community Center
Prepare for successful integration of peer services in your CCBHC with our webinar, “Assessing Organizational Readiness for Peer Support Implementation in Community Mental Health Clinics,” where we will guide mental health clinic leaders in evaluating their readiness to integrate peer support programs, offering practical insights and tools to ensure a successful implementation that enhances patient outcomes and clinician collaboration. Gain the knowledge and expertise needed to create a supportive environment for peer support, unlocking the full potential of your clinic’s mental health services.
Listening to the Peer Workforce: What We Heard…and What You Can Do
Jeremy Reuling, Senior Director of Special Projects, Hands Across Long Island (HALI), Rita Cronise, Co-Director, PeerTAC, Jessica Wolf, Principal, Decision Solutions Consulting
Building on last year’s “Listening to the Peer Support Workforce….” This interactive workshop will share what we’ve learned. Participants will identify what they can do as a working peer specialist to advance their careers and to help improve working conditions for the peer workforce. Workshop facilitators will summarize the Top Ten Peer Workforce Priorities developed during the past six years with a focus on Action Recommendations suggested by numerous audiences. Participants will explore these in relation to their current work goals and work life.
Not for Nothing: A Continuing Dialogue on Answers to Three Critical Questions about Supervision of Peer Support Workers
Joanne Forbes, Consultant, Peer TAC and Rutgers University, Gita Enders, Director of Peer Services, Office of Behavioral Health, NYC Health and Hospitals, Jonathan Edwards, Program Consultant, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Effective supervision is critical to peer support services. This workshop is a continuation of “No! Nothing! None!”, a conversation about how supervisors of peer support workers are identified, supported, and trained without consideration of other factors such as organizational support and training specific to the supervisor’s role. This workshop explores the workforce landscape as peer support workers move into supervisory positions. Interactive discussion will further explicate supervision in the context of peer support services. This workshop provides a broader understanding of the background and process of providing effective supervision as well as the ways peer specialists can influence the provision of effective supervision.
MEDICAID
Navigating New York’s 1115 Waiver: Overview, Implementation Updates, and Future Opportunities
Sarina Master, Director, Bureau of Adult Special Populations, Policy and Programming NYS Department of Health; Lauren Tobias, Senior Advisor, Brown & Weinraub; Brett Scudder, President, CEO, Scudder Intervention Services Foundation
Join us to hear the latest updates on the implementation progress for the recently approved 1115 New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) Medicaid Demonstration Waiver and other expected changes to the NYS Medicaid plan. This will include a conversation on the role of the statewide Health Equity Reform Organization (SHERO), Social Care Networks (SCNs) and how they plan to improve access to mental health services and supports, including the support of peers. Panelists will discuss the current timing of waiver implementation and other changes as well as offer updates on avenues for community providers to get funding for services provided to Medicaid members through the waiver.
Understanding New York’s Social Care Networks Under the New 1115 Waiver
Lauren Tobias, Senior Advisor, Brown & Weinraub; Brett Scudder, President, CEO, Scudder Intervention Services Foundation; Luke Sikinyi, Director of Public Policy, The Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Join us for an in-depth exploration of New York’s Social Care Networks under the newly approved 1115 New York Health Equity Reform Waiver. This workshop will provide a comprehensive understanding of how these networks are being developed to revolutionize the delivery of health-related social needs across the state. Participants will gain insights into the strategies for recruiting providers into these networks and how community-based organizations and stakeholders will be integral to the advisory boards guiding their implementation. Additionally, the session will cover the mechanisms for distributing funds to ensure that services are effectively and equitably delivered and aligned with community needs. This workshop is essential for providers, community organizations, and stakeholders interested in playing a role in the evolving landscape of social care in New York.
The 25th Anniversary of Medicaid Billable Peer Support: Considering the Policy Impact of Implementation
Wendy White Tiegreen, Director of Office of Medicaid Coordination & Health System Innovation, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health
This workshop will delve into the innovative use of Medicaid to fund peer support services for individuals with mental health and substance use challenges. Led by an experienced presenter who successfully established a Medicaid-funded peer support program in Georgia, the session will offer a detailed exploration of how state funding streams can be leveraged to create similar programs in other states. Participants will gain practical insights into the strategies and steps required to implement these services, as well as the challenges and obstacles that may arise, such as maintaining the fidelity of peer support in clinical settings. This workshop is ideal for advocates, providers, and policymakers seeking to expand peer support services through sustainable funding mechanisms.
Peer Supporters and Community Health Workers: Where is the Nexus?
Dr. Peggy Swarbrick, Associate Director, Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies; Sarina Master, Director, Bureau of Special Populations; Jeff McQueen, CEO, MHA of Nassau County; Luke Sikinyi, Alliance for Rights & Recovery
In today’s healthcare landscape, integrating mental health services into primary care is essential for comprehensive wellness. Peers and community health workers are key players in this integration, bridging the gap between physical and behavioral health. Peers Supporters offer empathy and understanding, fostering trust and engagement. Community health workers, rooted in local communities, provide access to resources and support, addressing social determinants of health. Marrying the two is essential to promote holistic well-being, transforming healthcare delivery and fostering resilience in both individuals and their communities.
PUBLIC POLICY
Keynote: Office of Mental Health Town Hall
Ann Sullivan, Commissioner; Janine Perazzo, Assistant Commissioner; Erica van De Wal, Director of Planning; Ian Rodgers, Director, Patient and Client Feedback Initiatives, NYS Office of Mental Health
Join New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann Sullivan and her team to hear discuss an array of new and emerging mental health initiatives and to give your input to OMH’s programs and new hospital to community initiatives.
Unpacking the Power of Psychiatric Advance Directives
Matthew Federici, Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery; Rayshell Chambers, Painted Brain; Kiran Sahotak, Concepts Forward, Pablo Sadler, Mental Health Medical Director, Bureau of Mental Health at New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Moderator, Luke Sikinyi, Director for Public Policy and Engagement, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
This presentation will provide a comprehensive exploration of Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs), focusing on their legal standing and the ongoing efforts to enhance their usability and legal enforceability. The session will explore how to create more support for peers to assist other people with completing PADs. Additionally, panelists will discuss the creation of a mechanism to ensure PADs are accessible across various critical settings, including emergency rooms, hospitals, jails, and prisons and DIGITAL. Join us to learn about these pivotal initiatives and how they can improve the lives of individuals navigating the mental health system.
Unapologetic Black Unicorns!
Keris Jän Myrick, Vice President of Partnerships and Innovation, Inseparable; Dr Felecia Pullen, Founder and CEO, Pillars NYC; Dr Chyrell Bellamy, Director of Peer Support Services & Research and Director of the Yale Lived Experience Transformational Leadership Academy and Dr Rupi Legha, Psychiatrist/Scholar/Activist
Ready to move beyond the buzzwords and dive into what it truly means to be antiracist? This dynamic workshop is not just about asking tough questions—it’s about answering them in ways that inspire real change! What does it mean to be an antiracist? What does an antiracist organization look like? And most importantly, how can we implement antiracist practices in our field right now? Join us for a live recording of the Unapologetically Black Unicorns podcast, where our special guests will break it all down. Expect a lively, engaging, and yes—fun—session filled with actionable insights and strategies to transform antiracist theory into tangible practice at individual, organizational, and programmatic levels. This is more than a workshop; it’s a powerful call to action. Get ready to be energized, inspired, and equipped to make a meaningful impact. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of the conversation and the solution!