Alliance Releases Full Program for 16th Annual Recovery and Rehabilitation Academy, Nov 20-21! Register Today!

The 16th Annual Recovery and Rehabilitation Academy, From Program to Purpose: Strengthening Recovery Through Community Connection and Innovation is taking place on November 20–21, 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Albany.

Join leaders, practitioners, and innovators from across New York State for 1 1/2 days of inspiration, skill building, and collaboration at this year’s Recovery and Rehabilitation Academy.
This year’s theme—“From Program to Purpose”—celebrates the people and practices transforming psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery services across our state. Through dynamic keynotes, hands-on workshops, and compelling discussions, participants will gain tools and strategies to strengthen community connection, promote workforce well-being, and navigate change with clarity and purpose.

Featured Highlights
Keynote:
Inspiring in the Void: Leading with Courage, Clarity, and Purpose in Uncertain Times
Presenter: Nyla Christian, CPRSS, NCLC, LifeInspired
A powerful call to lead boldly and intentionally amid uncertainty, reconnecting to the “why” that sustains our mission-driven work.

Special Sessions with Thought Leaders
Featuring Dr. Marianne Farkas, Dr. Angelia Smith-Wilson, Luke Sikinyi, and more.

Register Now

Don’t miss this opportunity to recharge, learn, and lead with purpose. See below for the full program with presenters and schedule! 

FULL PROGRAM

16th Annual Recovery and Rehabilitation Academy
From Program to Purpose:
Strengthening Recovery Through Community Connection and Innovation

Day One Thursday, November 20, 2025

8:00-9:00 am: Breakfast and Registration
9:00-9:15 am Welcome and opening remarks
9:15-10:15am Keynote: Inspiring in the Void: Leading with Courage, Clarity, and Purpose in Uncertain Times
Nyla Christian, CPRSS, NCLC, CEO/Founder LifeInspired
We don’t just need better systems-we need to back build, and believe in the brave wise leaders already holding the line-and equip them to navigate disruption without losing direction.
“Inspiring in the Void: Leading with Courage, Clarity and Purpose in uncertain Times” speaks to the moment when change is constant, capacity is thin, and recovery systems are devolving faster than our structures. Nyla Christian invites participants to examine leadership as an act of adaptation-moving from hierarchy to shared power, from control to collaboration, and from exhaustion to intentional evolution. This keynote challenges traditional models of authority and offers a grounded path forward: building people, not monuments, mentoring that multiplies, and creating infrastructure that outlasts any single leader.
Leaders will leave reconnected to their personal and collective “why” and equipped with practical frameworks for sustaining teams, developing successors and keeping purpose steady among uncertainty.

10:15-10:30 am Break
10:30-11:30am Workshops Round One

1. PROS Redesigned: Redesign Strategies and Emerging Best Practices in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
   Ann Bergeman, RN, BSN, Advanced CASAC, CPRP, PROS Manager, Evelyn Brandon Health Center PROS; Kathryn Murphy, LMHC, Supervisor PROS, Peer Support and Employment Services, St. Joseph’s Health;  Lisa Turnquist BSW, CPRP, Ventures PROS Director, Rochester Rehabilitation Center; Moderator Daniella Labate Covelli, MSW, CPRP, Vice President of Recovery & Rehabilitation Training, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
   This workshop will explore innovative redesign strategies being implemented across PROS programs in the State. Presenters will highlight emerging best practices that strengthen recovery-oriented, person-centered outcomes while meeting system demands. Participants will dive head first into lessons learned and practical approaches to maximizing outcomes through PROS redesign.

2. Taking It To the Streets: Translating Curriculum From Classroom to Community
   Britt Higgins, MEd, LMHC, CPRP, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Specialist, Alliance for Rights and Recovery and Gregory Kanhai, MS, PMP, CPRP, Senior Training & Implementation Specialist, Center for Recovery and Rehabilitation at InUnity Alliance
   This session demonstrates how evidence-based curriculum can move beyond the walls of programs and into the community where recovery happens. Facilitators will share models for adapting group material into community-based learning opportunities and share practical strategies to expand learning environments and increase relevance for participants.

3. Employment and Education Services as Cornerstones of Recovery
   Paul Margolies, PhD, Associate Director for Practice Innovation and Implementation, Center for Practice Innovations; Jennifer Semonite, MS, CRC, WIP-C, Regional Employment Liaison, NYESS Unit;  Christopher Coyle, WIP-C, MS Ed, Assistant Director NYESS Unit;  and Steve Vroman, MS, Mental Health Program Specialist 2, New York State Office of Mental Health
   Employment and education are critical pathways to recovery. This workshop explores effective strategies and partnerships that support individuals in achieving meaningful work and learning opportunities. Presenters will share tools and models that have proven successful in promoting competitive employment and educational attainment as well as exploring how to maximize billing in PROS through the use of ORS services.

4. Shared Power Shared Purpose: Building Peer Leadership Pathways
   Shannon Higbee, Chief Strategy Officer, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
   Discover how peer support can evolve into leadership pathways that empower individuals and organizations alike. This workshop highlights peer-led initiatives that foster shared decision-making and strengthen recovery communities. Participants will learn practical steps to create structures where peer leadership thrives.

11:30-11:45am Break
11:45-12:45 Workshops Round Two

5. Curriculum by Design: A Practical Workshop on Group Development
   Melissa Diaz MPS, LCAT, CLAT, ATR-BC, Senior Training and Implementation Specialist, Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery at InUnity Alliance and Daisy Tan, MA, LCAT, ATR-BC, Program Director at Goodwill Harlem PROS
   Strong group services require intentional design. This workshop provides a step-by-step approach to creating groups that align with psychiatric rehabilitation principles and participant goals. Through hands-on activities, attendees will practice group development techniques they can use immediately!

6. Community Mapping: Unlocking Community Assets and Opportunities
   Amanda Henderson), MS, Senior Psychiatric Rehabilitation Specialist, Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery at InUnity Alliance and Hannah Taber, CPRP, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Specialist, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
   Understanding the assets and resources in a community is key to recovery and social inclusion. In this session, participants will learn community mapping techniques that help individuals and programs identify natural supports and opportunities. Facilitators will guide attendees through exercises to begin their own mapping process.

7. Applying Psychiatric Rehabilitation Principles to Enhance Substance Use Recovery
   Dr. Angelia Smith-Wilson, Executive Director, Friends of Recovery in New York
   This session bridges psychiatric rehabilitation with substance use recovery approaches. Participants will explore how core rehabilitation principles can support motivation, goal setting, and enhancing daily living skills for people addressing substance use challenges.

8. Transformational Leadership in Mental Health Services
   Paul Margolies, PhD, Associate Director for Practice Innovation and Implementation, Center for Practice Innovations and Edye Schwartz, DSW, LCSW, Principal, Edye Schwartz Consulting
   Effective leadership transforms organizations and the people they serve. This workshop explores transformational leadership practices that inspire innovation, build resilience, and align services with recovery values. Leaders at all levels will leave with tools to strengthen culture and outcomes in their agencies.

12:45-1:30 pm Lunch Break
1:30-2:30 General Session
Say What You Mean: Aligning Documentation with Practice Standards and Person-Centered Services
Rayna Wang, LCSW, Assistant Director Healthcare Innovation and Boris Vilgorin, MPA, Healthcare Innovations Officer, McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research
Documentation is more than a record – it is a reflection of individuals’ recovery journeys and the support that behavioral health professionals have provided. This session will discuss common documentation challenges, as well as provide practical strategies on how to document with a person-centered lens while still meeting programmatic standards.

2:30-2:45 pm Break

2:45-3:45 Workshops Round Three

9. Expanding the Circle: Integrating Occupational Therapy into PROS Programs
   Sean Getty, OTD, MS, OTR/L, Clinical Associate Professor, Vice Chairperson, and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Stony Brook University; Christine Linkie, PhD, OTR/L, CPRP, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Buffalo Occupational Therapy Program; Meredith Surdel, LMHC-DP, Director of Clinical Services, Endeavor Health Services; Jeffery Tomlinson, MSW, OTR/L FAOTA, Legislative & Government Relations Chair for the New York State Occupational Therapy  Association; Moderator Stephen Nawotniak, OTR/L, NYCPS, CPRP, Psychiatric Rehabilitation Specialist, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
   Occupational therapy (OT) brings unique value to recovery-oriented psychiatric rehabilitation. This session showcases how OT can be integrated into PROS programming to enhance increased independence, self-management, and community participation. Participants will learn about how Occupational therpaists can support PROS participants to reach their goals.

10. The Impact of Culture on Motivation: Guiding Personally Meaningful Goals and Change Readiness
    Erika Esquivel, MS, I CONECT Critical Time Intervention Implementation Specialist; Luis Lopez, MA, MS, Director of I CONECT-Institute for Care Management Outreach, Networking, Engagement, Connecting, and Training; Elisabeth Salner, LCSW, MPH, I CONECT Critical Time Intervention Implementation Specialist
    Culture plays a critical role in shaping motivation and recovery goals. This workshop highlights culturally responsive practices that help individuals connect personal values to meaningful outcomes. Attendees will gain tools for enhancing engagement and readiness for change through cultural humility.

11. Operationalizing Values: Leadership Tools for Fidelity to the Mission of Rehabilitation and Recovery
    Paul Margolies, PhD, Associate Director for Practice Innovation and Implementation, Center for Practice Innovations and  Edye Schwartz, DSW, LCSW, Principal, Edye Schwartz Consulting
    Organizations thrive when their daily practices reflect their mission and values. This session introduces leadership tools and planning templates that ensure fidelity to recovery principles. Through interactive group activities, participants will explore how to operationalize values into consistent practice.

12. Remote and Rooted: What It Takes to Keep Remote CORE Teams Engaged and Effective
    Tony Salerno, PhD, Innovation and Implementation Officer, McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research
    Remote work presents unique challenges for behavioral health teams. This workshop shares strategies and lessons learned for maintaining engagement, accountability, and team cohesion in CORE services. Participants will leave with practical tips to support high-functioning remote teams.

3:45-4:00 pm Break
4:00-5:00 pm Workshops Round Four

13. Practice or Prompt: A Guide to Developing Skills or Resources
    Marianne Farkas, ScD, Professor, Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University
    Skill development is at the heart of recovery-oriented practice. This workshop explores the difference between practicing a skill and prompting the use of a resource, offering guidance on when and how to use each approach. Participants will engage in exercises to strengthen their facilitation skills.

14. Exploring the Possibilities: Helping People Identify and Research Real-Life Goal Options
    David Bucciferro, BS, Independent Consultant and Paula Fries, LCAT, CPRP, Independent Consultant
    Identifying meaningful goals begins with exploring real-world possibilities. This session provides tools and strategies for helping individuals research and evaluate options that align with their values, hopes and interests. Attendees will practice techniques for goal discovery and action planning.

15. The Ripple Effect: Leadership Practices That Retain and Inspire the Workforce
    Natalie Lleras, LCSW, CPRP, Director of Training, Cener for Rehabilitation and Recovery at InUnity Alliance
    Strong leadership not only delivers results but also inspires people to stay and grow. This session highlights leadership practices that foster resilience, satisfaction, and commitment among staff. Participants will learn explore myriad strategies for building an organizational culture that retains talent and sustains mission-driven work.

16. Policy in Action: Navigating Systems to Advance Recovery
    Luke Sikinyi, MSPH, Vice President of Public Policy, Alliance for Rights and Recovery
    Policy shapes the systems within which recovery services are delivered. This workshop provides an overview of current policy issues impacting psychiatric rehabilitation  services and explores how providers can engage in policy development and advocacy. Participants will learn how to connect policy awareness to daily practice and program planning.

Day Two, Friday, November 21, 2025

8:30-9:00 breakfast and registration
9:00 Welcome
9:15-10:15 Opening Session: Recovery and Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Our Story
Marianne Farkas, ScD, Professor, Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University
Once people with serious mental health conditions were transferred out of state psychiatric hospitals into community settings, it became apparent that the move itself was not enough to result in people developing lives of dignity and meaning. Psychiatric rehabilitation emerged in the 1970’s, with the vision of recovery coming to prominence in the 1990’s as responses to this realization.  It is important, as we move forward, to remember how we got here and what our collective story is both in the USA and the rest of the world as counter forces seem to suggest that we go back to the “old days”.  This presentation will present our story.

10:15-10:30 Break
10:30-11:30 Workshops Round Five

17. Occupation: The Power of Doing
    Christine Linkie, PhD, OTR/L, CPRP, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Buffalo Occupational Therapy Program
    Recovery is strengthened when skills are learned and practiced in real-life settings. This workshop focuses on strategies for delivering skills training directly in community environments. Participants will learn how to design and facilitate community-based skill-building activities that promote independence and confidence.

18. Balancing Choice and Responsibility: Ethics in Recovery-Oriented Services
    TBA
    Ethical practice is foundational to quality recovery services. This workshop reviews common ethical challenges in psychiatric rehabilitation and explores frameworks for ethical decision-making. Attendees will strengthen their ability to navigate complex situations while maintaining integrity and respect for participant choice.

19. Training as Strategy: Unlocking the Power of NYPRTA To Fulfill Your Agency’s Mission
    Kirk Cooper-Johnson, LMSW, CPRP, NYPRTA Director, Alliance for Rights and Recovery and Natalie Lleras, LCSW, CPRP, Director of Training, Cener for Rehabilitation and Recovery at InUnity Alliance
    Ongoing training is not just professional development—it’s a strategic tool for advancing agency mission of providing quality recovery services. This session highlights how organizations can leverage NYPRTA resources and training opportunities to build capacity, align with values, and achieve goals.

20. The Power of Lived Experience: Essentials for Integration of Peer Support in Recovery Teams
    Marc Agboka, NYCPS, CORE Program Coordinator, Mental Health Association of Nassau County; Liz Breier, MAHAP, CPRP, Chief Advocacy Officer, Office of  Advocacy and Peer Support Services, NYS Office of Mental Health; Courtney Culkin, LMHC-D, Clinical Director PROS, CORE, SOAR & Adult Family Support, Mental Health Association of Nassau County; Danielle Lumia, LCSW-R, Samitan PROS Manager, St. Peter’s Health Partners; Moderator Jeremy Reuling, LCSW, NYCPS, CPRP, Senior Director of Special Projects, Hands Across Long Island
    Peer support brings unique credibility and power to recovery services. This workshop examines best practices for integrating peers into multidisciplinary teams in meaningful and sustainable ways. Presenters will share lessons learned and essentials for making peer support a cornerstone of recovery work.

11:30-12:15 General Session with OMH