Title: Reducing Stigma By Focusing On Recovery
1Reducing Stigma By Focusing On Recovery A Systems
Approach
Thomas A. Kirk, Jr., Ph.D., Commissioner Connectic
ut Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Services
State Systems Development Program November 20,
2002
Gerald Croog
2We are a healthcare service agency.
Promote health
through prevention and early intervention
services.
Recover and sustain health
through treatment and recovery support services.
Need to broaden and strengthen our system of
effective prevention, early intervention and
treatment services.
3addicts
a chronic, relapsing disease
severe persistent mental illness
What message are we conveying?
Doesnt anybody ever get better?
4I AM NOT A JUNKIE ANYMORE!
5Recovery
People get better!
6Recovery Defined
- The Department endorses a broad vision of
recovery that involves a process of restoring or
developing a positive and meaningful sense of
identity apart from ones condition and then
rebuilding a life despite or within the
limitations imposed by that condition. A recovery
oriented system of care identifies and builds
upon each individuals assets, strengths, and
areas of health and competence to support
achieving a sense of mastery over his or her
condition while regaining a meaningful,
constructive, sense of membership in the broader
community.
7Recovery is not a stand-alone initiative. It is
an overarching theme for everything we do.
8Anchors for the Recovery System Implementation
Commissioners Policy Statement
- Provides recovery vision for the system
- Establishes recovery and quality as overarching
system goals - Emphasizes person centered approach
- Guides policy and planning efforts
- Highlights importance of meaningful community
membership
9Factors Influencing the New Recovery Movement in
CT
- Addiction self-help movement
- Mental Health consumer/survivor movement
- Family movement - NAMI
- Advances in treatment approaches
- Recovery oriented research
- Mental health and addiction advocates
- Commitment of DMHAS leadership to recovery
principles
10(No Transcript)
11Strategic Goals
- Establish a statewide quality of care management
system to achieve defined service outcomes and
the continued improvement of the integrated DMHAS
healthcare system. - Provide culturally competent and integrated
services to persons whose needs are particularly
challenging or not being well met in the current
system.
12Three Essentials for Effective Treatment
- Maybe I have a Problem
- Tools of Recovery
- Examples of Success
13- RECOVERY SPECIALISTS
- RECOVERY HOUSES
- RECOVERY PLANS
- BASIC NEEDS PROGRAM RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES
- CCAR FUNDING
14Sample Recovery Dimension in DMHAS Recovery
Model Supportive Others
Direct Service Provider How I can support people
in their recovery
Manager/Administrator How I can lead an
organization that supports recovery
Person In Recovery What recovery means to me
- Staff help people build connections with
neighborhoods and communities - Services are provided in natural environments
- Peer support is facilitated and utilized
- Natural supports are relied upon
Recovery Markers We will know that we are
working together toward recovery when
15Current Initiatives
Public Education
Advance Directives
Recovery Institute
Recovery Plan
Housing and Vocational Services
CSAT/CMHS Consultation
Recovery Self Assessment
Commissioners Advisory Council
Recovery Policy Work Group
16Recovery Self Assessment
- Assessment tool developed to measure recovery
oriented practices of DMHAS providers - Designed to provide information regarding
provider recovery readiness - Surveyed providers, persons being served, and
family members
17What did we learn?
- Connecticut agencies vary in the provision of
recovery-oriented practices - Agencies were rated highest on items related to
rights and respect i.e., refraining from use of
coercive measures and access to records - Agencies were rated lowest on items related to
consumer involvement in development/ provision of
services and recovery education - Providers had more negative appraisals of
agencies recovery-oriented practices than
directors, persons being served, and family/sig.
oth./advocates
18Recovery Policy Work Group
- Established to review DMHAS policies that support
or impede recovery practice - Examine key areas of fiscal and administrative
areas of operation - Charge is to make recommendations regarding
policy that supports recovery - Comprised of state-operated staff
19CMHS and CSAT Consultation
- Consultation through Federal partners re recovery
system re-design - Assess DMHAS recovery readiness
- Consult with key stakeholders
- Provide recommendations re implementation of
recovery system
20Person Centered Recovery Plan
- Promotes self-determination and community
membership in valued social roles - Re-orients participants, including providers to
strengths based or solution oriented models - Develops skillful use of personal and community
assets - Extends beyond medical model
21Components of Connecticuts Recovery Model
- Promotion of recovery vision
- Workforce development initiatives
- Consumer/Recovering Person service initiatives
- Public education and anti-stigma campaign
- Initiatives to increase individual and family
participation - Resource reallocation strategies
- Align policies and administrative procedures to
support recovery
22Recovery Institute
- Assist in development of a recovery oriented
system of care by providing education and
training, consultation and technical assistance. - THREE LEVELS OF OFFERINGS
- Open Trainings To promote widespread knowledge
of recovery paradigm. 5 regional session. 100
participants/session. - Intensives Skill based. Direct service staff,
administrators/supervisors, persons in recovery.
25 participants/cohort. 8 weeks, 2 hour/session
after initial day of training. - Centers of Excellence Develop agency-based model
programs. Provide training to staff, technical
assistance to administrators. Phase 1- Program
development. Phase 2- Use Centers as
training/internship sites.
23Strategy for Implementing a Recovery-Oriented
System
Bauers S-shaped Diffusion Curve
From Mark Bauer, in press
24Highlights of Progress to Date
- Developed Commissioners Recovery Policy
- Hosted 2 major recovery conferences
- Developed CT Recovery Model
- Secured funding for Recovery Institute
- Obtained technical assistance grants for
development of recovery-oriented system - Completed recovery system assessment
- Completed system wide consumer driven Voice Your
Opinion satisfaction survey - Supported continuation and expansion of peer
operated services
25Areas for Further Development
- Consensus building with persons in recovery,
family members and providers - Identification of best practices and model
programs and distribution to field - Re-orienting all DMHAS systems and initiatives
(Behavioral Health Partnership, outcomes,
monitoring, housing) to support recovery oriented
system of care - Development of recoveryoriented outcomes
- Coordination with housing initiatives
26State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health
Addiction Services
Recovery is our business
27THE FISCAL REALITIES OF
28The Ultimate Goals of Recovery
- Decent place to live
- Something worthwhile to do
- A social life
Recovery is a Journey, Not an Event
29THANK YOU FOR THE CASSEROLE
30Public Education
- Marketing strategy for increasing and maintaining
awareness of recovery activities (consumer,
provider, and DMHAS staff ) - Anti-stigma campaign aimed at general public
- Build momentum through community education
31Thank You