Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
February 23, 2005, Vol. 05-23

Alternatives 2005 Call for Papers

The National Empowerment Center invites proposals for workshops for Alternatives 2005, the national mental health conference organized by and

for mental health consumers and survivors. ALTERNATIVES 2005: LEADING THE TRANSFORMATION TO RECOVERY will be October 26-30, 2005, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, Arizona. The Call for Papers is available now at www.power2u.org; Proposals must be received by April 6, 2005.

Consumers and survivors are invited to submit proposals for workshops because consumer knowledge and experience is vital to transforming our lives and the mental health system. The Alternatives Conference has always been a place for people to share their ideas and to celebrate successful innovations and programs. We invite everyone to consider becoming a presenter -- first-time presenters are especially welcome. Learning from one another is a clear example of self-help and mutual support in action!

TOPICAL AREAS FOR WORKSHOPS and INSTITUTES

Each Alternatives Conference offers in-depth technical assistance on consumer/survivor-delivered services and self-help/recovery methods. The Alternatives 2005 Advisory Board, which includes consumer/survivor leaders from across the nation, is seeking proposals for presentations in the following areas (although proposals need not be limited to these subjects).

A. Individual Approaches to Healing and Recovery

1. Self-expression through the arts, including experiential/hands-on workshops on journal keeping, painting, drawing, poetry, music, etc.
2. Strategies for healing trauma (abuse, poverty, homelessness, criminal justice system, substance abuse, natural disasters, psychiatric interventions such as restraint and seclusion, etc.) including the effects on individuals and families.
3. Holistic health, spirituality and alternative healing, including beliefs and practices of different cultures.
4. Consumer-driven recovery plans, including individual plans of care.

B. Reaching Across Cultures

1. Addressing differences including age, race, gender, ethnicity and geographic location and building inclusive communities of peer support.
2. Creating and implementing cultural sensitivity within mental health and peer-provided services; understanding the whole person.
3. Overcoming effects of racism and discrimination that are barriers to recovery.
4. Implementing translation and language assistance services in mental health and peer-provided services.
5. Implementing an action-oriented plan to adapt cultural beliefs and approaches in self-help, peer-run and recovery programs.
6. Increasing representation of ethnically and culturally diverse communities in public mental health policy making, on boards and committees, etc.

C. Creating a Recovery Culture in Mental Health Systems

1. Promoting and implementing consumer-driven care.
2. Providing recovery training for providers, and recovery education of consumers and family members.
3. Creating coalitions to influence mental health policy, planning and service delivery.
4. Providing the range of peer-provided services and supports, such as organizing peer support programs, working as providers, and establishing and maintaining consumer-run organizations.
5. Implementing evaluation services, such as consumer satisfaction teams.

D. Community Integration

1. Employment, education and economic development: joining the economic mainstream.
2. Housing: obtaining adequate and affordable housing.
3. Overcoming discrimination and stigma.

ALTERNATIVES WORKSHOP/INSTITUTE SELECTION CRITERIA

The Advisory Board will evaluate proposals according to the following criteria:

-Relevance of presentation to the conference theme and suggested subject areas.

-Skills and experience of presenters.

-Opportunities for participants to develop new skills and/or replicate a successful program.

-Indication that the lead presenter is a consumer/survivor.

-Clear outline of the purpose and learning objectives of the presentation.

-Opportunities for engaging attendees.

The Alternatives Conference is funded by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services.

Workshop/Institute Application Form and additional information on Alternatives 2005 available at www.power2u.org; Proposals must be received by April 6, 2005.

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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.