Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
March 8, 2004, Vol. 04-25

Call for Papers & Presenters
Alternatives 2004
Achieving the Promise of Recovery: New Freedom, New Power, New Hope
October 13-17, Marriott Denver City Center, Denver, Colorado

Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services.

The National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse is pleased to announce the 19th annual Alternatives conference at the Marriott Denver City Center in beautiful Denver, Colorado, October 13-17, 2004.

The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health recently called for transforming mental health systems to make them consumer-centered and recovery-oriented. The consumer/survivor voice is essential to achieving this promise; and Alternatives - the only national mental health conference organized by and for consumer/survivors - offers the opportunity to share in-depth technical assistance on consumer/survivor-delivered services and self-help/advocacy/recovery strategies on a national stage.

The Alternatives 2004 Advisory Committee has established a list of priority topic areas it will use to evaluate applications for 75-minute workshop and three-hour institute presentations. Prospective presenters may wish to address these topics from various perspectives, including research/evaluation, personal creative expression, and the issues addressed in the final report of the President's New Freedom Commission.

(For a copy of the report, see www.mentalhealthcommission.gov or call (800) 789-2647.)

RECOMMENDED TOPIC AREAS FOR PRESENTATIONS

• Recovery: programs, policy and personal approaches (for example, arts, spirituality, and action plans).
  
• Self-Determination: rights issues, self-advocacy, seclusion and restraint issues, forensic issues, treatment planning, self-directed care, consumer-directed services and supports, and choice vs. ultimatum.
• Diversity Issues: cultural competence of services, rural/urban issues, under-representation of ethnic minority groups in the consumer/survivor movement, issues facing sexual minorities, and effective forms of minority outreach.
• Consumers as Providers and Consumer-Operated Programs: evidence-based practice issues; education and training by and for peers; consumers as trainers, peer coaches, peer support, peer mentors, peer specialists, and peer advocates; state offices of consumer affairs; consumers who work in the human services field.
• Discrimination and Stigma: Elimination of Barriers Initiative; approaches and programs to counter discrimination and stigma; research.
• Community Integration: Olmstead decision issues and policy issues related to housing, jobs, and community living; consumer participation at all levels of planning for services that support integration into the community.

For consideration, proposals must be complete, must be submitted by email or mail on the attached form, and must:

• Indicate that the lead presenter is a consumer/survivor.
• Clearly outline the purpose and learning objectives of the presentation.
• List opportunities for audience participation.

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

• Relevance of the presentation to the conference themes and selected presentation track.
• Skills and experience of presenters.
• Opportunities for participants to develop new skills and/or replicate a successful program.
• Relevance to individual consumer/survivors or consumer/survivor-run organizations.

Apply by email (see below) or mail two (2) copies to the address at the bottom of the application form:

1. A completed application form.
2. A 50-word abstract of the presentation.
3. A one-page outline of the presentation including learning goals and objectives.
4. A brief biographical summary (no more than 50 words) for each presenter.

Application Form - Alternatives 2004 Workshops and Institutes

Title of Presentation, exactly as it should be printed in conference materials, if accepted:

Format (circle one): 75-minute workshop     3-hour institute

Presentation topic: _____________________________________
Lead Presenter: ________________________________________
Address: ________________________________________________
City: ________________________ State: _____ Zip Code: _________
Phone: _____________ Fax: ___________ E-mail: ________________
Have you presented at an Alternatives conference before?
No ___ Yes (please specify topic)
__________________________________________________
Please list any other conventions or gatherings at which you spoke on this topic:
______________________________________________________________

Does your presentation require audio/visual equipment?* ___ Yes ___ No

Please Specify: ___ Slide Projector ___ Overhead Projector w/screen ___ Flip Charts

*We will not be able to supply LCD projectors or laptop computers for your presentation due to budgetary constraints.

______ I understand that all presenters must pay the full conference registration fee and are responsible for all travel and lodging costs.

Please submit two copies of all materials by mail or submit by email.

Proposals postmarked after May 3, 2004 will not be reviewed.

Please address all application materials and inquiries to:
Alternatives 2004 Workshop Proposals
Horizon Meetings, Inc.
P.O. Box 500209
Austin, TX 78750
1-(800)-776-1286
pguyton@horizonmeetings.com

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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.