THE SELF DIRECTED RECOVERY PROJECT
The Self Directed Recovery Project started in December of 2004. This program is funded through a federal government grant. The Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network submitted a grant proposal which was approved to carry the message of recovery throughout the state of Georgia using Mary Ellen Copeland’s Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). The WRAP training is conducted in two, five hours each day, workshops. Mary Ellen Copeland’s Red Wrap Book, the Wellness Recovery Action Plan Workbook, and handouts are distributed to each consumer participant. Certificates of Completion are awarded to each person after completing the two day workshop.
The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) was developed by a group of people who had been dealing with difficult feelings and behaviors for many years, people working to feel better and get on with their lives. The Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network is currently writing another Workbook, Wrap for Work.
The WRAP can also be used to address other life issues like: seeking employment, changing jobs, chronic or acute illness, addictions, losing weight, trying new interests, taking on more responsibilities, getting more education, leaving supported housing, moving, beginning or leaving an intimate relationship or having a child. You can develop a separate WRAP to deal with each of these issues or you can include everything in one WRAP. YOU and ONLY YOU decide if you want to write a WRAP and how much time it takes you to complete it or who, if anyone, has copies of your crisis plan.
The WRAP includes: Wellness Toolbox, Daily Maintenance Plan, Identifying Triggers and an Action Plan, Identifying Early Warning Signs and an Action Plan, Signs that Things Are Breaking Down and an Action Plan, Crisis Planning and Post Crisis Planning.
WRAP Downloads:
REPORTS
September 2005
The Self Directed Recovery Project has reached five hundred and thirty-four consumers through nineteen Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops conducted throughout the state. There have been a total of four hundred thirty-five consumers to receive Certificates of Completion for completing the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops.
There were two Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops conducted during the month of September. The first was held in Gwinnett County at the Five Points Peer Center located in Lawrenceville, Georgia. There were fifty-one consumers to attend and complete the workshop. The workshop consisted of a two day, five hours each day, discussion of Mary Ellen Copeland’s Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).
The second Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop was conducted in Towns County at the Homestead Place Peer Support Center in Hiawassee, Georgia. There were thirteen consumers to attend and earn Certificates of Completion during the workshop. Mary Ellen Copeland’s Red Wrap Book, along with the Wellness Recovery Action Plan Workbook, and other handouts were given to consumers during the workshop.
The Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Team met via a conference call during the first week of September and also had a face-to-face meeting on the nineteenth of September. The Team is currently reviewing the third draft of the template to be used by consumers in Georgia for preparing an Advance Directive for Mental Health Care. The Team continues to grow as new members are joining. The task of developing a standard template to be used is taking a tremendous effort on the part of team members.
The Self Directed Recovery Project was part of a Focus Group which conducted a Panel Discussion with Psychiatric Residents at the Medical College of Georgia located in Augusta, Georgia. The purpose of the focus group/panel discussion was to shape training for interns at the Medical College of Georgia regarding recovery in hopes of orienting them toward the utilization of the recovery model when working with consumers of mental health services. Additionally, a plan is in place to hire a Certified Peer Specialist to be a member of the clinical team at the Medical College of Georgia.
The first Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) for Work Workshop will be held September 30th, 2005 at the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network located in downtown Decatur, Georgia. This is another step in the direction of fulfilling the objectives stated in the original Self Directed Recovery Project Grant. A WRAP for Work Workbook has been developed and will be distributed to the participants in the WRAP for Work Workshop.
The Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network welcomes the opportunity to conduct the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop in your community. The number to call for further information is (404) 687-9487 or email office@gmhcn.org.
November 2005
The Self Directed Recovery Project has conducted twenty-three Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops since the beginning of the project with more planned for December. The program has reached a total of six hundred ninety-five consumers throughout the state of Georgia. Consumers complete the workshops with a lot of motivation and enthusiasm.
The three Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops were conducted at American Works in Richmond Hill, Georgia; Serenity Day Center in Augusta, Georgia; and at Fulton County Drug Court in Atlanta, Georgia. There were a total of one hundred seven consumers to complete the two-day, five hours each day, workshop during the month of November. Each consumer was given Mary Ellen Copeland’s Red Book, a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workbook. Handouts on the Key Recovery Concepts and other handouts were distributed to each participant.
A final Draft for the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Template to be used here in the State of Georgia has been approved by team members. Team Members continue to meet regularly by conference calls and in person. The team has agreed to focus on the training aspect of the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care. With the template completed the team feels that it is now time to train consumers and care providers.
A presentation of the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care will be made at the annual Mental Health Day at the Capital scheduled for February 6th, 2006. The Self Directed Recovery Project Director will present and entertain questions from consumers on that day. In addition, a Resolution in support of Advance Directives for Mental Health Care will be enacted by the Georgia State Legislature
December 2005
The Self Directed Recovery Project has conducted a total of twenty-five Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops during 2005. The program has reached a total of seven hundred ninety-five consumers throughout the state of Georgia during 2005. Each consumer participant was given a copy of the Mary Ellen Copeland’s Red WRAP Book, the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workbook, and workshop handouts. Consumer participants were issued Certificates of Completion for completing the two-day, five hours each day workshop.
There were two Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops completed during the month of December. The first one was conducted in Waycross, Georgia at the Satilla Community Services Peer Support Group. Thirty-five consumers received Certificates of Completion for their participation in the WRAP Workshop. The second Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop was conducted at the Fulton County Drug Court located in Atlanta, Georgia. There were thirty-seven consumers to receive Certificates of Completion.
Three WRAP for Work Workshops were completed this month. The first workshop was conducted at Beacon Place Community Service Center in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The second workshop was conducted at Cobb Douglas Community Service Center located in Austell, Georgia. The third WRAP for Work Workshop was conducted at Community Friendship Service Center in Atlanta, Georgia. There were seventy-one consumers to participate in the one day workshops.
The Self Directed Recovery Project presented an overview of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop and the WRAP for Work Workshop at the Certified Peer Specialist Training held at Unicoi State Park in Helen, Georgia. The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workbook, the WRAP for Work Workbook, Mary Ellen Copeland’s Red WRAP Book and handouts were given to each of the Certified Peer Specialist in training who were in attendance.
The Self Directed Recovery Project Director teamed with members of the Georgia Department of Human Resources Division of Mental Health and the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network Double Trouble in Recovery Project to assist the Crisis Negotiation Coordinator for the Atlanta Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in developing protocols for negotiating with mental health consumers in crisis.
The Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Team continued to meet this month.
Some members have volunteered to work on developing a curriculum for Advance Directive for Mental Health Care to be used to train consumers and care providers throughout the State of Georgia. It was necessary to edit the Draft of the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care to be used here in the State of Georgia by consumers. It is felt that this change will finalize the Draft formation. The Team continues to gain support from current members and we have been able to attract new members to the team. One of our state legislators has expressed interest in putting Advance Directive for Mental Health Care forward as a Bill during the next legislative session.
July 2006
The Self Directed Recovery Project conducted two Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops this month. Seventy-two consumers took part in the two day, five hour each day, workshops; each participant earned a Certificate of Completion. To date there have been one thousand four hundred thirty consumers to attend WRAP Workshops and three hundred sixty-nine consumers to attend Wrap for Work Workshops. The Self Directed Recovery Program set a goal for this year of conducting twenty-four Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops and twelve Wrap for Work Workshops. We have to date accomplished our goal.
The first Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop was held at Rivers Edge Behavioral Health Services Peer Support Center located in Forsyth, Georgia. Attendees consisted of Certified Peer Specialist, and people receiving peer support services along with people receiving psychosocial rehabilitation services. Mary Ellen Copeland’s Redbook, the WRAP Workbook, and handouts were given to participants.
The second Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop was conducted at the New Horizons Behavioral Health Service’s Women Program located in Columbus, Georgia. There were forty-five women to receive Certificates of Completion for attending this two day, five hour each day, workshop. Certified Peer Specialists were in attendance along with women receiving alcohol and drug treatment services, and women receiving psychosocial rehabilitation services.
The Self Directed Recovery Project is working with the State Planning and Advisory Council here in Georgia to make recommendations to SAMHSA on proposed national outcome measures for consumers receiving mental health services. The purpose of these recommendations is to promote the use of consistent measures among all participating states. The Georgia Consumer Council met to discuss continued plans for the Central State Hospital Cemetery Restoration Project; the SDRP is also a member of this council.
The Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network in conjunction with the Self Directed Recovery Project, and the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Team has completed a training manual to be used to educate consumers and service providers. The presentation consists of overhead slides, the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Template, and handouts. We will commence training upon the conclusion of the 15th Annual Consumer Summer Conference being held August 22 – 24, 2006 at St. Simons Island, Georgia sponsored by the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network.
The Self Directed Recovery Project took part in ”Transformation to Recovery Focus Group hosted by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases partnering with Larry Davidson, Ph.D. of the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health.. Mr. Tom Borneman invited members of consumer advocacy groups to the Carter Center to discuss “Action Steps” in developing a legislative agenda to introduce at the upcoming General Assembly. The task placed before the group was to build common grounds that all organizational members could jointly move forward with on one accord. Concerns were discussed and a draft of ideas with respect to the probability that issues could be placed before the Legislature which impacted people receiving mental health services the most.
September 2006
The Self Directed Recovery Project met the goal established for this fiscal year by conducting twenty-six Wellness Recovery Action Plan Workshops (two each month) and thirteen Wrap for Work Workshops (one each month). During the 2006 fiscal year the Self Directed Recovery Project reached a total of nine hundred sixty-three consumers through the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops, four hundred eight consumers through the WRAP for Work Workshops, and seven hundred twenty-five consumers and providers through the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Curriculum Trainings. The total number of consumers to participate in the two day, five hours each day Wellness Recovery Action Plan Workshops from the beginning of the grant cycle has been fifteen hundred seven (1507). The total number of consumers to participate in the one day Wrap for Work Workshops during this same period has totaled four hundred three (408). There have been a total of seven hundred twenty-five consumers and providers to participate in the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Training during the grant cycle.
The Self Directed Recovery Project Director attended the Georgia Mental Health Planning and Advisory Council members meeting this month which was held at the Child & Adolescent Outdoor Therapeutic Program in Cleveland, Georgia. An overview of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop was presented at the Certified Peer Specialist Training held at Simpsonwood in Norcross, Georgia.
The Self Directed Project Director participated in Mary Ellen Copeland’s WRAP Facilitators Training held in Brattleboro, Vermont. This week long training program brought together consumer leaders from across the country to earn certification in the delivery of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops. The training allowed for interaction of Master WRAP facilitators who provided skills and insights into Mary Ellen Copeland’s approach to conducting Wellness Recovery Action Plan Workshops.
The Self Directed Recovery Project has completed the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Training Curriculum which will be used to train consumers and providers of mental health services with regard to completing an Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Template which was created by the SDRP and other stakeholders. The plan is to include the Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Template in the drafting of a bill to be presented to the Georgia Legislature which convenes in January 2007.
The Self Directed Recovery Project (SDRP) conducted four Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshops this month. There were a total of one hundred fifty-three participants to attend the two-day, five hours each day workshop. This brings the total number of participants in the WRAP Workshops to nineteen hundred seventy. There was one Wrap for Work Workshop conducted this month with forty-three participants; to date the total number of consumers to attend Wrap for Work is five hundred eighteen. There was not a Psychiatric Advance Directive Curriculum Training conducted this month. The total number of consumers and providers to complete this two hour training remains three hundred twenty-seven.
It was necessary for us to change the name from Advance Directives for Mental Health Care to the Psychiatric Advance Directive to ensure that Legislation surrounding this initiative would not be confused with the Advance Directive for Health Care which is also being considered during this Legislative Session; all stakeholders have agreed to this change. As a result of this change a bill has been authored by Pat Gardner, Georgia State Legislator, and the Bill is known as House Bill #343.
The first Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) was conducted at the Certified Peer Specialist Training held at the Simpsonwood Conference Center in Norcross, Georgia. There were forty-three consumers to participate in this Wrap Overview Session. The second Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop was conducted at Emory University with members of the Depression, Bipolar Support Alliance. There were thirty consumer members to attend this training. The third WRAP Workshop was conducted with consumers of Grady Hospital Outreach Act Team. There were 7 consumers to complete this training. The forth Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop was conducted Highland Rivers Community Service Board Peer Center in Rome, Georgia. This group consisted of both Peer Support and Psycho-Social Rehabilitation consumers. There were seventy-three consumers to receive Certificates of Completion for the two-day, five hours each day workshop.
The Wrap for Work Workshop was conducted at the Certified Peer Specialist Training held at the Simpsonwood Conference Center located in Norcross, Georgia. There were forty-three consumers to participate in this Wrap for Work Overview Session.
The Self Directed Recovery Project participated in the Mental Health Planning and Advisory Board Meeting held at Southeast Regional Hospital located in Savannah, Georgia. Representatives of American Works made a presentation centered on permanent Supportive Housing for consumers of mental health services. The Lakeside Center Child and Adolescent Crisis Stabilization Program (CSP) along with the Mobile Crisis Response Services in Savannah, Georgia made a presentation concerning community based programming which focuses on adolescents during periods of a crisis.
