respect institute
of Georgia
The RESPECT Institute of Georgia (RI), created by mental health advocate Joel Slack, supports participants in developing the skills necessary to transform their experiences of mental health and substance use challenges and cross disabilities into educational and inspirational presentations. The RESPECT Institute of Georgia supports participants in organizing, constructing and customizing their personal stories of recovery and independent living so they can share their stories in diverse venues such as management meetings, legislative meetings, employee orientations, university classrooms, civic meetings, and continuing education programs.
The RESPECT Institute of Georgia is a 3 ½ day in-person training or 4 ½ day virtual training program that empowers participants by acknowledging, by honoring and by valuing their personal experiences and insights. Through this recognition and acceptance, participants heal, reclaim their sense of self and are catapulted into a level of recovery they never thought was possible. They own their lived experiences without shame or embarrassment and become instrumental in eliminating stigma in the general public, in advancing the message of recovery, and in educating the next generation of behavioral health professionals.
Through a partnership with Slack Consulting and the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities sponsors multiple trainings and speaking engagements annually.
To date, the RESPECT Institute of Georgia team has conducted over 200 RESPECT Institute of Georgia trainings statewide and graduated over 1,800 individuals, who have shared their stories to over 175,000 people throughout Georgia.
For more information about hosting a RESPECT Institute of Georgia training please contact:
Jen Banathy, CPS-MH, CPS-AD, WHWC
RESPECT Institute of Georgia Organizational Development Coordinator
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
1990 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 100
Tucker, GA 30084
(404) 687-9487
If you would like to participate in a RESPECT Institute of Georgia training, please contact:
Erin Thomas, CPS-MH, CPS-AD, CPS-P, WHWC
RESPECT Institute of Georgia Training Coordinator
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
1990 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 100
Tucker, Georgia 30084
(404) 687-9487
If you would like to invite a RESPECT Institute Graduate to share their story at your meeting or special event, please contact:
Toyia Mather, CPS-MH
RESPECT Institute of Georgia Outreach Coordinator
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
1990 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 100
Tucker, Georgia 30084
(404) 687-9487
Jessica Smith, CPS-MH
RESPECT Institute of Georgia Outreach Coordinator
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
1990 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 100
Tucker, Georgia 30084
(404) 687-9487
Meet Shane Sims
2016 RESPECT Institute of Georgia Graduate