The RESPECT Institute of Georgia

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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To date, the RESPECT Institute of Georgia team has conducted over 225 RESPECT Institute of Georgia trainings statewide and graduated over 2,100 individuals who shared their stories to over 200,000 Georgians.

 

 

 

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For more information about participating in or hosting a RESPECT Institute of Georgia training,

or inviting a RESPECT Institute of Georgia graduate to speak, please contact the RESPECT Institute Team:

 

RESPECT Institute of Georgia

Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network

1990 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 100

Tucker, GA 30084

Phone: 404-687-9487

Email: ri@gmhcn.org

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

 

Who is eligible to participate in a RESPECT Institute training?

To be eligible to participate in a RESPECT Institute training, you must identify as a person living with a mental health challenge, substance misuse, or a cross-disability and want to learn how to tell your story of actively pursuing recovery or independent living.

 

Do you have to be a Certified Peer Specialist to participate in a RESPECT Institute training?

No

 

Do you have to live in Georgia to participate in a RESPECT Institute training?

Yes 

 

Is there a cost or fee to participate in a RESPECT Institute training?

There is no cost or fee to participate in a RESPECT Institute training. The RESPECT Institute is funded by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.

 

Are RESPECT Institute trainings conducted virtually or in-person?

Most RESPECT Institute trainings are conducted virtually. Beginning in 2025, we will offer in-person trainings on a less frequent basis than our virtual trainings.

  

How long does a RESPECT Institute training last?

Our virtual training is 4.5 days long (Monday-Friday). We meet from 10:00 a.m. to approximately 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. We conclude each training with a virtual graduation ceremony on Friday starting at 10:00 a.m. and followed by a debriefing ending at approximately 11:30 a.m.

 

Our in-person training is 3.5 days long (Tuesday-Friday). We meet from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 3:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. We conclude each training with a graduation ceremony on Friday starting at 10:00 a.m. and ending at approximately noon.

 

How long will I have to wait to participate in a RESPECT Institute training?

The wait time is dependent upon how many peers are ahead of you on the waitlist and varies from month to month.

 

Will I earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for completing the RESPECT Institute training?

• The Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network (GMHCN) issues

  • 12 CEUs to CPS-MHs who complete a virtual RESPECT Institute training

  • 18 CEUs to CPS-MHs who complete an in-person RESPECT Institute training

• CPS-ADs, CPS-Ps and CPS-Ys are also eligible to receive CEUs for completing a virtual or in-person RESPECT Institute training, however, GMHCN cannot confirm if they will be able to use these CEUs toward their yearly CEU requirements.

• It is necessary for CPS-ADs, CPS-Ps and CPS-Ys to contact their governing organization prior to participating in a RESPECT Institute training to determine if they can use CEUs earned by completing the RESPECT Institute training toward their yearly CEU requirement.