Recovery Learning Communities – January 2008 meeting materials here!

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Wonderful ideas were contributed by all who attended the second meetings of the NLCMHA Recovery Learning Communities in January.

This meeting focused on two issues: 1) what the official NLCMHA definition of recovery should be; and 2) what can be done in the next six months to make the environment at NLCMHA based on recovery.

From the complete list of people’s ideas, some thoughts about defining recovery include: hope, healing, trust, kindness, respect, dignity, a journey, a process, having a meaningful and worthwhile life of purpose, being happy or satisfied with your life. People also considered a variety of formal definitions by national organizations and experts and gave their opinions on what was good and bad about each of them.

A few of the exciting ideas about recovery-oriented environments include: establishing peer centers and learning libraries, employing more peers, having art, photobiographies, banners and other things in the offices which announce that you are entering a recovery zone, and making our communities more recovery-oriented. A number of suggestions were made about specific things that can be done in the next six months to surround both staff and consumers with the possibility of recovery.

If you missed the meeting, here are the two handouts:
• LC 2nd agenda
• Creating Recovery-Oriented Environments by the Appalachian Consulting Group

You are cordially invited to attend the February 2008 meetings:

Cadillac – Friday, Feb 10 – 10:00 a.m. to noon (2008 Cadillac schedule)
Houghton Lake – Tuesday, Feb 12 – 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. (2008 Houghton Lake schedule)
Grayling – Wednesday, Feb 13 – 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (2008 Grayling schedule)
Traverse City – Tuesday, Feb 19 – 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (2008 Traverse City schedule)

Come one, come all! We need your ideas to transform the public mental health system into one which will encourage and support all adults with mental illness on their journeys to recovery. It’s never too late to start attending and learning about recovery!