Consumer Advocates in Substance Abuse:
Your Most Powerful Allies
2009 NIATx Summit/SAAS National Conference
Mike McLemore,MA, CCS, MLAP, CPMNeil Kaltenecker, MS Tammy Peacock, Ph.D., LCSW
Objectives Understand the role of consumer
advocates working with state agencies
Identify ways to generate grass roots support for consumer advocates
The impact of the consumer voice on public policy
Consumer Advocacy
or
Who is REALLY in Charge?
Consumer Advocacy Faces and Voices of Recovery, Science of
Addiction & Recovery (Train-the-Trainer)
Georgia Recovery Organizations for Wellness (GROW)
Alabama Voices for Recovery/FORMLL
Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care Symposium
The Recovery Project
Faces & Voices of Recovery
Changing public perceptions of recovery
Promoting effective public policy
Demonstrating that recovery is working for millions of Americans
It is our collective strength that will ensure our success, and it is our mission to bring the power and proof of recovery to everyone in America.
GROW Georgia Recovery Organizations for
Wellness (GROW)
Develop grassroots advocacy through education, training and support
Alabama Voices for Recovery/FORMLL
Serves in an advisory role to the Alabama Dept. of Mental Health Substance Abuse Service Division
Coordinates Recovery Month activities Advocates for increased funding for
treatment (12 million increase in state funds)
Educates legislators and the public about addiction and recovery
Provides a public profile for addiction recovery
Legislative Issues Criminal Justice Issues
Sentencing Reform Deferred Prosecution & Alternative
Sentencing Mental Health Parity Second Chance Act Restoration of Rights Financial Aid for Higher Education Funding for treatment
How Can Advocates Help … Contact legislators regarding legislation and
funding Increase awareness that recovery happens Rally support for your causes through friends,
family members and their networks Serve on advisory boards Provide volunteer support for the organization Provide peer support for clients Provide input for the development of a recovery
oriented system of care
How Advocates Can Help …. Visible presence of individuals who are
recovering: Increases awareness that recovery happens Decreases the stigma of addiction Normalizes the fact that everyone is touched
by addiction in some way
Why don’t people get involved?
…. they haven’t been asked.
Be specific with your request.
Consumer Advocacy Faces and Voices of Recovery, Science of
Addiction & Recovery (Train-the-Trainer)
Our GoalsOur Goals
1) Learn the neurobiology of addiction and recovery.
2) Understand why it’s important for recovery advocacy and the recovery community
Why the science of addiction and recovery is important
For the Recovering Person
helps people on their recovery journeys
helps people understand their cravings
Facilitates the recovery process for person and family members
SOAR Talking Points Addiction is a brain disease
Addiction is very much like other illnesses that affect our behavior
You can maintain long-term recovery from addiction, just as with other chronic illnesses
Recovery from addiction is a life long health issue, requiring people to manage their illness
Consumer Advocacy ROSC Symposium
Collaboration with SATTC, SSA and local, well-established consumer-advocacy organization
Bill White, Lonnetta Albright, Ijeoma Achara
Win, Win, Win!
Where Are We as a State?Public Tx Admissions in GA
29,8
52
29,8
20
22,3
23
19,8
28
20,3
75
16,1
60
12,9
63 17,1
61
30,2
32
36,7
66
34,0
87
36,0
44
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
FY
92
FY
93
FY
94
FY
95
FY
96
FY
97
FY
98
FY
99
FY
00
FY
01
FY
02
FY
03
Year (FY98 to FY03 change)
Adm
issi
ons
under 18 (+272%) 18-25 (+122%) 26+ (+189%) Total (+178%)Source: GA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 1992-2003. http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/SAMHDA-SERIES/00056.xml
Where Are We as a State?
Outpatient50%
IOP29%
Residential10%
Detox11%
Source: GA Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) 1992-2003. http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/SAMHDA-SERIES/00056.xml
Where are We as a State? Single State Authority
~$50 mil SAPTBG (unknown impact in 2010) ~$50 mil in State funds (reduced by 24% in 2010) ~$25 mil TANF/RFW funds (reduced by $6 mil in 2010)
Other State Agencies Administering SA Tx Funds DFCS DJJ SBPP DOC DCH
Where Are We as a System?
Licensing Standards Office of Regulatory Services
Practitioner Certification Georgia Addiction Counselors Association
(GACA) – NAADAC affiliate Alcohol and Drug Abuse Certification Board of
Georgia (ADACB-GA) – IC&RC Affiliate
Advocacy Georgia Council on Substance Abuse Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
ADVOCACY
www.gasubstanceabuse.org
GCSA Re-launch Survey & Results
Public Policy Advocacy
Workforce Development
Information dissemination
Consumer Advocacy
GCSA Re-launch Public Policy Advocacy
Legislative Day at the Capitol
Web-based Legislative Updates
Weekly Email Blasts & Calls to Action
GCSA Re-launch Public Policy Advocacy – Membership on
Boards and Committees Olmstead Planning Council (appointed by the Governor) Mental Health Planning & Advisory Council (appointed by
DHR Commissioner) Georgia School of Addiction Studies Board Kidsnet Georgia Statewide Collaborative Southeast Addiction Technology Transfer Center (SEATTC)
Advisory Board Georgia Brief Assessment, Screening, Intervention,
Continuum of Care System (BASICS) Policy Steering Committee
Georgia Association of Recovery Residences (GARR) Affiliate Board Member
Alcohol & Drug Certification Board of Georgia (ADACB/GA) Faces & Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) Southeast Regional
Member
Regular Legislative Updates
CLICK HERE
Information Dissemination Website Development
Re-design “Roundtable” Button
Membership Blast out training events Develop Committees & Projects
Convene Meetings
Workforce Development Annual Youth Summit (4 years)
The Georgia School of Addiction Studies (3 years)
Annual Legislative Day at the State Capitol (9 years)
Annual Recovery Resource Fair (2 years)
Consumer Advocacy Faces and Voices of Recovery, Science of
Addiction & Recovery (Train-the-Trainer)
Georgia Recovery Organizations for Wellness (GROW)
Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care Symposium
The Recovery Project
Consumer Advocacy The Recovery Project
Rally for Recovery – September 12th, NYCwww.therecoveryproject.com