Viva La Evolution

Dr. Snethen has a PhD in leisure activities and is the Associate Director for the Temple University Collaborative and an associate professor in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Temple University. Her research focuses on using community-based recreation and transportation to increase community participation.In this podcast Lori talks with Gretchen about the impact of sedentary behavior and how it limits the wellbeing and recovery of people with mental health challenges. Take a look at these additional resources that will inspire you to create opportunities to move, become more active and have more fun.To access these resources go to https://tucollaborative.org/physical-activityHunting for Better Health Outcomes: A Geocaching Toolkit for Individuals with Mental IllnessesLet’s Move: Using the Community to Increase Physical Activity an 8-Week ProtocolRecommendations for Physical Activity: A Supportive Interventionist GuideSupporting Physical Activity: A Guide for Peer Support SpecialistsThe relationship between community participation and physical activity among individuals with serious mental illnesses. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1755296621000016

Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), located in Fairfield, CA., providing services in Butte, Contra Costa, Fresno, Napa, Placer, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties of California for State Department of Rehabilitation and across the state of California through private employment contracts. The organization was created in 2000 by Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. (California’s largest provider of mental health services) to provide employment services to residents of their facilities with mental health issues who were reintegrating into the community with the personal goal of independence. Dreamcatchers became certified by the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) in 2001 and a nonprofit organization in January of 2003. It is the first vocational rehabilitation program certified by the state of California that is affiliated with a mental health rehabilitation center. Dreamcatchers has received a full three-year Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2021, and again in 2024. This accreditation means that Dreamcatchers passed an in-depth review of its services and meets rigorous CARF guidelines and internationally recognized service standards. Dreamcatchers’ mission is to empower and provide hope to youth and adults with limitations and disabilities by providing assessments, job preparation, job placement and job coaching through informed choice and by collaborating and creating community partnerships with other agencies. Dreamcatchers has been providing vocational skills and employment readiness training for over a decade to clients with disabilities; we have the experience and confidence to effectively fill existing service gaps in order to ensure high placement and retention rates. Our clients are people who are struggling with the challenges associated with learning disabilities, hearing or visual impairments, and physical or mental disabilities such as schizophrenia and bipolar. We work closely with several community-based organizations to provide consistent services. We value the relationships established by collaborating with other community partners to provide a continuum of wrap-around services to individuals needing support within the community. Building relationships with employers is a critical component to success in achieving our outcomes. Not only do we support the clients with whom we are working, but we also provide support to employers to sustain those valuable relationships. Clients are assigned to staff within each designated county, based upon expertise and skill sets to provide the best quality of services to each individual. Our staff members are multicultural, multilingual, and consist of individuals with disabilities, many who have been with the agency for over five years. Annually Dreamcatchers serves approximately 1,350 people throughout all the programs. Dreamcatchers is proud to be providing services under an Evidence Based Practice called IPS (Individual Placement and Supports) to those with serious mental illness in Fresno County. While our goal is to help individuals obtain employment within the community, we also have many clients participate in work experience specialized contracts with Crestwood Behavioral Health and Butte County Behavioral Health.

In this Viva La Evolution interview, Lori talks with Phyllis Vine about her latest book, Fighting for Recovery. From https://www.phyllisvine.com .... "Fighting for Recovery reveals how grassroots activists challenged medical authority and popular opinion to insist upon recovery for people managing a mental illness. Since the middle of the last century, people with a lived experience have upended conventional beliefs that deterioration was inevitable. With an abiding pursuit of choice, they opposed the use of force and built a movement with innovative service options. They focused on person-centered needs, the development of skills with respect for strengths, and situated their work within broad-based fights for equity and social justice." "Readers will meet leaders from California to Maine who campaigned for peer services, who designed non-coercive crisis programs, and who sought respite rather than institutionalization while decrying the injustice of criminalizing mental illnesses. They will discover the charisma of leaders such as Howie the Harp, Judi Chamberlin, Sally Zinman, and dozens more, who insisted on humane services while fighting for recovery. "

Laura Van Tosh has been a leader in the psychiatric survivor movement for over 40 years working in particular on legislative and policy issues at the state, local and national levels. In this podcast, Lori talks with Van Tosh about her amazing journey. Check out this link from Mad in America, an interview Bob Whitaker had with Laura. https://www.madinamerica.com/2022/07/laura-van-tosh-psychiatric-survivor-activist/

Lori talks with Dr. Salzer about community inclusion and participation for individuals in recovery from mental health challenges. From Mark's bio on the Temple University website, https://cph.temple.edu/directory/mark-salzer-msalzer ..... Mark Salzer, PhD, is a professor and former department chair in the College of Public Health at Temple University. He has also been the principal investigator and director of the Temple University RRTC on Community Living and Participation For People with Serious Mental Illnesses, a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research, since 2003. The RRTC is part of the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities (www.tucollaborative.org). Prior to coming to Temple University he was a faculty member at Meharry Medical College and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and was most recently an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Salzer has been the principal or co-principal investigator on more than $30 million in federally funded research grants, has published more than 150 articles and book chapters on the delivery of effective community mental health and rehabilitation services to individuals with psychiatric disabilities, and has given more than 450 presentations around the world, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Israel, England, Australia and New Zealand. His awards include the Paul W. Eberman Faculty Research Award from Temple University, the Bell of Hope Award from Mental Health Partnerships (Philadelphia, PA), the Impact Award from NAMI of PA Montgomery County, and the 18th Annual Bruce Woodcock Memorial Lecture in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Salzer has been interviewed on CNN, NPR, the Australian Broadcast Company, and various other news outlets. During Dr. Salzer’s seven years as a department chair, he oversaw an 80% increase in student enrollment, hired more than 15 faculty members, led a dramatic increase in research funding, and supported successful accreditation efforts in occupational therapy and recreational therapy. He has served on more than 30 departmental, college and university committees, including being appointed by the president of the university as co-chair of the Periodic Review Report Steering Committee for Middle States Accreditation. His service to the field has included roles as associate editor of two journals, being an ad hoc peer reviewer for dozens of journals, and participating on more than 40 grant review panels and competitions for U.S. and international funders. He also works closely with government and community agencies, and has been a part of proposals that have resulted in more than $25 million in new service grants.

Viva La Evolution, Lori Ashcraft, has an inspiring conversation with Steve Appleton, President/CEO of Global Leadership Exchange, formerly known as International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership (IIMHL). From GLE's website, gle.world, "We create opportunities for people to share their leadership experiences and insights to help find solutions and ideas to overcome challenges and improve health, wellbeing, and services for people with a disability, mental health or substance use problems." From the GLE Annual Report, 2023, "We are an international organization supporting leaders to grow, learn and develop, offering a space where trust lies at the foundation of all that we do. Our members align with our Leadership Framework and Principles, come from all over the world, show immense goodwill and are committed to leading change and to learning about new or different ways of working. Some have many years of experience, and some are just starting out, and we believe we can all learn from each other."

From Jim Rendon's website, www.jimrendon.com Upside: The New Science of Post-Traumatic Growth Most survivors of trauma, whether they live through life threatening illnesses or accidents, horror on the battlefield, or the loss of a loved one, suffer, sometimes for months or years. But over the last few decades, psychologists have discovered that suffering is only part of the experience. Many trauma survivors, with the right circumstances and proper support, also benefit from some of life’s most terrible experiences. Strange as it may sound, they emerge from the trauma and their suffering stronger, more focused, and with a new perspective on their future. Journalist Jim Rendon delivers a deeply reported look at the life-changing implications of post-traumatic growth—an emerging field of psychological research. He shows how the suffering caused by traumatic events can become a force for dramatic life change, moving people to find deeper meaning in their lives and driving them to help themselves and others. In fact, more than half of trauma survivors report positive changes from these experiences—far more than suffer from the much better-known post-traumatic stress disorder. But how can terrible events lead to remarkable and dramatic breakthroughs? Can trauma really result in personal growth … and if so, how? Comprised of interviews with leading researchers in the field and dozens of inspiring trauma survivors, Upside outlines the many paths trauma survivors can take to heal from their experiences and to discover new meaning in their lives. Rendon paints a vivid and comprehensive portrait of this groundbreaking area of scientific inquiry and offers a roadmap for anyone trying to understand how his or her tragedy could lead to triumph.

Journey to Liberatory Leadership, Kris Locus When I reflect on my early experiences entering the professional world as a young person, I remember struggling with feeling like I wasn’t enough. I would see mentors and leaders excelling in their work and felt confused as to why I couldn’t do the same. I truly believed something was wrong with me — that maybe I just wasn’t the right person for any job. But I eventually decided that I didn’t want to accept that as my truth. I embarked on a journey toward liberatory leadership. The first step was being honest with myself about my insecurities in the professional space. I took a hard look at why those feelings existed and gave myself permission to move beyond them. I then began the difficult process of redefining what leadership meant to me personally. It required me to reconsider the traits that had been labeled as weaknesses and figure out how I could embrace and use them as strengths. Once I stopped pushing away everything society had told me didn’t make a good leader, new opportunities and growth came my way. I also had to confront the harm I was carrying from past professional experiences. As a Queer Black Woman, navigating the workplace was incredibly challenging, and I realized that much of what I went through wasn’t just me — it was rooted in a culture of micromanagement, belittling, scare tactics, and other harmful practices designed to keep people like me out of professional spaces. Acknowledging that allowed me to release it and start fresh with an open heart and mind. Adopting a liberatory leadership mindset, which centers on love, growth, community, and uplifting others, has transformed my life. I now recognize that everyone has their own unique gifts and light. Today, when I look at myself as a professional, I sometimes hardly recognize the person I’ve become. There were so many things I once believed I’d never achieve, and I’m grateful to be able to look back at those earlier versions of myself with compassion. They were navigating so much, and now I can tell them that there’s always light on the other side. Kris Locus (they/she)

Tonie Dreher shares her amazing story of recovery from trauma, addiction, and mental health challenges. Tonie's recovery story is included in Patrick J. Kennedy's book, Profiles in Mental Health Courage. Tonie now works as a Women's Specialist at CASES in New York City. Included in Tonie's recovery experience was completing the 16-week Howie the Harp Advocacy Center program that trains individuals with lived experience in the mental health system for direct service, supervisor, and management roles within the human service system. Sarah Brown, educator at Howie the Harp was Tonie's instructor. Sarah participates in this podcast to share the inspiration, power and energy that Tonie brought to the classroom.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS: We Built It, They Came, What’s Next? Guest Editorial by April Ludwig April Ludwig is the CEO of Hope Cooperative, a nonprofit service in Sacramento and Yolo Counties that provides housing, mental health services, and substance-use rehabilitation. Learn more about Hope Cooperative at https://hopecoop.org/ Significant efforts have been made to address affordable housing for the unsheltered in Sacramento, with politicians, interest groups, and private citizens heavily invested in resolving this crisis. The statistics are daunting. According to the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, nearly one-third of the nation’s unhoused population lives in California.

Over the past five years, California has allocated $24 billion to combat homelessness, a sum exceeding the annual GDP of over 50 countries. Elected officials, housing developers, nonprofit organizations, and others are tirelessly advocating for change. Numerous pieces of legislation have been introduced and passed, and federal, state, and local funds have been allocated to advance housing projects. Dozens of affordable developments have been constructed across Sacramento County, specifically for the unhoused. However, building housing is only the first step toward a permanent solution. Experience shows that simply providing housing is insufficient to solve the homeless crisis. Housing opportunities must be accompanied by essential services such as enhanced case management, life-skills groups, parenting groups, harm reduction, mental health counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy for trauma, educational tutoring for youth, social skills groups, employment development, and many other acclimation resources. Welcoming individuals and families into safe environments is crucial, but assuming that a stable place to live will solve homelessness in Sacramento is shortsighted. We must adopt a comprehensive approach. Having devoted my career to ensuring equitable access and delivery of social services, I understand the challenges of addressing issues incrementally. Business developers, elected officials, and funders must proactively and intentionally collaborate with non-profit social service providers to achieve better outcomes.

Many unhoused individuals have been unsheltered for years, some never having lived independently. Understanding the responsibilities of budgeting, paying bills, and purchasing household supplies is challenging for most. We cannot expect those without experience in these routines to succeed without support and adequate resources. Cheering for affordable housing without an innovative plan and a solid approach is futile. Affordable housing without services is a plan for failure, and we can no longer afford to fail our communities.

Our collaboration with property developers enables us to offer comprehensive services to adult residents facing homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance use disorders. By working together as a cohesive team, we ensure that all residents receive the support necessary to maintain their housing and manage their living environment. Additionally, we provide skills-building, life coaching, and training in various areas of development. Our shared goal is to keep individuals successfully housed. Through the partnership between the property developer and the service provider we believe that residents have a strong network of advocates dedicated to their success. Many residents have shared that without these direct services, they would have failed and returned to homelessness.

We can no longer rely on the strategy of "Build it and they will come." This is a collective struggle that affects us all, not just one individual's story. Everyone must contribute to overhauling the system so that each person can be empowered, succeed, and positively contribute to our community.

Lori talks with Noah Palmer who shares his powerful story of recovery from a catastrophic, traumatic event and from addiction. One year ago, Noah lost his sight in a motorcycle accident. Noah's story illustrates many aspects of post traumatic growth which are discussed.

This interview gives us a good representation of how things change when we look at them from different perspectives. Clearly, Von’s experience shows evidence of spiritual emergence (a term coined by Stanislav Grof in his many books and publications). Are we as healers able to accept this alternative perspective, honor it, and us it as a framework for approaching treatment? I hope so. This doesn’t mean we throw out everything we think we already know, but we stay open to the person’s experience and use it as a map to bring about healing in ways that don’t diminish their ways of knowing. This gives those who offer treatment a way to keep learning and growing professionally. Who better to teach us than those we serve?

From Behavioral Healthcare Executive, 9/20/23 Promoting wellbeing and extending lives Ron Manderscheid, Ph.D., has a life-long commitment to social-justice, particularly racial, gender, and health equity. This is reflected through a career that spans national work with the Congress and Administration, federal agencies, NGOs, and university teaching. Here Ron shares his thoughts on ‘Protecting, Connecting and Thriving’. The annual return of spring signals a time for reflection, reaction, and rejuvenation. So too does National Public Health Week, which occurred this year on April 1-7, with the theme: ‘Protecting, Connecting, and Thriving: We are All Public Health’. Let us use this theme to take a short, but important, spring journey. Protecting, Connecting, and Thriving: We are All Public Health Protecting So, I ask: How can we protect those with mental health and substance use conditions from early death? We have known for decades that people with these conditions contract chronic diseases earlier and more severely than others. We also have learned that such diseases lead to a loss of 10 to 25 years of life. More recently, drug overdose deaths and suicides have exacerbated this problem even further. These facts continue to shock us almost every day. They signal that the behavioral health field is suffering from a major public health crisis. We do know what to do. Care integration and coordination is a key response. Yet, despite decades of effort, the integration of behavioral and primary care has been very slow to emerge. Only the onset of COVID-19 and virtual care have accelerated its implementation. Primary consumers are leading a very strong recovery movement. And their efforts to implement person-centered and self-directed care are beginning to bear life-giving fruit. However, these efforts seem to be disconnected from integrated care. Further, we have yet to link any of this work to community development initiatives that now are underway in many localities. Active, empowered communities are essential if we are to address the life determinants that cause most behavioral and health conditions. Connecting. How can we connect these essential pieces of the puzzle to extend the lives of those with behavioral and health conditions? Hopefully without sounding overly audacious, let me suggest that we join our efforts in the community where primary consumers actually live their lives. There, we can connect behavioral and primary care interventions with personal recovery journeys, all within the context of local efforts to improve community life. We need to understand that effective community development initiatives are, in fact, good behavioral health and primary care interventions. And, in turn, the latter should link to and extend the efforts of the community to be welcoming, caring, and supportive of personal recovery efforts. At its most fundamental level, this is the essence of public health. A key feature of this work will be to act early, and, if possible, to act even before a behavioral or health condition has arisen. It seems clear that communities in which all these activities are linked effectively can become the incubators of longer, healthier lives. Thriving. In this context, what does it mean to thrive and why is that important? To thrive means that a person has good personal wellbeing. One’s personal wellbeing addresses several key dimensions of life—physical, mental, social, spiritual, intellectual, economic, job, and housing. The more of these dimensions that people feel good about, the better their personal wellbeing, and the more they are likely to be happy and to thrive. Thus, even when a person has a behavioral and a health condition, they still can have good personal wellbeing, be happy, and thrive, if their recovery journey is on course, their behavioral and health conditions are being addressed, and they live in a supportive community. It is well documented that people live longer when they have good personal wellbeing, are happy, and thrive. That is why it is so important to link community initiatives with behavioral and primary care, and personal recovery. We must determine how many years can be added to the lives of those with behavioral and health conditions if we take these essential steps. I hope that I have taken you on a short spring journey of reflection, reaction, and rejuvenation. I also hope that we will take the steps together that are necessary to help those with behavioral and health conditions live longer, happier lives. © 2024 R.W. Manderscheid

PRN is a ground-breaking peer led organization based in North Carolina founded by Cherene in 2005. The PRN website, promiseresourcenetwork.org, describes organization's beliefs, mission, vision, why we exist and our approach. Here's an excerpt from the PRN website. We know personally and through the experience of others that recovery from labels of mental illness and substance use is a reality. We also understand the countless challenges and roadblocks that many individuals face on their recovery journey, and we know how many traditional systems, programs and policies were never designed for the reality of recovery. In pathologizing systems, there is a tendency to grow illness. As suicide attempt and completion rates are increasing, involuntary hospitalization, incarceration, overdose, and homelessness continue to grow…we are losing people and it doesn’t need to happen. Statistically, most people with mental health diagnoses recover if they are provided with opportunities, messages, supports, and information that fosters wellness and healing. Among the most effective and untapped resource we have are people that live it every day. They have wisdom, knowledge, solutions, ideas that could be a complete game-changer in shifting from an illness to a wellness-based system. Their lived experience was earned, just as someone else’s degree and credentials were earned. Lived experience cannot be replicated and needs to be valued as much as professional licensure if we are to realize healing and recovery. PRN was created as a trauma survivor-led organization, dedicated to improving, redefining and transforming the attitudes, systems, and policies surrounding recovery, so that we can help make recovery a reality for many more people in the community.

We talk with two Crestwood leaders, Greg Parnel and Margaret Clayton. Greg is a Zuma instructor extraordinaire, Advanced Level Facilitator of WRAP and member of the REaL (Recovery, Education and Leadership) a group of peers working at a corporate level to bring recovery-oriented services to the many Crestwood campuses. Margaret MS is Director or Nutrition and Wellness and keeps a close eye on the content of meals being served at each campus. Between the good exercise folks get in Greg’s Zumba classes, and the good meals Margaret oversees, people stand a good chance of being healthier which supports their recovery process. We think nothing builds Connection & healing better than a fun group work out and a good meal. Margaret says... "People who are experiencing serious mental illness are not just one diagnosis, and often other aspects of their health fall by the wayside as their mental health issues are addressed. We aim to address aspects of physical health like exercise and diet in conjunction with mental health treatment in order to serve the whole person. Greg Parnell, in recovery himself, has brought Zumba, the Latin-inspired dance fitness program, to every Crestwood facility, with a focus on movement, joy, and inclusivity. Greg has countless testimonials from participants attesting to their improved mood and outlook after Zumba classes. Margaret Clayton, who experienced disordered eating in high school, now created heart healthy menus for Crestwood facilities with a focus on real food made from scratch. Many people receiving this diet have been lowered their BMIs and improved their blood sugar control. The addition of exercise and nutrition to mental health treatment should be standard in behavioral health facilities to address all aspects of a person’s health."

Hello Dear Viewers, Below are excerpts from a blog written by Mr. del Vecchio. On September 29, 2023, SAMHSA’s Office of Recovery celebrated its first birthday. One year ago, during National Recovery Month, SAMHSA officially launched its first-ever Office to advance recovery across the nation. In our first year, we hit the ground running getting established, assembling a team of subject matter experts with lived experience, and addressing the following critical issues we heard are important from recovery leaders and allies across the nation: Inclusion: “Nothing About Us Without Us” To foster the meaningful involvement of a wide array of people with lived experience to improve behavioral health practice and policy and to foster the social inclusion of people with behavioral health conditions. We released a Policy on the Inclusion of People with Lived Experience for SAMHSA to model what meaningfully engaging and involving a diverse array of individuals in all aspects of our work looks like. We also convened Regional Recovery Meetings in HHS Regions 3 and 5 to help elevate the voice of people in recovery and their allies in identifying needed solutions. Equity: “Recovery for All” To increase opportunities for recovery for underserved and under-resourced populations and communities including people of color, youth, older adults, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+), rural, veterans and people with disabilities. We convened the first-ever Tribal Recovery Summit that brought together over 300 tribal members to identify critical needs and culturally based healing practices. Peer Services: “Peers Helping Peers” To expand peer-provided services within every community. In collaboration with federal, state, tribal, territorial and local partners including peer specialists, we released SAMHSA’s National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification designed to expand and improve the quality of the peer workforce. We also convened a National Peer Summit to provide a forum to bring together people in recovery, family members, youth, states, funders, and others to share ideas and actions to grow peer service delivery. Social Determinants of Recovery: “Whole Health Care” To address key determinants that support recovery including access to housing, education, social supports, and employment. We updated and released Best Practices for Recovery Housing to improve the quality of recovery housing across the nation. We also convened meetings that explored the intersection, coordination, and collaboration of Recovery Housing and Housing First approaches and a dialogue meeting on expanding Collegiate Recovery programs. We worked with the Office of National Drug Control Policy, U.S. Departments of Labor and Commerce, and others on Recovery Ready Workplaces. Wellness: “Individual, Family and Community Wellness” To expand holistic, self-care strategies to improve health and behavioral health outcomes – including the reduction of early mortality and impact of chronic health conditions--and to integrate recovery-oriented practices and systemic reform into the full continuum of health and behavioral healthcare including prevention, harm reduction, treatment, crisis care, and recovery support. We convened a series of training events during “May is Mental Health Month” on the importance of family and youth supports and a Technical Experts Panel on Family Caregiving to create new opportunities to support families and other caregivers. We also sponsored a dialogue meeting between leaders in psychiatry and people with lived experience to build bridges to foster recovery-oriented treatment approaches and a Technical Expert Panel on Digital Innovations to Advance Recovery....

Rob gives us a fresh look at some old practices about forced treatment. Check out his book, Your Consent Is Not Required; the rise in psychiatric detentions, forced treatment, and abusive guardianships. As a podcast about recovery and resilience, Viva La Evolution is not just be a place to receive information, but a place where together we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery. And we also want to examine the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery.

R.E.A.L. Recovery Education, Advocacy, Leadership. At Crestwood, REAL is a team of peer leaders who bring the voice of people served at the executive leadership level. In the podcast, Shanel shares her journey of recovery and how she is evidence that recovery is real. As a podcast about recovery and resilience, Viva La Evolution is not just be a place to receive information, but a place where together we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery. And we also want to examine the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery.

From Floyd Birkmayer's website. Through my commitment to my own Wounded Healer’s journey, I share with our clients and students my deep understanding of what it is to be human and find your own personal myth or soul’s purpose. After a career in mainstream academic psychiatry and addiction treatment, I became frustrated by the overemphasis on pharmaceuticals to cover up symptoms and decided to use my knowledge and experience to help people recover from pharmaceutical medications. I received my bachelor’s degree in molecular biology at Princeton University, where I learned to question assumptions and discover the hidden gifts of the unseen side of life, the shadow. I received my medical doctorate from Columbia University, which taught me how to think critically about ‘business-as-usual’ medicine and inspired me to become an addiction psychiatrist. Psychiatry Residency at the University of New Mexico. Board-certified in Psychiatry. ASAM-certified in Addiction Medicine. Certified Life Coach (CLCI).

April Dickerson, CEO of Recovery Empowerment Network in Phoenix Arizona, shares the inspiring work of REN, a leading peer run organization. From the REN website, renaz.org. "We are a community service agency staffed by those who have lived experience. With 15 years of history serving Maricopa County and guiding our members through all varieties of recovery, we have acquired a unique and diverse approach to intentional emotional wellness through groups, activities, community outings & events." As a podcast about recovery and resilience, Viva La Evolution is not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where together we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery.

Raul Almazar, Senior Consultant for SAMHSA and Policy Advisor for NASMHPD shares his experience and insights on trauma informed care.

We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

Overcoming adverse childhood experiences Tereasa shares a part of her story that gives us the opportunity to discuss the impact of childhood trauma. This is such an important focal point, since many of us have had to deal with early life experiences that continue to haunt us as adults. Trauma affects each of us differently but there are some common indicators that are spelled out in the literature. For example, here are a list of the ten indicators spelled out in the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) test: 1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… a) Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? or b) Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt? 2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… a) Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? or b) Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured? 3. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever… a) Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? or b) Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you? 4. Did you often or very often feel that … a) No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? or b) Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to ach other, or support each other? 5. Did you often or very often feel that … a) You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? or b) Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it? 6. Were your parents ever separated or divorced? 7. Was your parent/caregiver: a) Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped or had something thrown at him/her? or b) Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? or c) Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife? 8. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs? 9. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide? 10. Did a household member go to prison? As you listen to Treasa’s story you will recognize the indicators that affected her and you will also hear the “saving graces” that mitigated the effects. In nearly all stories of people surviving childhood trauma there will be a point where another person steps in who, through loving and respectful connecting, begins to remind the child who they really are and how precious they are. In Tereasa’s case, you’ll hear her talking about her grandmother being “that person” who regularly gave her the love an attention she needed. This gave her the strength to step beyond the trauma and break out of the behaviors she had established that she thought kept her safe and take the next steps in her growth. She also mentions teachers that supported her in this process. This sounds a lot like peer support doesn’t it? There is often “this person” who believes in someone, holding the hope for them until they can hold it for themselves. So once again, regardless of age, if there is someone who can hold the hope for us, we can survive and eventually thrive if given the opportunity. Tereasa story also shows illustrates another aspect of trauma which often gets overlooked, and that is beyond PTSD, there is PTG, or post traumatic growth. Studies about PTG show that people can use the painful experiences that have harmed them to get stronger and wiser and more resilient, as Teresa has done. Later this month we have the pleasure of having Raul Almazar as our guest and among many other things, Raul is an expert in the areas of trauma. He will be able to take us much deeper into a meaningful understanding of trauma.

Alex V Barnard discusses the mental health system and the coercion within in his new book. Join us to discuss it. We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

Dr. Ken Minkoff makes it fun to look at the balance between structure and flexibility in organizational growth by regaling us with tales of his early experiences in what he calls “Hippy style” management. He then speaks of the need for a balance that allows for creativity and ingenuity yet holds the pieces together with a reliable structure that can sustain growth and satisfy funding sources.

Moving on to one of all of our favorite complaints, “paperwork” Dr. Minkoff begins with a memorable quote: “Your best staff will tell you that they need a paperwork process that will inspire them and those they serve by providing a pathway for planning and growth; instead you give them a process that sucks the soul out of their brains, and then they are supposed to do good work.. Then we are rewarded for soul sucking activities.”

This moves us into a discussion about what is typically referred to as “burnout” or a more modern moniker is “compassion fatigue.” The takeaway here is a recognition that it is not the people we were that burn us out. This is a common mistake, and again yet another example of blaming the person being served when things don’t go the way we think they should. The real culprit here is the environment, the culture, in which the work is being done. A recovery-based culture support staff in doing the work they love and that they were inspired to do.

It all comes around to “Hope.” In a culture infused with hope, good work can be done.

We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

Vince Caimano - The Amazing Growth and Effectiveness of Peer Support Opportunities. We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

Peer support in the early 70s. Taking a look at two programs that demonstrated the feasibility of peer support against all odds. We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

he editors of the book entitled WHAT IT TAKES: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialist and Supervisors describe the purpose of the book and it’s importance. We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

Peer support is alive and well in Singapore thanks to the brilliance of a group of dedicated peers We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

experiencing relapse as a learning opportunity to strengthen resilience and to create a broader platform for a meaningful life. We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

William's Story: Lessons in connecting to the person, not the problem We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

Dr Mark Ragins talks about his groundbreaking work of learning and teaching about the probability of recovery.We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery.Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning:How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations.A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience.Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field.Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there.A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recoverytool.

Today we’ll hear from  Matthew Federici, Director of the Copeland Center, who describes the full array of programs offered by the center and moving on from WRAP. Watch for the PTG emergence (see blog).

We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

We will closely examine the surprising journey of how recovery actually happens and we will see it play out as Gloriana shares her recovery story that gives us a close look at the ups and downs of the process. We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

Peer Employment in Action: Here’s how it actually happened in the first Crestwood Campus.    A lot has happened since these early days and we’ve learned a lot form this amazing experiment.  If enough people believe in something and are willing to take action, the impossible becomes possible.

We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJCUDXn-6U We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

This very innovative program trains people on conservatorship to becomes peer support specialist. Chris and Jim describe the structure and components of the Peer Employment Learning Center, including the program evaluation carried out by Rutgers university. We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJCUDXn-6U We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

• VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

Listen to Shannon’s amazing story of building a large peer workforce and the recovery opportunities that were made possible • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJCUDXn-6U We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool.

Other topics that you may want us to expound upon.

Today we are going to share some “tools” with you that will help you sustain a recovery culture. “Tools” are a combination of guides, prompts, and processes that provide a framework for staying on track with recovery ways of being with each other and with those you serve. We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJCUDXn-6U We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool. Other topics that you may want us to expound upon. You can now follow us regularly at the following addresses.

We may need to clean up some behaviors, attitudes, and rules, that get in the way of sustainable change before we add new tools to our work. We call this wrangling the “Elephants in the room”. Elephants are both internal –the ones we hold inside, and external, those that wander around in our space. So get ready to wrangle some elephants! We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: • VIVA LA EVOLUTION a new podcast about... We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool. Other topics that you may want us to expound upon. You can now follow us regularly at the following addresses.

Today is part 2 of our multipart interview with Dr. Lori Ashcraft. She discusses building and sustaining a recovery and resilience culture. She talks about her experience in the early days, how far we have come, and how much more there is to do. We at Recovery and Resilience Solutions (RRS) have exciting news for you. We have been busy creating videos, complete with downloadable narratives, that you can use to learn more about the recovery and resilience-building process. Watch our intro video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvJCUDXn-6U We hope to not just be a place where you receive information, but a place where we can make authentic connections and feel safe enough to talk about the real things that help and hinder our mutual goals of creating opportunities for people to recover. We want to talk about the approaches that really work and bring us and those we serve hope, joy, resilience, and recovery, and also the hard things that we are often hesitant to discuss. In other words, let’s get real about what IS working and what ISN’T working. Let’s learn to magnify what IS working and face and fix those things that AREN’T working. We are looking forward to having you join us on this journey of healing and recovery. Here’s a short list of some of the topics we will be covering, and we will be adding much more content as we learn more about what you are most interested in learning: How to promote the recovery process with individuals and entire organizations. A series on how to shift your organization’s culture to a recovery focus that builds resilience. Interviews with important leaders in the recovery field. Stories from people who are in recovery and how they got there. A series on the importance of Relationships and how to use them as the most important recovery tool. Other topics that you may want us to expound upon. You can now follow us regularly at the following addresses.