a businessman in a black suit is walking under the rain in a big city. Generative AI
Clouds are moving in, it looks like rain. Will people look at me with a lot of pain? Deciding on an black umbrella to obtain Is my brooding causing me disdain?
Time to take a walk our friendly pet Does he have an appointment with the vet? Rain causing us all to get extremely wet Are we having fun without regret?
Autumn showers are falling all over the place Fall storms can not continue this frantic pace Can we leave our mark without a trace Do my concerns show all over my face?
Halloween time is here this year Is time for peace really near Societies living without any fear Are our leaders really sincere?
People with holiday garb are on each street Can we get past these days without a tweet? Baking the pies and cakes with grains like wheat Can we wait a little to sit down and eat?
Trick and treat are for our children Before they are sent to the lion’s den Can fighting stop with a stroke of a pen? Conflict will end someday, but when?
HALLOWEEN POEM by Howard Diamond, a Certified Peer Specialistfrom Long Island, New York.
(October 16, 2023) Center for Practice Innovations, NYC TCTTAC
Most people have heard of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is smoke that is exhaled or comes off burning tobacco, which is then inhaled by others – including nearby nonsmokers. But secondhand smoke is a threat to everyone in the environment, including pets.
People love their pets, many of whom have become trusted support animals. Tobacco users may not know that these companions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of second-hand and third-hand smoke1.
“Thirdhand smoke is the residue that remains on skin, fur, furniture, etc., even after the air has cleared. Our furry friends usually groom by licking their fur. If that fur is coated with smoke residue, they ingest carcinogens and toxins on top of the ones their lungs take in.” (American Lung Association).
Most pets stay mostly at home which means they are exposed to second-hand and third-hand smoke all the time. This is worst if people smoke indoors. This exposure has been found to cause cancer, respiratory illness, and heart disease in pets.
Reducing or quitting smoking is hard, and working with people who smoke means helping them understand some of the benefits of addressing their tobacco use. Protecting pets can be a strong motivator for people to make a change.
(October 15, 2023) By Eileen Crosby, The Alliance for Rights and Recovery (formerly NYAPRS)
The mental health workforce has been underfunded for decades. All of us know the lack of adequate pay is one of many reasons so many people leave the workforce, which only makes accessing services harder in a time where the need for services is rapidly expanding. The Alliance for Rights and Recovery will be pushing for increased funding for the workforce and system as the state begins to shape next year’s budget. The Alliance joins a dozen other statewide organizations representing peers, adult and children service providers, families, and other stakeholders to push the state to include a 3.2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) as well as $500 million in flexible funding for behavioral health services in the coming budget. We will spend the next few months working to get this desperately needed funding into the budget. Continue to monitor our ENews to learn ways you can join our advocacy efforts.
See below for more information on the need for this funding, including the needed improvements to services to support more people.
The Global Peer Supporter Celebration Day (GPSCD) is a day that should be highlighted and honored as a day is to celebrate the champions who willingly dedicate themselves to engage, support and be role models for unique populations. Without these champions many people with a diagnosis of a mental health or substance use disorder would encounter greater hardships and many would even be lost. They would not have the kind of support that would help them to be able to face their fears and escape the stigma of their diagnosis.
When a person is labeled with (and sometimes as) a mental health and/or substance use disorder, they may become invisible or only seen as useless, a burden on to society. When this happens people may live in loneliness and hopelessness. Or, tragically, they may choose instead to end their lives.
Peer supporters have lived experience of the depths of loneliness and hopelessness that comes with mental health or substance use conditions. They also know the transforming power of recovery.
GPSCD is a day to celebrate the peer supporters who have reached out to let lonely and hopeless people know that having a mental health or substance use condition is not the end of life but instead the beginning of a new life, a life in recovery.
GPSCD is a day to honor the peers supporters who have stepped up to find the lost, committed to reach and engage this silent community of consumers trapped in the web of hopelessness, stigma and stereotypes.
GPSCD is a day of recognition for the peer supporters who utilize their lived experiences and victories to become willing teachers and mentors, to support the lost be found. To show by example that challenges don’t need to defeat them but can instead become the beginning of positive victories as people are accepted for who they are. With peer support, people are more willing and able to believe they can change and heal. People can see how their strengths can help them to become a stronger person. With the support of peers, they are able to accomplish more with each victory than they ever thought possible without peer support.
GPSCD is a day for the peer supporters themselves, those people who broke the barriers of stigma and stereotypes to overcome their difficulties. Those who found their own self-worth to become a successful person living a fulfilling lifestyle, in whatever way they may define success and fulfilment. It is for those who have experienced healing and the hope that life is worth living who are now willing to go out and share that hope with others.
These are some of the many reasons why GPSCD is celebrated. Without peer supporters, life remains empty and hopeless for many talented individuals whose gifts beyond measure could be lost.
Thank you to all of the peer supporters around the globe. You are true champions. We celebrate you. And the National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) hosts this event to bring the truth to the light.
Mental health and substance use disorders are not hopeless and they are not the end. With the right people and tools in position lives can be saved.
For those in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. A counselor is available to assist you to listen and provide assistance. You can also ask for a peer support “warm line” or a peer supporter to provide additional assistance.
Help spread the word about the benefits of peer support. As more people find hope and healing by working with peer supporters, more opportunities will arise for people to become peer supporters themselves, and our workforce will continue to grow!
This is such a time of anxiety, fear and trauma across the world. There is no escaping the images on TV and on line. Young people that have been overwhelmed by a pandemic are now facing another trauma.
How do we speak to young people about the state of the world? MHANYS School Mental Health and Resource Center has created a document about how to talk to young people about war and terrorism. It is listed below.
This is the latest installment of a multipart story by Howard Diamond. To view the whole story so far,click here.
New team new investigation
Last night, Holly left a sealed box with Mary at the Police Station. From the moment Officer Grey walked into the station, Mary began nagging him about the contents in the box. Alex let her know that she needs to be patient and he will get to the package when he has time. His concern has to be the murder near the lake last night. Reluctantly, Mary agreed, but every hour, she asked him.
There were no witnesses or any type of identification on the John Doe. He was around six foot four weighing about 225 lbs. with scars from other previous encounters with knives. One was on his left chin and two on his left thigh and a fourth on his left ankle. Joining Officer Grey was Scott Davidson, a twenty three year veteran and eight year head of the Narcotics Unit of Lake Town Police. He is 48, 6 foot about 190 lbs. of solid muscle with short grayish blonde hair and brown eyes.
Also, Scott is a widower with identical twin boys, Jason and Lance, 20. They are built like their dad, almost 6 foot one inches about 185 pounds with darker brown hair and brown eyes. The biggest noticeable difference is that Lance has a full grown brown beard with longish brown hair while Jason has short reddish hair and a pencil thin red mustache. Currently, Jason is away at Stanford studying criminal law and Lance is studying to be a forensic cop at the local community College in nearby Paramount. His plans for the fall are finishing his undergraduate studies at either John Jay in NYC or Johns Hopkins in Maryland. Since being in high school, both of them spent a lot of summer days poking around the police station helping everyone they can.
Officers Grey and Davidson believe that the murder was over drugs, money or a combination of
both. First witness was a man named Sal “Short Stuff” Bonino who turned to point to a picture of
the victim, but he was unsure who it was. Mary kept the rowdy crowd quiet, but there must have
been over thirty men and women trying to state the identity of John Doe. Doctors, Fred and Laura Salazar from the Medical Examiner’s Office, came downstairs and discussed John Doe to the officers. His name was Antonio (Tony), “Short Scars”, Mario Fortino and his age was 52 with lots of shaved teeth and shortcut marks who was believed to be a drug runner for the area mob scene.
Antonio belonged to a gang called, “The Scars”. Since the 1950s this gang has been causing
problems for Lake Town residents. Upon further investigation, over the last twelve years, several other members of “The Scars” have been stabbed, shot to death or disappeared without a trace. Another member was found dead hanging from his prison cell, while another was found in a dumpster and two were found naked in the trunk of a car after having sex with a sixteen year old male plus each other. In addition, over the years, a few have been hung naked from trees or lampposts.
Currently, the head of “The Scars” is Donnie, “Chiefscar”, Turner who has been leading them for about eight years. His pair of scars are matching pairs of Indian chief heads, one for each shoulder. Before him there was a leader named, Ronaldo, “Twinscar” Bonno, but most members did not know his real last name, which was believed to be, Bonnibonbonno, or something similar to that. “Twinscar” died of natural causes at age 82. Coincidentally, all members dead or alive have multiple scars on the body and their insignia is a knife wound in the shoulder or legs. Also, the group was known to sell a variety of drugs to neighborhood teenagers, middle school age and older.
Although it was cold for most of the rest of February, Ruth continued to take walks almost every afternoon, especially when she did not work at the diner. Undaunted from what transpired, Ruth thought it would be a good idea to clear her head plus do some exercising, too. Several instances she believed that someone was lurking behind her. She described him as a strange looking fellow, with a hat, a full mask almost completely covering his face and a dirty oversized raincoat. When Ruth turned around for the second time, the man was not in back of her; however, she saw a shadow on the pavement and surmised that it was the mystery man hiding near one of the stores.
Instantly, Ruth received a call. It was of course, it was the mystery man as he forcefully mentioned his all too familiar phrases, “BEWARE THE STREETS! I CAN GET YOU ANYTIME! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! REMEMBER, I KNOW YOU! I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE! I KNOW WHERE YOU WORK! BEWARE THE STREETS!” At that point, the mystery man slammed the phone down, went to the bus depot and left this area of Lake Town. Did he really take the bus? Did no one see him enter the bus and leave? No one knew for sure.
PRESIDENT’S DAY ARE NOT ONLY FOR PRESIDENTS
Due to inclement weather with heavy winds and rain were forecasted for February 15, causing a
cancelation of the President’s Day festivities, which had included a parade honoring presidents. Many years people would dress up in presidential attire, with white wigs and tall hats as headgear along with flags plus red, white and blue outfits. Most years, the parade ends inside the Lake Town Mall hosting a food fest in the food court. As the fifteenth arrived, the food court was prepared for a bigger than usual crowd and more food was ordered. The weather people were actually correct! How about that!
President’s Day is also the birthday of Frank Ford, 47 people think. For Frank, the day is nothing super special. Office Manager, Steve ordered an ice cream cake to be delivered at 12:30. Only his team participated and left almost half for others to partake. Only Taylor had seconds, so Steve put the remainder in the freezer. Imagine, Frank thanked everyone for coming. Besides the cake and a card, Frank’s birthday was hardly acknowledged by his estranged family and Frank was fine. His attention was on the murder last night, so he spent time at the local school, interviewing staff and students about the killing.
There was no allegiance between Frank and Lake Town School District because none of his family or friends were born, lived or spent time in the schools there. As a Peer Specialist and a father of two who graduated high school, Frank felt he can relate to pupils differently, but his attitude was not his strong point. However, he did better with the staff, many who were often parents of kids of similar age. Due to this, on Wednesday, February 24, he was partially replaced by another Hunter Peer Specialist, Jeff Johnson. Frank was still able to talk with staff and administration.
Jeff is 31, looks about half that, 6 foot 4 inches, weighing about 165 soaking wet, with wavy, blonde hair and blue eyes, medium complexion, a longish drawn face, including smile dimples plus and small hands and his feet. His boyish looks makes it appear like he has never shaved. Actually, Frank found that he has not shaved and never had a serious relationship. Also, Jeff was invited because he is assisting wherever he can. Plus when either Holly or Frank are on vacation, he will likely be covering the caseloads.
Two days later, at Hunter Case Management, Frank and Holly attempted to settle their differences between each other. However, it was getting loud and heated, but no one was screaming. These continual bickering episodes made it difficult and caused so much unnecessary tension around the office, so Karen asked them to go to the conference room and continue. Often Karen had to be their mediator, a role she did not want nor appreciate. Spending almost thirty minutes, Frank left the room upset with Holly, mainly because he was not getting his way. When they were finished in the conference room, they went to each appropriate bathroom, washed their faces and hands of the situation and spent the afternoon finishing the schedule.
PEER SPECIALIST POW WOW AT HUNTER
On Friday morning from 10am to 1pm, Holly and Frank were running two groups on the role of a Peer Specialist with staff at Forest View. Here also, many of these disagreements spilled over and progress was slowed down to a crawl with staff at Forest View going to supervisors. They both agreed, somewhat tentatively, to follow what was suggested by Karen. At 3pm, Karen arranged a get together with Holly, Frank, Steve, Taylor and newcomer Jeff to be present to discuss some of the many concerning issues. Everyone attending thinks that some compromises are definitely possible plus peace and harmony at Hunter and at Forest View can be accomplished successfully. Each has to give in a little.
All arrived on time for the get together. In addition, there were thirty in the room attending this
meeting. Around twenty minutes later, Karen began and did all the talking by stating that she was very disappointed in the attitude of a few of Hunter’s employees. Constant arguing and bickering is neither professional nor a good business plan. Each of the Peer Specialists has a role. There is no, “I“, in TEAM, no, “I“, in HUNTER, and definitely no, “I” in, SUCCESS! From this discussion forward, Hunter will combine the words for Forest View and everywhere else where necessary. Adopted as the words going to be pushed are, “TEAM HUNTER SUCCEEDING“! As it is Friday afternoon, I want everyone to think about what was said and make the right choice to move forward. Do not discuss this with anyone else at the meeting or family and friends for the immediate time. Think about this phrase only as, “TEAM HUNTER SUCCEEDING” and write a small report on the feeling this evokes and its practical aspects. No questions or further discussion today. See everyone in a week or so. Have a good weekend. Meeting adjourned.
That evening, Holly received a phone call from her brother, Andrew. Among other things discussed, he wanted to visit Lake Town next month to see his sister. His proposed dates are from Wednesday March 16 to Monday March 22. Then, if possible, the plan was to take her to visit their parents until Saturday afternoon, March 27. Holly said she would ask Taylor on Monday and then call him back during the evening. Of course, Andrew stated. Then, Holly went on to inform Andrew that she was reinterviewed for the Assistant Supervisor position. Naturally, Andrew was very delighted, but he had cautious optimism because they had gone down this road several times before, with no one hired. Teamwork makes the dream work.
Random Act Part XIV will be here soon.
Howard Diamond is a Certified Peer Specialist from Long Island New York
To download a PDF of just Part 13 click here. To download a PDF of the full story to date, click here.
Random Act By a Peer Specialist: PART 14 will be arriving here soon. Howard Diamond is a Certified Peer Specialist from Long Island, New York
(October 10, 2023) By Paolo del Vecchio, MSW, Director, Office of Recovery
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.
(October 9, 2023) By NAMI in recognition of World Mental Health Day (October 10, 2023)
Today, we recognize World Mental Health Day, a day dedicated to promoting mental health awareness, offering support and encouraging conversations about mental well-being. Given the unique mental health crisis among our youth, we ask that you stand with us this World Mental Health Day to amplify the NAMI Teen & Young (T&YA) Adult HelpLine, a free nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to teens and young adults. You can help make a significant difference in the lives of teenagers and young adults by spreading the word: Mental health support is readily available through the NAMI T&YA HelpLine.
How Can You Make a Difference Today? Continuing NAMI’s Mental Illness Awareness Week theme — “Together We Care. Together We Share,” the simplest and most powerful way to make a difference today is by sharing this vital resource with your family, community and network. We’ve prepared plenty of helpful messages for you to share with friends, family, colleagues and partner organizations.
Please visit our social media toolkit to access sample posts, graphics and more to share across your social media channels.
Together, let’s ensure that our youth have the support they need at their fingertips and create a world where no young person feels alone in their struggle. Spread the word and save a life.
The NAMI T&YA HelpLine is not a hot line, crisis line or suicide prevention line. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, please chat, call or text 988. The NAMI T&YA HelpLine does not provide mental health counseling, advice, personal advocacy or referrals to individual mental health providers or lawyers. The NAMI T&YA HelpLine does not provide individual casework, legal representation or any type of individual advocacy.Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt-out. Reply HELP for help. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for more information.
3D illustration of “COURT ORDER” title on legal document
Mandating treatment against an individual’s desires is a clear violation of their right to autonomy and choice. There are many reasons someone may decide to not engage in services, including past trauma or abuse while in the system and a lack of preferred service options. Resorting to forced treatment places the blame for lack of engagement on the individual and fails to hold the system accountable for providing an array of services which successfully engage individuals voluntarily.
New York State’s Kendra’s Law, or Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), statute was renewed in 2023, with the requirement of a new study to evaluate the program, including whether court orders or improved voluntary services lead to better outcomes. Yesterday the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) announced the study contract was awarded to Human Services Research Institute.
We are advocating for the study to have a true comparison of those on court orders and those who received enhanced voluntary services as an alternative to determine whether Kendra’s Law outcomes are due to mandating treatment or increasing access to services. The most recent evaluation of the program, published in 2010, was unable to include this type of comparison because those who received enhanced services did not get the exact same services as those on court orders. We must get this data to scientifically determine whether improvements are due to court orders or enhanced services.
It must also evaluate whether local government and the state, as well as providers, are providing an array of voluntary services to people first and turning to court orders only as a last resort, as the law requires. Finally, the study must determine whether the failure to provide culturally aware services is responsible for the disproportionate use of AOT on people of color, who account for roughly 80% of orders in New York City.
We are hopeful this new study will accurately capture the effects of AOT in New York and support what we know, mandating treatment is not what leads to recovery, but rather increased access to appropriate services such as peer support, voluntary alternatives to hospitalization, mental health first responders, and housing with supports. Read below to learn more about the review and recently awarded contract.
Marie Vogel is a licensed professional counselor with a Masters Degree in Counseling. She has worked as a clinician in the National Center for Peer Support out of Rutgers UBHC. Currently, in her role as the Project Manager for the Academy of Peer Services and PeerTAC, she oversees the instructional design and technical offering of over 90 online-based training modules for New York Peer Specialist Certification. This is the only online training and testing platform for peer specialist training of its kind.
Navigating a decade-long path toward recovery, Matthew’s lived experience provides him necessary and profound insights into myriad systems of care, as they exist in New York State. His first position upon becoming a Provisionally Certified Peer Specialist in NY, himself, was with a Crisis Respite and Independent Housing program. After 2 years of direct service, Matthew began work as a Certification Coordinator for the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB), interacting with hundreds of Certified and prospective Peer Specialists across New York. He has attended and facilitated networking, educational, and professional events, including as a conference organizer with the NYPSCB Annual Conference in 2020. Matthew’s current position with the Academy of Peer Services presents ideal opportunities to support the development of educational offerings for Peer Specialists and a variety of stakeholders across New York State.
Michelle Longmore, MS
Michelle is an APS Instructional Designer who specializes in graphic and instructional design. She has created marketing materials and websites for a variety of businesses throughout her career. Creating interactive courses, as well as developing curriculum and training materials. She enjoys researching cutting-edge educational technology and enhancing the learning experience.
Ivanna Bond
Ivanna Bond is a mental health advocate and survivor with over 25 years’ in nonprofit business management experience. She is a graduate of the Howie the Harp peer training program at Community Access and is currently Assistant Program Director, Community Access, Crisis Respite Center. In the context of her Howie the Harp training she worked at the ACT Institute at the Center for Practice Innovation at the NY State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University, on a Scope of Practice Guideline for Peers on ACT Teams in NY State. Bond is also Chairperson of the NYC Peer Workforce Coalition, a professional association for peer workers (peer specialists and peer advocates).
Sara Goodman
Tanya Stevens
Scott McDonald
Scott is originally from the Bronx, New York. He has over 20 years’ experience in the retail and management field. Scott enjoyed much success both professionally and personally. After both his career and personal life crashed in 2008, Scott experienced the worst times in his life. After considering ending his own life on multiple occasions and experiencing homelessness, Scott searched for assistance to restart his life. The second half of Scott’s journey has been filled with receiving both valuable assistance and education from individuals who tirelessly work in the mental health community. Scott was so impressed by these individuals he chose to “pay it forward” and has, for the last 11 years, worked in the mental health community to assist his fellow peers on their journey. Currently, Scott serves as the Lead Peer Specialist for the New York State Office of Mental Health at Bronx Psychiatric Center.
Chacku Mathai
Chacku Mathai is an Indian-American who became involved in consumer/survivor/ex-patient advocacy and peer support when he was 15 years old. Chacku’s personal experiences with racism, xenophobia, racialized trauma, suicide attempts, and disabling mental health and substance use conditions, including psychosis as a youth and young adult, launched Chacku and his family towards a number of efforts to advocate for improved services, social conditions, and alternative supports in the community. He has since accumulated over thirty-five years of experience in behavioral health systems in a wide variety of roles such as youth leadership and community organizing, executive and board management and behavioral health infrastructure development. Chacku is the Director for the SAMHSA Healthy Transitions Initiative with the Center for Practice Innovations and OnTrackNY, a Coordinated Specialty Care model for young people experiencing early psychosis in New York State. He volunteers his time in roles such as the President for Friends of Recovery – New York, a statewide coalition of people in recovery from addiction, as Vice-President for the National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy, and as co-founder of Healing through Hip Hop. He is a National Advisory Council member for the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health in Texas and the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems. Chacku serves on several advisory boards for key research initiatives at Boston, Columbia, Lesley and Rutgers universities. Chacku is also an appointed member of the New York State Integrated Block Grant Committee and the Governor’s Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council.
Oscar Jimenez-Solomon
Oscar Jiménez-Solomon is a mental health researcher and advocate who has dedicated his career to improving the financial wellness of people with psychiatric conditions through research, program development, training and technical assistance, and policy advocacy. Mr. Jiménez-Solomon’s commitment to helping others overcome unemployment and poverty stems from his personal experience of financial hardship and recovery. Mr. Jiménez-Solomon obtained a Master of Public Health at Columbia University and an undergraduate degree in Sociology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. He is currently pursuing studies leading to a Ph.D. in Social Policy at the Columbia University School of Social Work. Since 2013 he has served as Research Scientist at the Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Oscar is the principal investigator of a grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to develop and pilot a peer-led intervention with the goal of building financial hope, improving financial wellness, and reducing distress and suicide risk. As part of his doctoral training he is conducting research at the Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy to examine the impact of economic hardship on hope, life satisfaction and psychiatric distress. Mr. Jiménez-Solomon is Vice-Chair for the Board of the National Disability Institute (NDI), a national organization dedicated to improving the financial wellbeing of people with disabilities. He is also Instructor at the Rutgers University Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, where he teaches coursework for the peer support certificate. Oscar’s previous roles include Director of Community and Economic Development at the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS), Director of Quality Management at the Arc of New York State, and Consultant at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). He has authored or co-authored peer-reviewed articles, training manuals, and online training modules on economic empowerment, cultural competence, and language access. He has also authored book chapters, reports, empowerment videos and training manuals in mental and public health in the United States and Latin America.
Ruth Colon-Wagner
Ruth Colón-Wagner: Director of Training & Development (NYAPRS) has 30+ years experience in Child Welfare, Homeless Services, Employment, and Mental Health Care working with children, adults, and families. For the last 25 of those years Ruth has worked in a variety of leadership positions. Prior to joining NYAPRS, Ruth served as Director of Rehabilitation and Treatment of adult mental health services in the Hudson Valley region of New York. As Director of Training & Development, Ruth manages various initiatives which includes technical assistance to organizations (nationally) on organizational culture change; organizational capacity building and sustainability, board development, succession planning and strategic planning. Other specialties include Group Facilitation, Program Management and Compassion Fatigue. Ruth is a certified Dialectical Behavioral Therapist, a Functional Family Therapist and a Life-Skills Educator. Ruth received her MSW from Hunter College School of Social Work and is licensed as a social worker in NYS.
Gina Calhoun
Gina Calhoun is the Director of Doors to Wellbeing, a SAMHSA funded National Technical Assistance Center and a Program of the Copeland Center. She participated in public mental health services for 20 years and is now proud to be a Certified Peer Specialist and Mental Health Educator. When Gina is not promoting wellness and recovery, she enjoys adult gymnastics as well as spending time with her large dynamic family. Gina won the Timothy J. Coakley National Behavioral Health Leadership Award. This award honors peer and family leaders in the behavioral health field whose work is characterized by the highest degree of integrity and a passion for creative approaches for improving the lives of persons living with mental health challenges, especially in the public sector.
Lori Ashcraft, MSW, MPA, PhD
During her 40 year behavioral health career, Lori has had a strong interest in the therapeutic effects of self-determination, choice, and personal freedom. She did her dissertation on freedom, spending a month in Russia at the time the Soviet Union collapsed, and focused her inquiry in Soviet mental hospitals where the lack of freedom and choice was pervasive.
After a full career in California that included the Deputy Director for Community Programs of state Department of Mental Health, she re-located to Arizona where she accepted the position as Director for Adult Services where her commitment to recovery principles became a passion. In 2007, Lori founded the Recovery Opportunity Center at Recovery Innovations. Early in 2015, Lori left Recovery Innovations creating a new company, Resilience, Inc. which his now part of Crestwood. Being part of Crestwood has allowed her to learn more about using recovery and resilience principles and practice them in the unique environment of Crestwood. Most exciting is desire of Crestwood to learn and grow as more is known about recovery. Lori’s vision for the future is to continue teaching recovery principles and practices, assuring people that they can recover.
Celia Brown
Celia Brown is a psychiatric survivor and a long-time advocate for people with psychiatric disabilities. Celia was one of the first Peer Specialist in New York. She was instrumental in developing and implementing the Peer Specialist Civil Service title for the NYS Office of Mental Health. She currently works in the position of Regional Advocacy Specialist for the Office of Consumer Affairs at the NYS Office of Mental Health.Celia provides technical assistance and support to people with psychiatric disabilities and their families. She facilitates trainings on peer support, wellness and recovery approaches in community mental health agencies. Celia is a long-time leader in the peer movement.She is a certified peer specialist in New York State. Celia has presented nationally and internationally.Celia was the main representative to the United Nations for MindFreedom International and collaborated with other Disability organizations on the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.
Lynnae Brown,
Lynnae Brown is the Director of Howie The Harp (HTH) Advocacy Center – a peer led employment training program for people in mental health recovery. Based in Harlem, New York City HTH has trained hundreds of individuals across the metropolitan area to offer supportive services using their lived experience along with peer support principles. Lynnae is a NYS Certified Peer Specialist and her work was featured in BRICTV’s #BHheard Mental Health Series in 2018.
Maryam Husamudeen, BA, NYCPS, eCPR, ASIS, MHFA
Maryam Husamudeen has been a Peer Bridger for NYAPRS since 2013 and the User Support Staff for APS since 2018. Her background work experience allows her to be highly skilled in the field of High Risk Populations. She is an Advocate and Consultant. She is very dedicated to servicing the community. Her objective is to enlighten service providers on the barriers to care of these populations and develop Quality Improvement Techniques to have a more efficient interaction. She is a seasoned nonprofit professional with over 30 years’ experience. She has earned her BA in Sociology. She is a NY State Certified Peer Specialist and newly trained in eCPR amongst other certifications.
Yumi Ikuta, MBA
Yumiko Ikuta is a consumer and the Director of the Office of Rehabilitation in the Bureau of Mental Health at the NYC Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene. Her office oversees over 80 non-clinical treatment and rehabilitation programs, including supported employment, education support services, clubhouses, psychosocial clubs, peer support, respite, self-help, advocacy and outreach, as well as peer specialist training programs. Her experience in peer specialist education is extensive as the former Deputy Director of Howie the Harp Peer Advocacy Center and the former Program Manager of the Academy of Peer Services. Yumiko also worked closely with the NYS Office of Mental Health to develop Medicaid billable Home and Community Based Services and its delivery system. She worked for over 15 years in the corporate sector and for the US Agency for International Development at the Dept. of State as an economic development officer in several developing countries. She also started and operated her own wholesale and retail fine jewelry business on Madison Avenue in NYC. Yumiko holds a BA in Economics and East Asian Studies and an MBA in Marketing and International Business both from Columbia University.
Len Statham
Len Statham is the Chief Operating Officer with the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. He has worked with people with mental health and substance use issues for more than 25 years, promoting recovery focused services and service provision. Through SAMHSA’s BRSS TACS program, he has helped peer-run organizations from across the country increase their capacity to provide peer-run services in a value-based healthcare world. Additionally, Len also works with the National Development and Research Institutes Addiction Technology Transfer Center (NDRI-ATTC) and The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University offering training and technical assistance to organizations across the country providing employment services to people in mental health recovery. Critically, Len is a person with lived experience in the mental health system and this experience informs and strengthens his work on recovery and employment issues.
Steve Miccio
Steve Miccio is the CEO of People-USA located in Poughkeepsie, NY. People-USA is a peer operated advocacy and service organization serving people throughout New York State. Steve has used his personal experiences to help provide valuable insight in creating, leading and manage alternative peer operated crisis diversion/respite/stabilization services and has assisted in the creation of various complimentary peer services in NY and across the United States and Europe.
Cheryle Hinds Leslie
Cheryle Hinds Leslie is a State Certified Peer Specialist, an advocate for social justice and a voice for peers. Cheryle is from the Bronx. She was her mother’s right hand for countless projects. Cheryle is a member of the North Bronx National Council of Negro Women for 40 years working on countless services. Cheryle helped start the North Bronx NCNW Child Development Center. In the Peer Movement, Cheryle graduated from Howie The Harp, and has been a part of Community Access, Bronx Crisis Respite, and managing Baltic Street Bronx Peer Advocacy Center. She has fought for peers in Albany with NYAPRS, Coalition for Women Prisoners, and the Supported Housing Network of New York. Cheryle sits on the Mayors Community Service Board & Community Service Board Mental Health Sub Committee, in NYC. Cheryle is the Entitlements Coordinator for the Jewish Board Brooklyn Supported Housing and Treatment Apartment Programs.
Denise Ranaghan, LMHC, CPRP, NYSCPS
Denise Ranaghan shares a powerful personal recovery story that has driven her 20 year record of service in the mental health field. She received a Masters of Art and Education from Teachers College, CU and went on to hold multiple positions in the mental health system including Residential Manager, Peer Specialist, Rehabilitation Coordinator, Director of Wellness Services and Director of Assertive Community Treatment Team. While Director of Mental Health Association’s Wellness Program Denise initiated projects that collaborated with community organizations to bring mental health and substance use related issues into public discussions. She is a certified WRAP facilitator who has both helped to start and support alternative peer run self-help groups. While serving as the Director of Peer Services at the New York Association for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, Denise oversaw multiple projects that employed Peer Bridgers and trained providers on how to incorporate peer services into their organizations. She has presented on Peer Support, Trauma Informed Care, Voice Hearing, Cultural Diversity, Suicide, and the Human Canine Connection. She is the author of multiple essays on recovery as well as the book “Institutional-Eyes,” which profiles her experience in the military where she was first psychiatrically hospitalized. She is a writer and a pastel artist, currently living in New Paltz, NY with her partner and their five dogs and two cats.
Carlton Whitmore
Carlton Whitmore is the Director of New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene’s Office of Consumer Affairs. The Office of Consumer Affairs is responsible for assuring the voice of those with lived experience is heard and integrated into all levels of policy and planning. Carlton’s primary function in this role is to advocate on behalf of individuals and families who may not have access to resources needed to support their recovery.
Liz Breier, MA, CPRP
Liz Breier holds a Master of Arts in Health Advocacy from Sarah Lawrence College, is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner from The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, as well as a Certified Peer Specialist for the state of New York. Additionally, Liz is a Certified Health Coach and is a candidate for additional certification with The Institute For Functional Medicine. Liz has worked in the field of Behavioral Health in a variety of leadership and supervisory roles in the states of Florida, New Jersey, and New York. Since 2000 Liz has been actively involved in supporting individuals in creating and sustaining their personal vision of recovery as well as helping to create and shape a service system that is person centered, anti-racist, recovery focused and consistent with the principles of psychiatric rehabilitation. Additionally, Liz uses her personal lived experience as a part of her advocacy and work around individual self-determination and healing from trauma.
Jonathan Edwards, PhD
Jonathan P. Edwards consults nationally on peer support services implementation and supervision and plays an integral role in advancing peer workforce development. Jonathan wears many hats; recently earning a PhD from the Social Welfare program at CUNY Graduate Center and a Doctoral Fellow in the SAMHSA-funded Council on Social Work Education’s Minority Fellowship Program; as an adjunct professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College; as a licensed clinical social worker and member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers; as a program consultant, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care, and Treatment; as a member of the National Association of Peer Supporters Board; as an executive member of the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board; a New York Certified Peer Specialist; and a person in long-term recovery.
Gita Enders, LMSW, MA, CPRP
Gita Enders currently holds the position of Director in the NYC Health + Hospitals / Office of Behavioral Health, where she oversees numerous health care delivery system activities and concerns impacting individuals who use mental health, substance use, and co-occurring treatment services. Gita has presented locally and nationally on programming and supervision. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker; she has a Master’s degree in English (Creative Writing), a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) and New York Certified Peer Specialist. She serves as supervisor to the Peer Advisor Program as part of the Public Psychiatry Fellowship of Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, and is also involved with the Community Access Howie the Harp Advocacy Center as a Peer Training Program instructor.
Clinton Green, LMSW
Clinton Green is a Senior Training and Implementation Specialist at The Center for Rehabilitation and Recovery. He collaborates with New York City behavioral health providers on enhancing access and quality of person-centered and recovery-oriented services through her provision of trainings and technical assistance. Prior to this position, he was the Program Director for a new peer training model under the ThriveNYC grant. Clinton has worked over ten (10+) years with individuals with mental health challenges in recovery-oriented programs including over four (4+) plus years in a supervisory role. In these roles, he assisted with the creation of trauma informed policies and assessment material. Mr. Green has also trained on Community Inclusion Principals with Dr. Mark Salzer from Temple University.
Athena Anderson, PhD, MEd
Athena has been an Instructional Designer with APS since March of 2020. Before switching to a career in ID, she was a field ecologist and taught college biology courses for 17 years. She is also a certified feline training and behavior specialist and Cultural Intelligence Facilitator. Athena will try just about anything once, but her most common hobbies include writing, dancing, travel, cat rescue, and anything related to Monty Python. She currently has a crush on Michael Palin.
Ken Gill, PhD
Dr. Gill’s research interests encompass a broad range of topics with the psychiatric rehabilitation of persons with serious mental illnesses. These include evidence-based and promising practices in terms of employment, education, health and wellness promotion, and techniques to promote community integration, quality of life, and recovery. In addition, he has a strong interest in the educational techniques and approaches that promote practitioner development through academic and other educational approaches.
Rita Cronise
Rita is an instructional designer with lived experience of a major mental health diagnosis who has been a certified peer support specialist, an advanced level WRAP facilitator, Recovery to Practice advanced peer specialist training developer, and for two years served as acting Director of Operations at the International Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS) where she had coordinated efforts to develop National Practice Guidelines for the peer workforce. Rita currently holds a faculty position at Rutgers University as the lead instructional designer on the online Academy of Peer Services (APS), the training and testing component of the New York State peer specialist certification and the companion Virtual Community of Practice. She continues to serve on a national workgroup for supervision of peer specialist and peer support workforce development and is a frequent lecturer on peer support values, practice, and supervision.
Amy Spagnolo, PhD
Amy B. Spagnolo, APS Project Manager, is a faculty member in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, the State University. In addition to teaching and administration, her experience includes over 20 years of curriculum design, staff training and consultation for the behavioral health sector. She also brings a decade long commitment to training and educating the peer support provider workforce. Currently, in her role as the Project Manager for the Academy of Peer Services, she oversees the instructional design and technical offering of 50 online-based training modules for New York Peer Specialist Certification. This is the only online training and testing platform for peer specialist training of its kind.
Karen Richards, PhD, EdS, MS
Karen Richards is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Rutgers University Biomedical and Health Sciences, School of Health Professions, in Newark, NJ. Dr. Richards is also the Director of Instructional Design, Media, and Technology at the MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care in New York City, NY. She has been working in the field of Web development and e-learning for over two decades, specializing in online scenario-based and problem-based learning. In her role as instructional designer for the Academy of Peer Services, at Rutgers University since 2013, Dr. Richards works with subject-matter experts to design online courses for peer support specialists. She continues to contribute to the body of research in the field of designing online environments for learners with mental health disorders. As Director of Instructional Design, Media, and Technology at the MJHS Institute, Dr. Richards oversees the organization’s website, learning management system, and all online continuing educational programming for physicians, nurses, social workers, and other allied healthcare professionals.
Varsha Kamat
Varsha Kamat has been a Web Support Specialist for the Academy of Peer Services at Rutgers University for the past four years. She works with Instructional Designers and the User Support Specialist to maintain the APS website. She also does data analysis. Varsha has more than 25 years of experience in Information Technology, and you can find her at the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ. On a personal note, Varsha likes gardening, sewing, cooking and dancing. She is also a good photographer.
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