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Member of the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery
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How to Contact Us:1-877-IAHOPE4Uinfo@iarecovery.org225 West Street, Dubuque, Iowa 52001Recovery in Iowa Conference June 19th & 20th 2012
Featuring presentations on:
Follow the conference on facebook at facebook.com/groups/iamhrconf2012 Download the registration packet in word or pdf format. Information can also be found on the Iowa Office of Consumer Affairs website. Mental Health And Disabilities Services Redesign
To get the latest information on the Redesign process visit http://dhs.state.ia.us/Partners/MHDSRedesign.html. New Manual for Starting Peer-Run Respites Now Available for Free Download!
The Iowa Advocates for need your voice!
Just the Beginning ...Consumers of mental health services in most states have been organized for some time. Iowa has finally begun the process. Dr. Daniel Fisher, Director of the National Empowerment Center, met with Iowa consumer and family members during the last week of April 2007. With Dr. Fisher was Molly Cisco, Executive Director of Wisconsin’s Empowerment Project. Those gathered represented many areas of Iowa, were associated with a variety of organizations, and held a variety of views on mental health. However, all believed in the potential to recover and unanimously had a desire to give something back. Iowa Advocates for Mental Health Recovery is the result of those meetings. Our MissionCreate opportunities for advancing hope and recovery for all by transforming our community and the mental health system it reflects to one of respect and trust by educating, advocating and empowering. Our Values1. Everyone can recover. 2. There is hope for every person. 3. Use your life’s pain to guide, encourage, an empower others. 4. Everyone should have equal access to mental health treatment regardless of county of settlement. 5. Peer support is essential to mental health. 6. People with lived experience should organize to become a stronger voice in the transformation of mental health. 7. People with lived experience should be accorded basic human rights – to be treated with kindness, dignity, and respect. back to top ... Common Elements of RecoveryHope and Optimism, a positive belief in one’s ability to live a full and meaningful life despite having, or having had, a mental illness and a belief in future possibilities. Consumer Choice and Autonomy, the ability to make one’s own decisions regarding programs, activities and treatment and the ability to pursue one’s own interests. Respect and Dignity, being appreciated as a person with value and being treated with courtesy, fairness and kindness and being recognized with talents and capabilities. Partnership, recognizing the importance of identifying one’s own needs and goals and sharing in decision making. Empowerment in Personal Control, trusting in one’s self to get better and resume or attain a satisfying life while assuming self management and accepting personal responsibility. Restoration and Personal Growth, encouraging an expansion of capabilities and fostering self-confidence and self-esteem. Self Acceptance and Healing, promoting self awareness and permitting personal forgiveness. Adaptability and Capacity to Improve, recognizing one's potential and ability and have opportunities to contribute. Become a MemberTo become a member of this movement contact us via email at info@iarecovery.org or call 1-877-IAHOPE4U.
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Applications are available! The 2012 Conference “Road to Recovery: A Whole Health will be held at the Holiday Inn located at 4800 Merle Hay Road in Des Moines on Tuesday June 19th and Wednesday June 20th. Conference topics include; Holistic Health/Complementary Practices, System Transformation/Mental Health and Disabilities Services Redesign and Innovations in Peer Support. Join us to learn more about exciting trends in recovery happening in the state and across the country.
Adult Disability Services Redesign legislation was signed by Governor Brandstad in the end of July. This legislation changes the Mental Health System in Iowa from a county-based system to a regional system replacing “legal settlement” as a basis of determining how an individual is funded for services. In addition core services will be indentified, crisis services will be implemented statewide, approaches will be sought for seamless co-occurring services and addressing brain injury. The Senate passed its version of the Redesign bill and sent it to the House.
Thanks to the experience of Rose House, the work of PEOPLE, Inc., and the support of Optum Health, a new manual is now available for people interested in starting hospital diversion services, which are crisis alternatives that include peer-run respites. Thank you to PEOPLE, Inc. and Optum Health for making this document free and accessible! The manual has several interactive pieces and is user friendly. We are proud at the NEC to be able to showcase this manual and make it available for free 
The Iowa Advocates for Mental Health Recovery need your voice! "Nothing about us, without us" means that we need to hear from YOU in order to make the Recovery in Iowa newsletter and this organization a powerful force for the healing and recovery of individual people and the healing and recovery of our local and state behavioral health service systems. Please consider sharing your news, thoughts, inspirations, dreams, recovery tips, creativity and more with our editorial and publishing team. All you need is a heart that wants to share, and some way to get the sharing to us! We'll accept audio and video tapes (we could put your short home-made film or blog onto the website version of the newsletter), emails, attachments, hand-written letters, artwork in many forms and the list goes on! If you're interested in joining our team or making a contribution to Recovery in Iowa, contact Todd Lange, Executive Director at 1-877-IAHOPE4U or info@iarcovery.org