Welcome to The Innovations Institute!

from Boston University's Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation

The Innovations Institute is a series of courses highlighting efforts and practices directed at making recovery a real possibility for the broadest group of individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

Learn how to:

• Psychiatric Rehabilitation: The Road Less Travelled

  Description:   In this keynote speech, Dr. William Anthonyexamines the 35 year history of psychiatric rehabilitation, suggests future directions for the field, and remembers those who traversed the roads less travelled to forge the vision of recovery.

   

  Speaker:   William Anthony, Ph.D., Executive Director, Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Peer Support: Supporting One Another in Recovery

  Description:   Is it an innovation to offer support to another human being who has shared similar suffering or journeys? Leaders in peer support share models and activities that are making the practice of serving each other in recovery visible to the mental health service field, including the outcomes and evidence that make these practices visible to payers.

   

  Speakers:   Deborah Delman, Executive Director, M-Power, MA; Moe Armstrong, Peer Educators Project, Vinfen Corp., MA; Lori Ashcraft, Executive Director, META, AZ; Walter Hudson, Certified MH Recovery Educator, OH

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Measuring Recovery Promoting Competencies in English and Spanish Speaking Populations

  Description:   This workshop examines the concept of mental health and rehabilitation providers' "recovery promoting competence" and its measurement with the Recovery Promoting Relationships Scale (RPRS). Presenters discuss the development and validation of this instrument for both English and Spanish speaking populations and its utility for research and clinical feedback.

   

  Speakers:   Zlatka Russinova, Senior Research Associate; Sally Rogers, Director of Research; Maria Restrepo-Toro, Senior Trainer, BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Health Disparities Among Minorities and Others with Psychiatric Disabilities

  Description:   This workshop provides participants with critical information about the unique health needs of minorities and people who are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and/or transgendered who also have psychiatric disabilities. The translation of research findings into policies and services needed to reduce health disparities and build health equity is highlighted.

   

  Speakers:   Dori Hutchinson, Director of Recovery Services, BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA; Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola, Director, Center for Reducing Health Disparities, Davis School of Medicine, University of California, CA; Lisa Razzano, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, National Research and Training Center on Psychiatric Disability; University of Illinois, IL

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Shifting to a Rehabilitation and Recovery Paradigm

  Description:   This course helps participants to identify barriers and facilitators to moving systems forward in their rehabilitation and recovery orientation. Presenters share their experiences in facilitating change toward a rehabilitation and recovery-oriented system of care in large national and international programs.

   

  Speakers:   Sandra L. Forquer, Vice President for Public Sector Development, United Behavioral Health; Marianne Farkas, Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation; Michael Hogan, Commissioner, NY Office of Mental Health; Vijay Ganju, Project Director, DHHS; Division for Mental Health, Texas Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant; Thomas Kirk, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health & Addiction; Lars Olof Ljungberg, Head of Division of Psychiatry, Aleris, Sweden

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Working as Peers

  Description:   Consumer involvement, involves shared responsibility. Shared responsibility means both a participant's duty to be involved in his/her own services and the service's responsibility to integrate peers into important roles in the program. This workshop explores the rewards and challenges of an integrated workforce and provide participants with opportunities to discuss their experiences with shared responsibility.

   

  Speakers:   Cheryl Gagne, Senior Training Associate, and Donna Wilbur, Teacher, BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA; Deborah Delman, Executive Director, M-Power, MA; Amy Gelb, Trainer, Institute for Community Inclusion & BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Enriching the Workforce: Opening Doors for Latino Consumer Providers

  Description:   Spanish-speaking peer specialists, who can deliver recovery-oriented psychiatric rehabilitation interventions, while still rare in the workforce, are increasingly critical to the mental health system in the U.S. This workshop highlights the development of a Latino consumer provider training program that focuses on recovery and rehabilitation provider and leadership skills.

   

  Speakers:   James (Diego) Rogers, Vice President, Community Research Foundation, CA; Maria Restrepo-Toro, Senior Trainer, BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA; Katrina Killian, Program Coordinator, Best Now, Alameda County Network of Mental Health Clients & Alameda County Behavioral Health Care, CA; Carolyn Stuart, Consultant, Consumer Organization and Networking Technical Assistance Center, WV

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Creating an Inclusive Work Environment

  Description:   Workplace discrimination presents a challenge for the full and sustained employment of individuals with psychiatric disabilities. This workshop presents the experiences of collaboration between the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Riverside Mental Health Center to develop an organized, proactive and comprehensive program for increasing the inclusion of employees who have received or are receiving mental health services.

   

  Speakers:   Rick Forbess, Associate Director of Training, Dissemination & Technical Assistance, and Zlatka Russinova, Senior Research Associate, BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA; Scott Bock, President/CEO, Riverside Community Care, MA; Darin Haig, Program Coordinator; Riverside Family Partnership, MA; Marianne Farkas, Director of Training, Dissemination & Technical Assistance, BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Workforce Transformation

  Description:   Brief workshops are often the workforce tools used to solve the problem of developing effective recovery oriented services, despite the fact that brief workshops cannot achieve such a goal. Transformation requires a conceptual leap changing both the “who” and “how” the workforce is developed. Presenters will share principles of workforce transformation and their use in both domestic and international practical experiences.

   

  Speakers:   Marianne Farkas, Director of Training and TA, and Cheryl Gagne, Senior Training Associate, BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA; Camilla Bogarve, Project Coordinator & Program Developer, Psykiatrin, Landstinget Halland, Sweden; Eugene Johnson, President & CEO, Recovery Innovations, Inc., AZ

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Developing Statewide Consumer Advocacy Networks, Part 1

  Description:   Part one of a two part course focused on the emergence of widespread efforts to develop recovery-oriented services and practices has created a wider recognition of demand for consumer advocacy and leadership in system and social change. Growing effective leadership and mental health consumer advocacy networks can positively affect system and social change. Presenters will describe the key findings of a multi-site descriptive survey study focusing on leadership practices of consumers who are guiding the development of statewide mental health consumer advocacy networks. Drawing from the work of Kouzses and Posner, this research builds on the body of knowledge in self-help advocacy and leadership. Implications for practice will be discussed interactively with participants. The goal of this institute is to help participants identify and develop the necessary leadership practices for consumer advocacy network development or expansion.

   

  Speaker:   Kathy Muscari, Director, CONTAC

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Developing Statewide Consumer Advocacy Networks, Part 2

  Description:   Second part of a two course series focused on the emergence of widespread efforts to develop recovery-oriented services and practices has created a wider recognition of demand for consumer advocacy and leadership in system and social change. Growing effective leadership and mental health consumer advocacy networks can positively affect system and social change. Presenters will describe the key findings of a multi-site descriptive survey study focusing on leadership practices of consumers who are guiding the development of statewide mental health consumer advocacy networks. Drawing from the work of Kouzses and Posner, this research builds on the body of knowledge in self-help advocacy and leadership. Implications for practice will be discussed interactively with participants. The goal of this institute is to help participants identify and develop the necessary leadership practices for consumer advocacy network development or expansion.

   

  Speakers:   Kathy Muscari, Director, CONTAC

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Involving People Who Have Used Mental Health Services on Committees

  Description:   This presentation describes a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project in Ireland which investigated barriers and facilitators to mental health consumers' participation on mental health committees. The presenter/author also examines how persons with lived experience of mental illness can be part of policy making and how participation on committees can impact the individual.

   

  Speaker:   Shari McDaid, researcher, Equality Studies Centre, University College Dublin

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Training Psychiatric Rehabilitation Vocational Practitioners

  Description:   Providing optimal employment support services requires support in job retention as well as placement. The Psychiatric Vocational Rehabilitation approach attends to the knowledge and competencies providers need to maximize success in employment and education. An overview of this approach will be presented, as well as information about training options.

   

  Speakers:   Debbie Nicolellis, Project Director, Psychiatric Vocational Rehabilitation Certificate Program; BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA; Lyn Legere, Director of Peer & Recovery Services, Bay Cove Human Services, MA

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Fostering Leadership in the Transformation of Systems

  Description:   Effective leadership is needed to transform the mental health system. Presenters will discuss what they consider to be the most important tasks of leadership, using examples from their own leadership experiences. Following the presentations leaders will engage in a question and answer session with each other and the audience.

   

  Speakers:   William Anthony, Executive Director, BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA; Terry Cline, Administrator, SAMHSA US Dept of Health and Human Services, MD; Sandra L. Forquer, Vice President for Public Sector Development, United Behavioral Health, CO; Renata Henry, Director, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Delaware Health and Social Services, DE; Michael Hogan, Commissioner, NY Office of Mental Health, NY

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

• Supporting Students with Psychiatric Disabilities in Higher Education

  Description:   This workshop will provide an overview of a newly developed Disability Support Services (DSS) Toolkit designed to assist students with psychiatric disabilities achieve their academic goals in a college setting. The overview will include data, concepts of supported education and case examples regarding the application and use of the Toolkit.

   

  Speakers:   Kathy Furlong-Norman, Project Director in Supported Education, Christine Gayler, Field Associate, BU Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, MA, Lyn Legere, Director of Peer & Recovery Services, Bay Cove Human Services, MA

   

  To order:   Select "Innovations Institute" from the All Subjects dropdown menu (upper left corner of this page). Second, select the Accreditation you need. If you are not seeking accreditation, choose "Generic Completion." Then, press NEXT.

Presentations feature an outstanding collection of leaders in the field of mental health from the US and around the globe, brought together by Boston University's Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation to share innovative and effective ways to move systems, programs and practices toward a recovery-orientation.

Courses utilize successful strategies in treatment, health, education and employment while providing you with learning options to meet your needs.

About the Center

Along with The Innovations Institute, the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University offers a variety of Distance Learning options and other resources on its website at www.bu.edu/cpr/.

The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation is a research, training, and service organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons who have psychiatric disabilities by improving the effectiveness of people, programs, and service systems.