Meaningful Community Participation for People with Mental Illness: A Model and a Movement-View Presentation Slides

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The "Meaningful Community Participation for People with Mental Illness: A Model and a Movement" webinar organized by the American Psychiatric Association centers on enhancing community involvement among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) as a component of their recovery. The session provides continuing education credits across different professions like medicine, psychology, and social work. It offers resources such as downloadable slides and enables interactive participation through Q&A sessions.<br /><br />The central theme focuses on the importance of integrating those with SMI into community activities, theoretical frameworks, strategies to support underserved populations, and access to resources that foster this inclusion. Specific examples include the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model, which involves a trans-disciplinary team providing community-based services to people with extensive mental health and justice involvement.<br /><br />The CASES program particularly stands out by illustrating its mission to improve public safety and reduce recidivism through alternative incarcerations, emphasizing behavioral health treatment and community support. It operates various specialized ACT models like Forensic ACT, which caters specifically to individuals involved with the criminal justice system, highlighting components like peer support, crisis prevention, and long-term treatment strategies.<br /><br />A notable initiative discussed is the NYC Justice Peer Initiative, led by Helen "Skip" Skipper. It advocates for embedding peer support within the criminal justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and recovery. Justice peers use personal experiences with the justice system to aid others similarly entangled, reinforcing hope and empowerment. The initiative underlines the critical need to decriminalize behavioral health issues and highlights plans for future gatherings and collaborations to bolster this movement.<br /><br />Overall, the webinar underlines the transformative power of community inclusion and peer support for people with mental illness, particularly within the criminal justice domain, and encourages a concerted effort towards systemic reform.

Keywords

community participation

mental illness

American Psychiatric Association

Assertive Community Treatment

CASES program

Forensic ACT

NYC Justice Peer Initiative

peer support

criminal justice

systemic reform