Conference Schedule and Workshops

Note: Changes to this schedule, if any, will be announced during general (plenary) sessions. All refreshment breaks, the President’s Reception, breakfasts, exhibits and conference registration will be in the Junior Ballroom Foyer. The lunch on Tuesday and all plenary sessions will be in the Junior Ballroom.

Monday, August 23 Exhibits open from 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“From Streets to Prison to Streets: Recovery Comes Full Circle,”

Antonio Lambert, Peer Specialist, Envisions of Life, Greensboro, NC

Recovery International—This session will introduce peer specialists to a group support model used successfully for more than 70 years. Room: Lilac A

Pillars of Peer Support: Transforming Mental Health Systems Through Peer Support—Emily Grant will provide an overview of different CPS programs throughout the U.S., what makes them successful and how success can be replicated. Room: Lilac B

Managing Supervisory Relationships with Non-Peer Providers—Andy Bernstein will explore ways peer specialists can frame their supervisory experiences for the benefit of all. Room: Lilac C

Creating Comfort—Christine Elvidge will show how peer creativity and self-direction can be used to create comfortable environments in inpatient settings. Room: Lilac D

Peer-led Community Education Fights Stigma—Malkia Maisha Newman and Amy Yashinsky show how peers can lead the way in fighting stigma in their communities. Room: Junior Ballroom

Self-Understanding and Recovery by Understanding Psychosis—Supporting peers experiencing psychoses can pose special challenges. Milt Greek presents practical guidance. Room: Lilac A

Wilderness Programs and Recovery—Using outdoor experiences, peers can learn to expand their comfort zones for personal growth with recovery-oriented self-help skills, with Jim O’Connell. Room: Lilac B

Second Mile: CPS Bringing Hope and Recovery to a State Psychiatric Hospital—This session will detail the whys and hows of educating the hospital workforce in recovery practices and policies with Gay Dowling and Lisa Bonnett. Room: Lilac C

The Art of Documentation—What is the difference between a goal and an objective? How can these be documented for the benefit of peers? Those questions and more will be addressed by Kim Koser Maldonado, Tom Newman and Pamela Saylor. Room: Lilac D

Creating Sanctuary—Participants will examine the importance of creating sanctuary at the individual, interpersonal and community levels, with Maria Hanson. Room: Junior Ballroom

5:15-6:30 p.m. President’s Reception—soft drinks and snacks—Junior Ballroom Foyer

8-10 p.m. Recovery videos—Junior Ballroom. Screenings of recovery videos including Open Spaces and Paving New Ground. Open to public.

Tuesday, August 24 Exhibits open from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

8:00-9:00 a.m. Breakfast – Sponsored by OptumHealth—Thanks, OptumHealth!

9:00-9:15 a.m. Welcome to second day-general session. Recognition of state chapters: Consumer Provider Association in New Jersey and Wisconsin Peer Specialist Association.

9:15-10:30 a.m. Keynote-Peer Specialists and Advocacy—Dan Fisher, M.D., Ph.D.—Junior Ballroom

Emotional CPR: Helping People Through an Emotional Crisis—Dan Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., will detail a new, peer-developed model for helping people through challenging times. Room: Lilac A

Laughter in Recovery—Laughter truly is the best medicine for both physical and mental health. Join Grace Karen Sweet as she explores new perspectives about laughter, its many benefits and how it can be used to help peers and ourselves cope with difficult times and lead happier, healthier lives. Room: Lilac B

Workplace Conflict Resolution—How can you handle conflicts with co-workers? How can you influence changes in policies and practices? Eric M. DiCenso explores practical ways to examine and handle workplace conflicts. Room: Lilac C

Making a Case: Speak Employers’ Language—Understanding employers’ perspectives and using their language can help peer specialists assist peers with employment issues. Join this session with Ann MacNeil and Jennifer Thorson. Room: Lilac D

Self Injury: My Pain Turned Inside Out—Why do people hurt themselves? How can peer specialists help peers cope to reduce or end the practice? Darah Richardson and Vincent Scott will share their expertise. Room: Junior Ballroom

12:00-1:30 p.m. Lunch-- Peer Specialists and Social Justice Panel Discussion (Junior Ballroom)—Terry McCormick, Antonio Lambert, Jana A. Spalding and Bryce Bowers.

1:30-2:15 p.m. NAPS—Where we’ve been, where we are and where we are going—Steve Harrington, NAPS Executive Director and Gladys Christian, NAPS President. Junior Ballroom

Moving Beyond the Grip of Trauma I—Using the power of self-direction, Grace Sweet demonstrates how one can deal with the devastating effects of trauma. The session will include activities. Note: Part II of this session follows the refreshment break. Room: Lilac A

Substance Abuse Relapse Avoidance Planning—Using a variety of methods can help peers avoid substance abuse problems. Katherine Bellis will explore a variety of recovery tools with participants. Room: Lilac B

Word Power—This session will explore the power of words and their effects on communicating mental health issues. Presented by Cindy Mayhew and Anita Overturf. Room: Lilac C

Tuning Up Recovery Training with Fun and Energy—Understanding learning patterns and using fun and energy can create long-lasting learning. Join Chris Martin and Gloriana Hunter for this exciting session. Room: Lilac D

Taking Charge and Increasing Life Expectancy—Persons with mental illnesses, on average, die decades earlier than the general population. Lauren Spiro examines ways peer specialists can promote overall wellness. Room: Junior Ballroom

Moving Beyond the Grip of Trauma II—Using the power of self-direction, Grace Sweet demonstrates how one can deal with the devastating effects of trauma. The session will include activities. Room: Lilac A

Peer Specialists Reducing Seclusion and Restraint—This session will show why and how peer specialists are changing the ways mental health services are performed, with Howard D. Trachtman and Glenn Koons. Room: Lilac B

WRAP for Peer Specialists’ Work Environment—Yumiko Ikuta and Sara Goodman show how WRAP principles can be used in the CPS workplace to handle difficult issues. Room: Lilac C

Tobacco Recovery—Peer tobacco specialists have evolved to help peers reduce or eliminate their dependence on tobacco and live healthier, longer lives, with Jim O’Connell. Room: Lilac D

Is This for You?: Peers Working in Inpatient Settings—Holly Dixon will help participants explore the inpatient workplace including values, qualifications and personal “fit.” Room: Junior Ballroom

7:00-9:00 p.m. NAPS Chapters Caucus—This will be an opportunity for those interested in local or state affiliates of NAPS. Facilitated by Gladys Christian. Room: Lilac A

7:00-8:30 p.m. Recovery to Practice Listening Session—Tell us about training topics that would help you perform your work more effectively. Facilitated by Lisa Goodale. Room: Lilac B

9:15-10:15 a.m. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance’s Resources for Peer Support—Junior Ballroom

Harnessing the Winds of Personal Advocacy—Partnering with peers to help them advocate for themselves is a key skill for peer specialists. Join Lori Ashcraft, Gloriana Hunter and Gail Kroll for an examination of skills and common pitfalls. Room: Lilac A

Peer Specialists: Essential to Co-Occurring Treatment—What roles can peer specialists play in co-occurring treatment? Learn with Susan Wagner and Geoffrey V. Hays. Room: Lilac B

Taming the Medical Model: Getting ‘Buy-In’ From Medical Professionals and Administrators—Peer specialists can play an important role in shifting from medical models to recovery models. Holly Dixon explores ways to do so. Room: Lilac C

Clinic Advisory Councils: Giving Voice to Service Users, Families, Staff and Community—How can diverse voices be heard to improve services? Learn how peer specialists and peers can make meaningful contributions to improve mental health systems through clinical advisory councils with Pam Walker. Room: Lilac D

Restoring Manhood: Support for Men who have Experienced Trauma—Societal views can prevent men from seeking help in dealing with trauma. This session will explore ways peer specialists can understand barriers and provide support for men. Presented by Steve Moffitt (trauma survivor). Room: Junior Ballroom

11:45-12:15 p.m. Wrap-up, door prizes (including a 32gb i-Pod donated by OptumHealth Public Sector), closing remarks. Junior Ballroom