Thank you NAPS

Well thank you NAPS for a wonderful experience. If there was any one thing I experienced from this conference that I would identify as the highlight it would have been the networking I took part in. I met a lot of awesome people.


I didn't have access, or shall I say could afford access to a puter to cover Thursday's breakout sessions. So I'll take the time here to share with you my thoughts on the ones I attended.

The "Peers Specialist's Frontline Workers....." address given by Jeff Mcloud was an inspiring talk to say the least. I observed a lot head nodding, in agreement, with what Mcloud was saying. if anything I left this session that we as a group have wealth of momentum going as far as how we are perceived as a group in the treatment industry. Good Stuff!


"The Rogers and Bluebird Talk Show " on the issue (s) of employment I must admit I missed part of. I was busy taking names and numbers about some of the stuff that was discussed in the earlier plenary session. One of my bosses came out to get me because he heard that a woman from Illinois had developed a peer progress note form and put me up to the task of finding her and trying to get a sample of the document. Gladly I was able to locate the information after doing a little detective work. Thanks Cindy Mayhew of Illinois. :)

I attended the Friends Connection presentation on "Peer support for Co-Occurring Challenges."

The presenters, Jeannnie Whitecraft, Yvette Pate, and Debroah Walker-Bay.

Those presenters, and the level of energy they possessed in doing this presentation could have lit up all of Philly I tell you. Their enthusiasm had people in the audience, including myself, doing More then nodding along. I heard some of those "talk about that" statements people can often find in 12-step recovery meetings. Peco has nothing on those woman as far as electric is concerned.

The presentation was like walking with the a Peer Support person as they worked in the community with their peers. I got to see, so to speak, what the job was like from their vantage point. The presentation was comprehensive in that it covered a full range of services, including social events/outings available, alumni program, and that those in the greater Philadelphia region can take part the events put on by the Friends Connection .


Friends Connection (FC) is a evidenced based program which has been part of several major publications including a book.

The training of newly hired CPS is the most comprehensive I have come across as of yet. The training lasts six-months. Intense stuff, but considering the outcomes the FC programs have achieved its not hard to understand why FC is more then beneficial to the peers they serve. Kudos to FC and ..."Juntos Podemos" :)


The last workshop I attended for the day was, "Pennsylvania's Peer Support Coalition: A Vision for Peer Support." The presentation was done by Nicole Darr and Carol Johnson.

The presentation started with something that I didn't even get till a few people after me. We were asked to "put in stick figures" what describes us as people. When I did it I used symbols. Somehow I missed the stick figure part. Evert one on the group contributed and this provided lots of connection among the group and sharing. Nice idea!

The presentation was on the coalition's history, and its goals. It included a handout on "lessons learned" by the coalition that was helpful and instructive. Both woman were informative in describing the aims and goals of PPSC.

I left the presentation early but have volunteered to become a "point person" in my area.


The Talent Show was hysterical, intense, melodic, and soothing. Thanks to Mark Davis for his "miss perceptions" MCing.


That covers Thursday. I'll write about Friday's events in a little while.


Your CPS Blogger


Jeff

Day-1 NAPS

Nothing like a 40 -Ounces to get your day started-Of Rocket Juice that is.

Morning Specialists and all those other recover people that are reading. Thanks for stopping by.


Day one was absolutely stunning. I'm still running off the recovery juice created at the conference. The atmosphere that was present.....I don't know if I can accurately articulate, or describe, to truly reflect what was taking place. The words and images did indeed leave indelible marks on me.

I arrived in Philly, in the company of two great friends. It was 12:30 when we got through the front doors having participated in the institute the day before I observed the reactions of my friends. Their eyes opened wide as they walked the registration area. I could see the tension of getting to the conference site disappear and a visual relaxation take place.

As they registered I mingled, and the introductory addresses took place.

As Joesph Rodgers was about to make and salient and important point about the movement the lights suddenly went off in the Ballroom. Because of Joe's physical appearance the experience created a synergism in which he appeared like Moses on the mount about to share the universal dictum's with his followers. And indeed Joe was voicing the melody of recovery; One in which we all are a instrument in this great chorus referred to as "The Movement."

It was an interesting moment to say the least and it seemed to set the pace for the day.
Thanks Joe for sharing your lived and professional experience with us.


I attended two workshops. The First presentation was titled "A Model for Inpatient Support facilitated by Holly Dixon. There were three CPS's-Heidi Duran Jason Roberts and Lisa Williams.
They were representing Amistad Riverview Psychiatric Center Peer Support Program.

The presentation's strength was the way the historical aspects of how peer support came t0 be at the facility they provide services in. I really enjoyed being able to grow with the program in a visual and communicative way. All the aspects of growth were covered.

What I was looking forward to was hearing from the CPS's about what they do, how they do, and the challenges they experienced and what roads and approaches they took to overcome them.

We did get to hear them, but only briefly. This was a major disappointment to me.

What was bothersome to me was the fact that the CPS's sat in the back round, to the right of the presenter silently until addressed. I was under the impression that we were supposed to be "On The Front Line." Not in the back round like have been for so many years. Anyone feel me on this?

Perhaps the next time the CPS's can be in the foreground as opposed to the back round? That the slide show can be in the back round and those on "The Front Line" really be out front. Just a suggestion. Visuals create impressions :)


The Second Workshop I attended was on the all important topic of "The Power of Language."
Eric C. Larsen and Chris Mooney were the presenters. Having been a part of several of Chris' presentations at different conferences I had a idea of what to expect; Engaging presenters, colorful personalities, direct approaches, and a sense that the participants are really considered when putting the presentation together. What I mean by that is Chris has the smooth skill of adapting to the audience and it's needs, thus not getting lost in the information he has so hard to create and share. Now I know why Eric was his partner in the presentation. He has that same skill set and a wry sense of humor. You guys did an awesome job and as I told Chris there needs to be a part tow to the presentation.

The usage of Philadelphia Eagles Right Guard Shawn Andrews to illustrate the power of language, the way the media employs it and its differences with regards to Andrews' recent disclosure of depression was clever.

One of the presentation highlights was also the back and forth between presenters and audience.
If you were as a person weren't part of the movement the way the exchanges played out would have left you with a undeniable sense of what recovery was. Because the exchanges embodied the many principals in people embody recovery.

Awesome Job Guys

And Chris............................

Lets Go Mets!! HA!

Oh and gem of a quote came from the presentation. According to Chris it "was my neice" that coined this must for future use "The pain of disipline is far less then the pain of regret."
And that came out of the mouth of babes...Inspiring!

One last thing. Since I was writing, and alluding to the spirit of recovery above I must share the following.

I met a Woman last night that is from Maryland. She is in the midst of completing her Master's in Social Work. Her name is Elaine. Elaine works for a program in Maryland in where -I hope I remembered this right-she is a liaison in helping agencies get their WRAP trainings done. Seems Maryland wants all its providers to train and do WRAPS with their peers.

Elaine simply was looking for a light for a cigarette. I tossed her my lighter-dam good catch in the dark by the way-and what occurred from there was about a 2 hour chat that later involved what she affectionately referred to as her "Mentor"

The point of all this is when these tow real special woman found out that I didn't have a room at the Hotel and was traveling back to Bucks County (Warminster) they offered the extra bed in their hotel room to me. I was stunned. Simply stated that is what the spirit of recovery creates in people.

I'll be hanging with them today, staying at the hotel over night, THANK YOU :)


Over and Out


Jeff

Welcome!

Hey Peers!

Thanks for visiting my blog site. This blog is about us; What we do, how we do, and the gifts that we carry within us.

The Inspiration for this writing endeavor has been long been percolating in me. As broadcast journalism student at Temple University I find myself writing quite a bit. I wanted to use what have learned so far and apply it to a cause I deem worthy. There is nothing more important to me then my recovery and role as a CPS.

During the day, whether it is at work or school or at some kind of recovery support function I find myself thinking about what it going around around me. The things I am experiencing in my various work-related tasks and the interactions I have with the peers I support, those I am colleagues with, and the clinical/administrative people I interact with on a daily basis.
I generally spend my time on between points of destination on one form of public transportation or another and find myself writing what is going on internally. For me going "eyes inward", as I call it, developed as way of dealing with the challenges of growing up in the situations I did. A worthy skill, as a clinician pointed out, developed out of trying times, feelings and situations. Now I have taking this skill one step further in its development and use it as inspiration for my musings.

It was only a year ago that the thought of doing something like this was still in its embryonic stages. When I applied for Temple my wish was to become a sports broadcast journalist. My dream idea of a job was to call baseball games for the NY Mets. This whole writing thing has taken on a course, and evolution of it's own. And hopefully this blog site will do the same.


Over the next several days I will add content, links, and thoughts on how this Blog will come to fruition. I ask for your input and ideas.

In Service


Jeff