Tag: community

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Community Events

Statewide symposiums promote recovery-oriented system of care

Recovery from mental health and substance abuse challenges happens when people can access natural support systems and engage in a life of independence. DBHDD, through the Office of Recovery Transformation, is partnering with the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, and Georgia Parent Support Network as well as behavioral health providers, stakeholders, and families across the state to host “Recovery Symposiums” that foster the development of recovery-oriented communities.

“The Recovery Symposiums are the evolution of the numerous community forums and listening sessions held throughout Georgia as we continue the work of transforming our services to a community-based, recovery-oriented system of care,” said Mark Baker, director of DBHDD’s Office of Recovery Transformation.

The first Recovery Symposium kicked off in Augusta earlier this month. The next event will be held on Saturday, March 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Savannah.

Upcoming Sessions:

March 28, 2015: Warner Robins

April 10, 2015: Athens

April 10, 2015: Dublin

April 18, 2015: Atlanta

April 21, 2015: Cornelia

April 29, 2015: Moultrie

To learn more about the Recovery Community Development Project and additional symposiums, visit gasubstanceabuse.org.

Categories
Community

Albany ARC launches program to boost physical activity

ICDIphotos2015afull
Albany ARC staff and clients engage in physical fitness activities.

Albany Advocacy Resource Center (Albany ARC) is partnering with the I Can Do It, You Can Do It! (ICDI) and President’s Challenge programs to help encourage people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be physically active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

ICDI is an eight-week mentoring program that promotes regular physical activity and healthy eating for children and adults with disabilities. Fifty-five national sites are participating, including schools, universities and community-based organizations. As an ICDI site, Albany ARC will administer programs that promote a healthy way of living through regular exercise, meal planning and community sports tournaments for staff and individuals.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to be an ICDI advocate,” said Albany ARC’s Director of Programs Sonny Slate. “What is truly impressive about this program is the real person-centered approach that pairs our wellness staff and individual mentors with each participating individual to effectively address their individual health needs. We are able to bring our full collective resources to bear in supporting each participating individual in developing responsible skills and making informed decisions that promote a healthier life style in a truly progressive and fun way.”

The President’s Challenge helps people of all ages and abilities increase their physical activity and improve their fitness through education, easy-to-use tools and motivation. For more information about the President’s Challenge, visit http://www.presidentschallenge.org.

Albany ARC serves people of all ages with physical and intellectual disabilities in 14 counties across southwest Georgia. More than 800 individuals participate in a variety of programs, including Adult Day Independent Living, EmployAbility, and the Dougherty Leadership Development Institute.

For more information, contact Eddie McCarty at (229) 888-6852, ext. 234 or emccarty@albanygaarc.org.

 

 

Categories
Community Department News

Community forums provide valuable feedback about waiver services

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Catherine Ivy, director of community services in the Division of Developmental Disabilities, hosts a forum in Norcross.

DBHDD administers funding supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the New Options Waiver (NOW) and the Comprehensive Supports Medicaid (COMP) Waiver. NOW and COMP are Medicaid programs that provide supports to people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to live at home or in other kinds of community living arrangements. The services offered through these waivers provide supports 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires home and community-based services programs such as NOW and COMP to be renewed every five years. The COMP waiver is scheduled for renewal in late 2015. As we prepare for the renewal, DBHDD is hosting a series of community forums to receive input from individuals, family members and providers about the successes of the COMP waiver program, as well as opportunities for improvement. Because many of the services provided by NOW are similar to those provided by COMP, we are also seeking feedback about the NOW program.

Upcoming sessions will be held in Tifton on February 24 and in Athens on February 28.

Stakeholders are also invited to submit comments online.

For more information about these forums, or to view the presentation, please visit our website.