Category: Events

Categories
Community Department News Events

First Lady Sandra Deal visits DBHDD to celebrate recovery

Celebrating the work of the late Gregory Van Butler, the featured artist of the exhibit (pictured L to R: Denise Butler, First Lady Sandra Deal, Tiffany Butler, Commissioner Frank Berry) Photo credit: DBHDD staff

DBHDD recently welcomed stakeholders and community partners to the opening of a new consumer art exhibit. “The Art of Recovery” is a unique collection featuring artwork by individuals recovering from serious mental illness, substance abuse or both. The exhibit showcases the talents of these individuals and the role that creative outlets play in the recovery process.

First Lady Sandra Deal joined Commissioner Berry to honor the individuals who have contributed their work to the exhibit. “Art is a way for [people] to express themselves,” said Mrs. Deal. “What [these artists] have done is so great. It’s really wonderful work.”

DBHDD is dedicated to serving individuals in long-term recovery by helping them find their voice and offering a venue in which to share it. “The exhibit demonstrates that when given the opportunity to participate in effective treatment and recovery supports, people can and do recover,” said Mark Baker, DBHDD’s director of recovery transformation.

The artwork will remain on display in our central office in downtown Atlanta and will rotate on a bi-annual basis, creating a living gallery with a message of hope. State Representative Lynne Riley (R—Johns Creek) also attended in the event.

Categories
Community Events

DBHDD kicks off Red Ribbon Week, reminds Georgia’s youth that Real Life is Drug-Free

DBHDD kicked off Red Ribbon Week on behalf of the Governor’s Red Ribbon Campaign, which supports the national Red Ribbon movement started by the National Family Partnership in 1988 to honor federal DEA Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was murdered while working in Mexico to fight drug trafficking. Today, Red Ribbon focuses on educating children about the dangers of drug use and encouraging them to seek healthy alternatives to drugs.

DBHDD provides educational materials and resources to Georgia schools and communities to help them encourage drug-free living year-round. Our efforts culminate annually during National Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31), which is celebrated with activities and events that encourage healthy alternatives to drug use and alcohol abuse.

Approximately 1,500 children from across Georgia gathered at the October 22nd kick off in Mableton. Many of the schools participated in a talent show that featured posters, skits, singing and dancing as expressions of their commitment to living drug-free.

See our event featured in the Marietta Daily Journal.

Categories
Community Events

Peers set 2014-2015 priorities at Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network annual conference

FWB at 2014 GMHCN

Commissioner Frank Berry addressed spoke to a crowd of over 600 the 23rd Annual Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network Conference on St. Simon’s Island in August.

The theme of the conference was the “Year of the Peer” and featured workshops on peer support, wellness and recovery. Sessions also included information about going back to school and work. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Peer Mentor Program, GMHCN’s peer mentors talked shared ways that helping others successfully transition from institutional to community life has supported their own recovery and creation of a meaningful life.

During the annual panel discussion with DBHDD leadership, numerous peers expressed gratitude for being able to work as certified peer specialists (CPS), attend peer support services and Double Trouble in Recovery (DTR) groups; and participate in peer supported whole health (PSWH) services. One participant talked about how happy and confident he feels now that he’s eating healthy and exercising every day. Another said she’ll live longer because she’s learned how to talk to health care professionals about high blood pressure and cholesterol. “Thank you. Living my life is happy. This is awesome,” she reflected.

Each year, conferees vote on the GMHCN’s top five priorities, which for 2014-2015 include:

1. Jobs/employment/supported employment
2. Affordable, accessible housing
3. Access to affordable medical, dental, eye care and medication
4. Educational opportunities/supported education/job training
5. Higher wages for peer staff including certified peer specialists

Sign up for DBHDD’s newsletter. 

Categories
Events Staff

DBHDD participates in national opioid abuse meeting

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that since 1999, more than 125,000 deaths have resulted from overdoses related to opioid pain relievers, calling the trend a national epidemic.

On July 17 and 18, the health and human services department hosted a meeting, “Advancing Policy and Practice: A 50-State Working Meeting to Prevent Opioid-Related Overdose,” in Washington, DC—the first-ever convention of governmental partners from all 50 states that focused solely on this issue. DRUGoverdoseEpidemicGA “I am encouraged by HHS’ initiative to bring states together on this important topic and recognize the impact that this epidemic is having on families and communities across our nation,” said DBHDD addictive diseases director Cassandra Price. “I look forward to continuing our collaboration with partners in other states as we work to reduce opioid abuse in Georgia and across the U.S.”

DBHDD staff joined peers from across the nation at the meeting, which featured presentations from national experts who provided a comprehensive overview of the epidemic, highlighting many of the intervention strategies being used throughout the U.S. to address opioid abuse. States also met in teams to discuss state-level planning for prevention strategies, access to medication-assisted treatment, including Naloxone, a medication used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose, and strengthening health care provider accountability.

Visit our website for more information on substance abuse prevention efforts in Georgia.

Prescription Drug Overdose in the United States: Fact Sheet (CDC)

Categories
Events Staff

National Association of the Deaf Conference

Atlanta hosted the 52nd Biennial National Association of the Deaf Conference, which took place between July 1 and July 5 at the Hilton Atlanta.

 “It was exciting to meet so many other community members and leaders from around the country supporting the 2014 National Association of the Deaf conference theme of deaf civil rights, which parallels the mission of DBHDD’s Office of Deaf Services to provide and promote equal accessibility and choice of services and programs to our deaf and hard of hearing communities,” said DBHDD Deaf Services Director Candice Tate, Ph.D. “Deaf services staff were honored to attend the opening ceremony with Commissioner Berry and Assistant Commissioner Gault, and several attendees approached us later during the conference to express how much it meant to see our state leaders support and lead our efforts to ensure equal behavioral health care access for all Georgians.”

Categories
Community Events

Augusta walks to support recovery

On June 21, DBHDD, the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse and the Georgia Parent Support Network hosted a recovery walk in Augusta to increase awareness about recovery and local community-based services to support individuals who are struggling with a mental health challenge or substance abuse disorder.

photo

“Walking Together in Recovery is a wonderful celebration of the important journey so many of us make to recovery,” said DBHDD’s director of recovery transformation, Mark Baker. “It is critical for people to know that they do not have to face this road alone.”

photo1

More than 100 people attended, including family members of those approximately 40 participating in the mile-long walk that began at the Augusta Common and followed the Savannah River. Activities included a live band made up of individuals living in recovery, a cookout and games for children. After the walk, attendees shared recovery stories while they enjoyed lunch and music between presentations. “Through this important event, people were able to come together, share their stories and heal. That process is very empowering,” Baker said.

photo2

DBHDD, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and other local providers of mental health and addictive disease recovery services set up tables to offer recovery information and resources. The organizers plan to make Walking Together in Recovery an annual event.

Photo credit: Mark Baker

Categories
Events Staff

Engaging with leaders in municipal government

DBHDD attended the Georgia Municipal Association’s annual conference in Savannah. Commissioner Berry spoke on a panel at the meeting of the association’s Community Development Policy Committee. Berry discussed new community-based services and shared success stories with members of the committee chaired by Councilmember Ruth Bruner of Gainesville. Other panelists included Representative Patty Bentley (D-Reynolds), Department of Community Affairs Deputy Commissioner Brain Wilson and Rome Assistant City Manager Sammy Rich.

Department staff and partners also participated in the convention’s expo, where they had the opportunity to speak with mayors and city council members about community-based services, including our new behavioral health crisis centers in region 4. We were proud to showcase our broad network of community partners that provide easy access to high-quality care across Georgia. Many thanks to our CSBs which provided us with handouts for their regions, and especially to Jeannette Bacon and Melody Wente in our region 5 office and David Crews and Amanda Tillman of Gateway Behavioral Health Services for taking time to help at our booth.

photo 3

(L-R) Amanda Tillman, Commissioner Frank Berry, Melody Wente and Angelyn Dionysatos (Photo credit: Chris Bailey)

View more photos from the convention.

Categories
Events

Celebrating the long road home: 15 years of Olmstead

Commissioner Berry speaks at the Carter Center.

Commissioner Berry speaks at the Carter Center.  (Photo credit: Chris Bailey)

June 22 marked the 15th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C., which protects the rights of individuals with disabilities to live fully integrated in their communities. This historic ruling continues to shape DBHDD’s service delivery system, which is focused on providing easy access to high-quality care for all of the people we serve.

DBHDD joined the Atlanta Legal Aid Society and the U.S. Department of Justice at the Carter Center on June 23 to celebrate individuals who are living meaningful and fulfilling lives in the community because of Olmstead. Commissioner Frank Berry gave an update on the progress Georgia has made to help individuals with behavioral health challenges and developmental disabilities receive high-quality services in community-based settings that allow them to live lives of recovery and independence.

To honor these individuals, we will feature Olmstead success stories, provided by our CSBs and other partners, regularly in our e-postcard. To send us your story, please email press@dbhdd.ga.gov.

Categories
Community Events

DBHDD clients participate in “Artwork Extravaganza!” at Troy University

View Point Health, DBHDD’s community service board serving Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties, recently held an art exhibit at Troy University. The exhibit, “Artwork Extravaganza!,” featured original pieces from clients served by View Point and showcased creative ways in which art can assist recovery for people struggling with behavioral health challenges.

vph_troy_artwork1 vph_troy_artwork2 vph_troy_artwork3

Art is often used to educate people about mental illness and to reduce the stigma surrounding it. Both are key components to improving and strengthening our mental health care system. One of the biggest barriers to effective mental health treatment is the tendency for affected individuals to avoid expressing themselves. This prevents them from addressing the concerns and can even exacerbate the illness. Creative approaches like artwork are beneficial because visual expression is less likely to be judged critically. It allows people to feel a sense of safety in expressing themselves. DBHDD salutes View Point Health for seizing this opportunity to transform creativity into therapy, bring awareness to mental health and shed light on the art of recovery.

Categories
Events

National Rx Drug Abuse Summit comes to Atlanta April 22-24

Actress Melanie Griffith will headline Operation UNITE’s third annual National Rx Drug Abuse Summit at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis next week. The organization was founded in 2003 by U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-5) to rid communities of illegal drug use, provide support to friends and family members of drug abusers and to educate the public about the dangers of using drugs.

Organizers expect this year’s summit to top last year’s attendance of nearly 1,000. “The Summit takes a holistic approach to the drug abuse epidemic, bringing together legislators, law enforcement, medical professionals, advocates, educators and many other leaders to focus on real solutions,” said Rogers in a press conference hosted by DBHDD Commissioner Frank Berry in January.

The Generation Rx Project (GEN Rx), a program of DBHDD’s Office of Prevention Services and Programs, will sponsor the summit. GEN Rx was created in response to the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse among youth and young adults in Georgia. The program’s objective is to reduce prescription drug misuse and abuse among 12-25 year olds within targeted Georgia counties, Catoosa, Early and Gwinnett. GEN Rx will have an exhibit booth at the summit and will be providing information about the project to attendees.

DBHDD Prevention Team Leader Christopher Wood will present at a workshop (“Building Local Capacity to Prevent Rx Drug Abuse”) during the summit. Wood will discuss programmatic approaches to prevent prescription drug misuse and abuse, and specifically those programs and strategies being utilized by GEN Rx. The workshop will take place on Wednesday, April 23 from 1:30–2:45 p.m.