Category: Community

Categories
Community

RESPECT Institute

Joel Slack, who facilitates the RESPECT Institute in Georgia, originally developed the program at the request of Fulton State Hospital in Missouri. Leadership at the hospital realized that clients often had a solid understanding of what worked best in their rehabilitation. It was thought that this insight could be used to help aide in recovery, but most of them had never been asked to share their stories in their own words.

The first RESPECT Institute began at Fulton State approximately 15 years ago. Groups of 12 met for a 3½ day training in which each participant learned to present his or her story before an audience. After about 7 years of successful implementation at the hospital, Slack obtained grant funding to expand the RESPECT Institute statewide in Missouri. DBHDD brought the RESPECT Institute to Georgia two years ago. Training sessions are held 24 times a year across the state.

Day 1

Participants give an informal introduction using an outline provided by the RESPECT Institute. Each member of the group is able to offer feedback to the other presenters. For homework, individuals write down their stories.

Day 2
Each participant shares his or her recovery story at a podium. These stories are empowering and healing for the presenter and sometimes also very emotional. Following each presentation, the individual offers three pieces of advice learned through recovery. The group helps members develop a message and embed educational components into their stories. At the end of the day, participants are assigned to refine their stories based on the class’ feedback.

Day 3
Participants present their final stories and select three to four individuals to speak at their graduation ceremony.

Day 4
A graduation ceremony is held for all the individuals who complete the program. Graduates finish the RESPECT Institute empowered to tell their stories in any venue.

Upon completing the program, graduates become guest speakers at universities, corporate trainings, civic meetings and more. Outreach coordinator Alfred Brooks helps graduates find venues to share their stories. The RESPECT Institute has been in Georgia for less than two years, but graduates have shared their stories with nearly 20,000 people. Brooks also facilitates an ongoing monthly support group for each class.

“The RESPECT Institute offers life-changing, transformational experiences for people as they learn how to tell their stories. We’ve watched people heal in those three days,” said Slack. “Our graduates are also transforming their audiences by helping people to see the humanity beyond the illness. Once you’re able to see that humanity, it’s easier to treat someone with respect.”

The RESPECT Institute is provided by DBHDD in partnership with the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Networkand Mental Health America of Georgia. There is no cost to participants. To learn more about the RESPECT Institute, contact Mark Baker, director of DBHDD’s Office of Recovery Transformation, atbakermj@dbhdd.ga.gov. To apply, or to obtain a copy of an informational video, please contact:

Jen Banathy, Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
jen@gmhcn.org
404.687.9487

 

Categories
Community

Albany Area Community Service Board changes name to Aspire

aspire

The Albany Area Community Service Board is now operating as Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Services. “The new name provides a clearer understanding of the services that our agency provides. ‘Aspire’ reflects our commitment to providing BH and DD services to individuals and families as close to their homes as possible as well as providing on-going supportive community services to individuals on their journeys to recovery and independence,” said Executive Director Kay Brooks.

Aspire functions within DBHDD’s community service board system and serves clients in Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Miller, Terrell and Worth Counties. The agency operates a behavioral health crisis center at 601 W. 11th Avenue in Albany. The crisis center is a new service that acts as an enhanced crisis stabilization unit. The center accepts walk-ins 24/7 and combines short-term crisis intervention, counseling services and emergency receiving capabilities.

Aspire opened the crisis center in December, adding to an existing crisis stabilization unit, to provide better and more local access to services for Albany-area residents. The new facility is equipped with 30 crisis beds and 6 temporary observation beds. Brooks says that Aspire continues to be proactive in the community. “We educate clients, family members and stakeholders about crisis services and supportive community services, and we also make sure they know how to access them,” she said.

Aspire’s mission is to offer affordable, accessible, and quality mental health, addictive disease and developmental disability services. These services are provided by skilled professionals who are sensitive to the needs of individuals and families served.

Read more about Aspire in the Albany Herald.

Categories
Community

A meaningful life in the community

Steve Lawson
Steve Lawson welcomes DBHDD staff for a visit.

Steve Lawson, 52, enjoys competing for medals in basketball. He lives in Valdosta and often travels across the state to play. Last month, he went to Marietta to participate with more than 1,500 athletes in the State Indoor Winter Games for Special Olympics Georgia He is also an avid fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, with pictures and collectibles displayed throughout his apartment. However, he had never spent a night away from his parents until two years ago when both passed away within four months of each other.

Steve’s sister, June, worried that he would not fare well on his own, but today, he lives independently in an apartment and receives community supports and transportation services. Steve now engages with his community daily, but he particularly enjoys greeting guests when they come to visit him. Steve’s new lifestyle has afforded him many opportunities to take an active role in living his life, and for June, this assurance has made all the difference. Their story is just one of many that highlights the positive effects living in the community has on individuals and their families.