The White Paper: It Must Be Recovery-Focused: Rule #2

It Must Be Recovery-Focused

▪ Recovery is individualized and personal.

▪ It is not a product for the world to witness and judge

▪ A recovery-oriented system will allow for people to move forward at their own pace, without judgment or labels.

▪ A recovery-oriented system will present

1. opportunities for wellness, and
2. life development that are built upon a foundational belief that

▪healing is possible,
and very real▪

Many of us believe that a recovery-oriented system will

1. allow for failures, as well as

2. allow for successes.

In the past many of us have experienced loss of support when we needed it most, because we have not been able to move in and out of the system with ease.

Services that are recovery-focused look beyond the traditional medical model to other fields, practices, cultures, and perspectives. A recovery-focused process involves a strengths-based approach that promotes a mutual connection between the service provider and the person who is using mental health services, thereby instilling trust, and hope.

In a collaboration between providers and the person using the service, there must be

(1) an educational process developed for the community-at-large, which

(2) addresses discrimination by

(3) proving that people can, and do, recover from mental health issues.

Recovery

When a professional looks beyond symptoms and
gets to know us as complete individuals,
the foundation for recovery is being set. It cannot be stressed enough that

▪ listening to us, and

▪ validating our humanity

are key to developing a healthy, trusting relationship.

Without trust, and a positive, healing relationship, a roadblock to recovery is created. We become victims to static, hopeless "programs" and exhibit little or no growth.

▪ We lose our self-esteem.
Hope is shattered ▪

Knowledge is power. For that reason, educational materials need to be made available at all service delivery points and must include, but not be limited to, the following topics:

● Coping Skills
● Self-Advocacy Skills

● Socialization and Recreational Opportunities

● Local Peer-Operated Programs & Advocacy Services

● Educational Opportunities & Entitlement Information

● Alternative Treatment
Self-Advocacy

● Self-Help & Empowerment Services

● Peer Support Groups

● Crisis Diversion Programs

● Vocational Opportunities

● What are Recovery-Oriented Services? (info. on-site for clients)

Educational topics other than the above must be made available.

When we use mental health services, we are

customers

of those services. To us, this means that once we create a goal, it should be measurable; funding needs to be tied to the successes or failures of that goal.

The funds need to be under some sort of control of the individual, to empower him or her in deciding whether or not

(1) the services provided are quality, recovery-oriented services, and

(2) that the provider is worthy of continued receipt of funding.

to Rule # 3