269950 Advancing recovery orientation in the public mental health system through a learning community

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 11:10 AM - 11:30 AM

Michele Murphy-Smith, PhD , Center for Social Work Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Erin Espinosa, PhD , Center for Social Work Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Laura Kaufman, MA , Center for Social Work Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Wendy Brooks, MA , Center for Social Work Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Stacey Stevens Manser, PhD , Center for Social Work Research, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Via Hope, a consumer family youth training and technical assistance center, was created to further transformation of Texas' mental health system into one that promotes recovery, is person centered, and consumer-driven. Over a one-year period, a recovery focused learning community (RFLC) was employed to advance these goals in community mental health centers (n=10) and state psychiatric hospitals (n=5). The RFLC purpose was: 1) to develop a deeper understanding of recovery orientation and recovery-oriented practices, and 2) to increase in the number of peer specialist positions in the public mental health system. Organizational change teams attended two RFLC conferences, used a change tool to set recovery goals and track progress, administered Recovery Self-Assessment (RSA) surveys to staff members and clients at pre- and post-project, and participated in monthly all team conference and individual site consulting phone calls to share and disseminate achievements and discuss solutions to barriers. RFLC results were: 1) significant changes in one to three subscales of the RSA by clients and staff at 12 of the 15 participating agencies; 2) increased number of peer specialists working as staff or volunteers at the sites from 22 to 45; and 3) all of the participating agencies expanded peer support services offered by their agencies. The learning community model appears to be a good method to support organizational learning and facilitate change in recovery orientation and practices. Findings from the data collected, lessons learned, and recommendations for future recovery focused learning communities will be presented.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice

Learning Objectives:
1. To describe the recovery focused learning community process. 2. To evaluate results of the learning community. 3. To discuss major findings and recommendations for future learning communities.

Keywords: Mental Health, Mental Health Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: My research interests include understanding the effect of organizational context on best practice implementation; interventions to facilitate system change toward recovery; and examining the effects of programs and policies on client outcomes. I previously served as the Director of Research and Evaluation at the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and Director of Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services at the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.