Text Box: PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Public Welfare
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
November 2005

A Call For change:

Toward A RECOVERY-ORIENTED

Mental Health Service SYSTEM

for Adults

A Publication

Of The

PENNSYLVANIA

Office of Mental health

AND Substance Abuse Services

Text Box: Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
502 H&W Building
PO Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105

˜™

Joan Erney, J.D.
Deputy Secretary
Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Recovery Workgroup Members

Kim Anglin, Linda Bakmaz, Shelley Bishop, Thomasina Bouknight, William Boyer, Mary Lyn Cadman, Michael Chambers, Timothy Connors, Michele Denk, Mary Jo Dickson, Virginia Dikeman, Kate Donegan, Suzanne Elhajj, John Farmer, Cheryl Floyd, Hickman Gardner, Jeff Geibel, Scott Heller, Shirley Hopper-Schaech, Jim Jordan, Diane Keefer, George Kimes, Mary Kohut, Glenn Koons, Gayle Lorenz, Wendy Luckenbill, Robert Manrodt, Jim McCormack, Edna McCutcheon, Karen Morton, Nancy Porter, Robert Primrose, Suzanne Ralph, Mary Ellen Rehrman, Joseph Rogers, Jean Rush, Mary Jeanne Serafin, Lewis Silverman, Betty Simmonds, Caroline Smith, Kenneth Thompson, Sue Walther, Carol Ward-Colasante, Rae Weber, Danny Wildasin, Wendy Wood, Dave Wooledge, Linda Zelch

Recovery Steering Group Members

Linda Bakmaz, Shelley Bishop, William Boyer, Mary Lyn Cadman, Michelle Denk, Cheryl Floyd, Jeff Geibel, Scott Heller, Diane Keefer, Mary Kohut, Jim McCormack, Betty Simmonds, Caroline Smith, Kenneth Thompson, Linda Zelch

Drexel University College of Medicine/Behavioral Healthcare Education

Taylor Anderson, Donna McNelis, Brenda Weaver

Consultant

Laurie Curtis

A Message from Joan Erney

It is with great optimism that I present A Call for Change: Toward a Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Service System for Adults. As I traveled around the state recently participating in the Service Area Planning meetings, it became clear to me that we are in the midst of an exciting awakening of hope, realization, and change. The meaningful stories, the emerging leadership, and the compelling impact that a strong consumer voice is having across this Commonwealth is already in evidence. This document is meant to serve as a further tool to move us toward our statewide vision that assures that every person will have an opportunity for growth and recovery.

I wish to thank the many individuals who stimulated our thinking and committed to the hard work of developing this document, especially the work of the OMHSAS Advisory Committee Recovery Workgroup. A Call for Change clearly represents and honors the voice of individuals who are experiencing recovery and their undying advocacy to establish the realization nationally and in Pennsylvania that recovery from mental illness happens! Recovery is the goal!

A Call for Change establishes a firm foundation for the Pennsylvania transformation to a recovery-oriented mental health system. It offers an understanding of how we’ve arrived at this time of recovery transformation, provides a concise definition of recovery, and further consideration of what a recovery-oriented system is and is not. Indicators are provided to serve as critical reference points for services, agencies and county mental health programs looking for more specific strategies for transforming to more recovery-oriented services. A Call for Change highlights the challenges we have yet to address and the need for us to engage in open, honest discussion and debate about these issues.

Most importantly, we are called to take the steps and risks associated with true transformation. As noted by William A. Anthony, PhD., “Massive system changes must occur if the vision of recovery is to become a reality for an ever-increasing number of people with severe mental illnesses. For this very different vision to become reality, brilliant leadership is required.” A Call for Change recognizes and calls upon the brilliant leadership of all who are part of our system – consumers, family members, advocates, providers, policy-makers and administrators – to effect true transformation in Pennsylvania.

OMHSAS is dedicated to building on the foundation of A Call for Change, so that the opportunity of recovery is fully supported for all who are served in our public mental health system. We look forward to your dedication in working with us to achieve this goal.