Building a Recovery-Oriented System of Care in Ashland County
History
Over the last five years the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County ("Board") has been very interested in shifting the focus of the mental health and drug/alcohol system away from an overemphasis/over reliance on biological conceptualizations and treatment approaches and towards person-centered recovery. Over the past several years we have:
- Formally adopted the SAMHSA Consensus Statement on Recovery (2006).
- Changed our Mission, Vision and Values Statement to better reflect a recovery philosophy (2006).
- Included an emphasis on a person-centered recovery based approach to services in the local provider agency application guidelines each year, beginning in 2006.
- Established and coordinated a major regional annual conference to promote a recovery-based paradigm of care each year, beginning in 2008.
- Provide nationally recognized experts in person-centered recovery to address our community at the Board's Annual Dinner and through other organized events.
- Facilitated a round-table with providers of local mental health and drug/alcohol services and Robert Whitaker to discuss the role of medications in recovery (2010).
- Revised our advocacy message and education/awareness materials to ensure that these materials are aligned with a philosophy of person-centered recovery.
- The Board formally adopted the "Medication Optimization, Choice, and Alternatives Statement" from peers in the Consumer/Survivor recovery movement.
In State Fiscal Year 2012 (July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012) and beyond the Board has committed to continuing and increasing person-centered recovery efforts. The following will be of focus:
- Work with consumers to establish a Consumer Advisory Council that will provide direct input to how services are prioritized and delivered.
- Continue to build specific priorities into the agency application guidelines (i.e., prioritization of Trauma-Informed Care, ensuring sufficient alternatives and adjuncts to medication exist, etc.).
- Medication reduction and optimization pilot (February 2011 – Symposium).
- Promote delayed use/minimal dose/brief duration protocols of psychiatric medications.
- Discourage off-label prescribing (especially for children).
- Harm reduction/discontinuing medication protocols.
- Informed consent/Informed choice.
- Provide additional recovery-oriented resources on the Board's website.
- Seek further ways to take advantage of the 2011 Recovery Success Value Purpose (R.S.V.P.) conference in furthering the Board's Mission, Vision and Values.
- Ask each contract agency that provides mental health or drug/alcohol treatment to conduct an internal survey of recovery oriented services/programs offered.
