9/28/06
Consumers in Michigan just had our best week in recent memory, the Person Centered Planning Conference and the Recovery Council, all in one week. I feel the highlight of the Person Centered Planning conference was the presentation given by Ms Ann Forts. Ms. Forts has Downs Syndrome (which she refers to as UP syndrome) and travels over 20.000 miles a year spreading the message of hope and recovery. Ms. Forts has far too many credentials to list here, including an appointment to a National committee by then President Bill Clinton so I suggest you go to her web site: www.anniefortsupfund.org. As the entire system of treatment moves toward transformation, consumers like Annie will be more common place as opposed to rare and at the rate things are progressing, recovery shall soon be taken for granted for anyone entering the system.
The Michigan Department of Community Health Recovery Council is a committee of majority consumers from across the State and we meet about every three months and make decisions regarding the direction of treatment and recovery in the State. I am not certain I am at liberty to reveal what we met about on Friday but suffice it to say it is vital to every consumer in the system. The thing about the Recovery Council is that as little as two years ago, the idea of consumers being involved in the decision making process regarding the direction of treatment, was a mere dream. Today, through the Recovery Council, our thoughts and suggestions are being heard and are being implemented. Years ago many of us put our dreams away; we gave up hope of ever being listened to. This is a new day and time and it is now safe to pull those dreams off the shelf, dust them off, and make them reality. There are far too many folks who believe in us and they are working hard on our behalf, so we must do our part by believing in ourselves.
Under the Governor's new initiative, there are thousands of folks coming out of the criminal justice system and back into the community. I have always been an advocate for this: as opposed to making the justice system adapt to the mentally ill our efforts should be directed towards keeping the sick out of the jails in the first place. Those being released were imprisoned because of substance abuse related offenses, mental illness or both, and would fare better in community-based treatment. Whether they thrive of fail depends largely on how well they are received by whatever community they return to. Directed by Jocelyn Fitzpatrick, Corrections to Work is a group of folks dedicated to seeing to it that these 'Returning Citizens' are welcomed with open arms back into the community. On November 1st Corrections to Work will be hosting a fundraiser at the Charles H. Wright Museum and Ms. Fitzpatrick has asked the Recovery Band to bring our message of recovery to their event. To be honest we are proud to be able to give what was so freely given to us, HOPE.
The thing about Peer Support is that it is more than just a concept, to us it is a way of living. It does not require a specific, time, place, or setting for it to happen. In the van on our way to the Person Centered Planning conference, Andria Jackson (you may remember her from Empowerment Day) told us how since she was a child she not only wanted to sing with a band, but also how she had promised her Grandmother that she would one day do just that. During that trip, Ms Jackson became the newest member of "Recovery" and the band gets to be a part of making another persons dreams come true. This is Peer Support and what we do as Peer Supporters is that no matter what we are into, Office Management, Sports, the Arts, Technology/Computers, Farming/Animal Husbandry, or Cars, we find consumers who are into what we are. We open our Peer Support manuals and our hearts and are pleasantly surprised at how quickly we both begin to grow. And then we go in search of others needing to renew their faith and trust in the system.
Yes, the Freedom Train has left the station and the cost of a ticket to ride is self-esteem and belief in humanity. Consumers are willing to go back into the darkness to save another consumer; we know our way around and how to find the light. After all, having been there before we are more than qualified to help others navigate their way through recovery. When soldiers return to battle to save those left behind he/she is called a war hero and receive medals. When consumers go back into the fray to help others, they are called Peer Supporters and are golden. So as the train of system transformation picks up steam we will be seeing more consumers like Ann Forts traveling the Nation spreading the message of hope. More Recovery Councils where consumers are making decisions on our future, and most certainly, greater recovery outcomes. During these uncertain times this much is guaranteed: with everyone, Physician, Case managers, Consumers, Providers, ETC, working towards one goal, we have little choice but recovery.
Gerald Butler
CPSS
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