Revolutionizing Mental Health and Human Services
Mary Blake's Discussions
Adverse Childhood Experiences and Schizophrenia Correlates
Started Jul. 23, 2008
Person-first approaches
5 Replies
Started this discussion. Last reply by Angelee F. Wright (Hill) Jul 12.
Peer Expert Meeting on Trauma Aug. 27, 2007
1 Reply
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jerry W Jul. 7, 2008.
Mary Blake's Page
Latest Activity
Beth Filson, lady I would love to talk with you. If you'll remember back to the Sept, 2007 Peer Specialist training in ST. Simon's Island I was the blonde that gave a teary summary of my recovery story through a poem that is now published during our…
Thanks so much, Michele, for your candid thoughts. I agree wholeheartedly about people not being their labels and about learning to cope, finding ways to manage the challenges that help us feel better. Funny how, sometimes, we find ways to "weather"…
Hi Jeanne: I'm not sure that being lumped in with "higher functioning people" benefits anyone beyond the surface. Unlabeled people do not have to contend with designations of "functioning." I agree with you about how we each have responsibility in h…
Hi Jen -- thanks for your reply. Let me say that I'm careful to distinguish between "experience" and diagnosis. I have had several diagnoses over the many, many years...but that did not alter my "experiences." You may call it "illness," but even the…
I don't think having a "diagnosis" says anything about who I am, what my values are, what my dreams are, what my life experience has been, etc. So, I don't necessarily think having a diagnosis provides common ground with anyone. I think that my expe…
Comment Wall (10 comments)
- At 11:13am on December 11, 2008,
Daily Dupre' said…
- Mary Blake,
I believe you know Carole Glover, State President, Meaningful Minds of LA our web site: www.meaningfulminds.org/
I am a national & state mental health advocate and a founding member of Meaningful Minds of Louisiana and board of directors member. Carole and I work closely together to ensure the continuation of the 501 c 3 organization.
Yesterday, I met with the LA Stakeholder's Transformation Grant participants in Baton Rouge, LA and for the first time since I have attended these meetings, first the Real Change grant stakeholder's meetings and now for the third year of the LA Transformation Grant meeting (does not include Mental Health in this systems change grant, only the housing piece is inclusing of mental health system change). However, with the new director, Tammy LeBlanc, who comes from a grassroots advocacy background, is assisting me as the point person on inclusion on mental health in systems change, progress is being made in this area.
I met with Gilda Armstrong Butler, a 36 year veteran with the LA office of mental health, currently shifting from the LA Spirit program to return to childrens services administrator at the LA state level and Trisha Henserling, an OMH veteran of perhaps 17 or 18 years on the regional and state level. I was informed and we discussed at lenght the three of us, the Person Centered grant which was just granted to Louisiana and definitely will include MMLA, Carole and myself as stakeholders.
I am aware that Carole has worked closely with you, Ms. Blake, with trauma related activities. We at Meaningful Minds of LA have actively been engaged with Dan Fisher, MD,Phd,MBA, ex. dir. of the National Empower Center and many other national consultants since Katrina/Rita hurricanes in trauma related peer specialist trainings. Dan & I have been friends since the early 1990's when he attended conferences in Lafayette, LA and Alexandria, LA.
Carole Glover and I met with Kathrine Power, CMHS, director, at the Southern Region Mental Health Statistics Conference in New Orleans, LA in early November to request technical assistance. She exhibted concern, compassion and a true interest in assisting our organization to remain viable.
We also met with Cheryll Bower-Stephens, former Asst. Secretary of the LA state office of mental health (title means the director of) at the same conference in New Orleans. As I recall Dr. CBS as she prefers to be named, was or is a member of SAMSHA Advisory council for grant determinations. She was also most helpful; during her administration at LA OMH, she was instrumental in my being hired as a monitor and evaluator of the psycho-social rehab programs which continued until funding was curtailed due to Hurricane Katrina in the fall of 2005.
In summary, Carole and I have many national contacts and we are so pleased with the national experts who have been assisting so very much since the devastation of Katrina and Rita. We are also reeling from the impact of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
I wish to take this avenue to thank and all of our national colleagues for their assistance with mental health recovery in Louisiana. We are resilent and as peers have been able to assist so many of our own, as well as the first responders and other individuals including hurricane evacuees within LA and the many evacuees who remain in other states.
Your continued support is most graciously appreciated; we wish to return to employment and have had much difficulty in receiving funds from FEMA and the LA Spirit Program. We have trained indivuals, peers, who are trained by Dan Fisher, et al, and Meaningful Minds of LA who are in need of employment and who wish so passionately to return to work. I am aware that some funds have been recently been recieved from FEMA for Hurricane Recovery, the LA DHH news release states the amount is $2.7 Million and additional FEMA grant funding is anticipated in Jan, 2009. We want to keep LA officials' 'feet to the fire', so to speak and secure funding for employement of our peers already trained and support in trauma training. We are certainly appreciative of your support Mary Blake, and all the national consumer experts who have so willing given of time, tireless efforts and compassion to we, who have been impacted by no less than four hurricanes, within a 3 year period.
I can assure you and our friends that we are a resiliant population and 'we shall overcome' all adversity. No one is better prepared to assist LA citizens than our population. Further. we, in LA, 'Can change, want change, and will change' the behavioural health system of our great state! Rest assured!
Let me wish all of you (en francais, Joieux Noel et Bon Annee'!) a Happy Holiday Season!
Daily Dupre', BA Psychology, UL of Laf, 1965
Meaningful Minds of Louisiana MMLA)
Mental Health Advocacy Chairperson
www.meaningfulminds.org/
dupredocssarep@hotmail.com
- At 2:59pm on July 29, 2008,
Basia Mosinski, LCAT, ATR-BC, MA, MFA said… - Mary, are you located in New York?
Basia
- At 8:00am on July 29, 2008,
Basia Mosinski, LCAT, ATR-BC, MA, MFA said…
Oops, I meant to write Richard Mollica.
- At 7:58am on July 29, 2008,
Basia Mosinski, LCAT, ATR-BC, MA, MFA said…
- Hi Mary, thank you so much for the reading recommendation. No, I don't know the work of Robert Mollica, thank you for the introduction. Thank you also for joining Media Arts Therapy .ning network. Your participation there will enhance the experience for everyone. I do have several art therapy students there and expect once classes begin again, many of my student at the School of Visual Arts (Multicultural Art Therapy) will join.
I see that your email address has .samhsa connection. I am reminded that I produced a video about a study funded by SAMHSA, International FACES: A Collaborative Approach to Healing and the Refugee Experience. International FACES is part of Heartland Health Alliance. I did my internship at FACES and the Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture. I conducted a small study there using video. If you are interested, I would be happy to communicate further with you in that regard.
Basia
- At 12:18pm on July 19, 2008,
Pat Risser said… - Hi Mary,
It was great seeing you again. Keep up the great work.
- At 1:52pm on July 16, 2008,
mike halligan said… - hey little one. thanks for the invite. looking forward to some heavy duty plotting and planning on world change.
- At 11:08pm on July 14, 2008,
Meghan Caughey said… - Hi, I am so glad that we connected.
There is so much more that I wish we could have had time to talk about.
too many incomplete answers to some very intense, important questions.....
Anyway, I am very grateful for your support at the conference and wish all good things for you.
Meghan
- At 1:09pm on April 28, 2008,
Beth Filson said…
- Mary - So good to speak with you today. This is such rich work. Who could imagine that the pain so many of us experienced as we tried to tell our stories would one day be of use. This is the true meaning of transformation!
b
- At 10:23am on April 28, 2008,
Mary Blake said…
- Thanks for your comments on the Person-first approaches fact sheet. We are working w/ our peer experts to do more on this. Actually, we are preparing to send invitations to the 2008 Peer Expert Meeting on Trauma, which will take place in Washington, DC on July 10 (prior to the Dare to Transform conference). You are on the invitee list, and I was hoping that you'll be able to make it. The Peer Expert Meeting invitation will be sent out by NASMHPD's National Training & Technical Assistance Center (NTAC) some time this week. NTAC is co-sponsoring this meeting w/ NCTIC and will be paying travel and hotel for the night. That might also make it possible for you to stay for the trauma conference??? I sent you may phone # and e-mail address in earlier comment. Hope to hear from you. PS: I like your blog spot...Susan Salasin here at CMHS sends regards.
- At 5:53pm on April 25, 2008,
Beth Filson said…
- Greetings! I am so looking forward to the opportunities this site offers for ongoing dialogue. Made my day, indeed.
b
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