PRA recognizes the Act's achievements throughout October

(McLean, VA, October 16, 2013) – Throughout the month of October the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA) is recognizing the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s signing of the Community Mental Health Act, the landmark bill that laid the foundation of contemporary mental health policy. President Kennedy’s call to action in 1963 was based on a belief that all Americans – including those with mental illnesses, intellectual disabilities, and addictions – have the right to lead dignified lives and to share in the beliefs of our society. The act provided federal funding for community mental health centers, leading to considerable deinstitutionalization.

“On behalf of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, I am pleased to recognize this historic anniversary for the psychiatric rehabilitation field and mental health services community,” said Lisa Razzano, PhD, CPRP, PRA Board Chair. “Over the past 50 years, the mental health field has worked to ensure that all individuals in recovery have the opportunities that embody the spirit of President Kennedy’s Act, and we continue to support the evolution and expansion of services that promote recovery. The Community Mental Health Act is just one example of how vision and perseverance can affect the lives of individuals everywhere.”

PRA supports the Kennedy Forum on Community Mental Health who, in recognition of the act’s 50th Anniversary, is serving as a vehicle to honor Kennedy’s efforts, celebrate the progress, and identify areas that need improvement in the next 50 years for the mental illness, intellectual/development disabilities, substance abuse, and addiction community. The Kennedy Forum is holding several events throughout October to commemorate the act’s anniversary:

• Gala, October 23 – A celebratory dinner and VIP keynote speaker program at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, MA.
• Live National Webcast, October 23 – Local mental health communities and organizations around the country will host celebrations the same night as the gala to view the VIP keynote speaker program live and participate in a program developed by the Forum.
• Conference, October 24 – A full day of programming featuring panel discussions and breakout sessions covering a wide range of topics including: advances in mental health research and treatment; community approaches to mental and substance use disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities; employment for individuals with mental and developmental disability and productivity in the workplace; and improvements in treatment of mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities and substance use disorders from the Affordable Care Act and Mental Health Parity Act. Location: Westin Copley, Boston, MA. 

To learn more about PRA’s involvement in issues and events pertaining to the psychiatric rehabilitation community, please visit www.psychrehabassociation.org. Learn more about the Kennedy Forum.