2012 PRA Annual Conference a Success!

PRA’s 37th Annual Conference in Minneapolis, MN was a fun, educational, and highly successful event. PRA would like to thank the speakers, presenters, volunteers, sponsors, and 500 attendees for ensuring the success of the conference. We encourage you to share the knowledge you have learned with colleagues, friends and family. Your energy and commitment to psychiatric rehabilitation is unparalleled. We look forward to working together to fulfill our mission of promoting a world in which individuals with mental illness can recover to achieve successful and satisfying lives.

One attendee said, “The PRA Annual Conference is my favorite conference. I see the Annual Conference as greatly enhancing my professional development as it exceeds other conferences in quality and professionalism of content.” Overall, attendees agreed the conference was well organized, the volunteers were helpful, and a good variety of topics were offered. They also enjoyed the exhibit hall displays.

In addition to the high level educational content, some fun features of the conference included:

• An art show featuring art produced by people in recovery. Attendees witnessed the benefit of art therapy and met the local artists as they displayed and sold their artwork.
• Each year, PRA presents awards for outstanding contributions to the field of psychiatric rehabilitation. At the awards ceremony, attendees gathered to honor these influential individuals.
• A performance by Native Pride Dancers. The traditional dance movements and sacred songs were passed down by the dancers’ ancestors from the Northern Plains.

A special thanks to the Minnesota Chapter for their assistance and enthusiasm throughout the planning process and onsite in Minneapolis. PRA, our members, and conference attendees appreciate your hard work and dedication to making the conference the highly successful event that it was.