Chapter News

Bursting Out of the Bubble: Extending Recovery into the Community
The California Association of Social Rehabilitation Agencies (CASRA) is soliciting proposals for the CASRA Spring 2014 conference to be held April 23-24th at the San Mateo Marriott in San Mateo. CASRA invites mental health and substance abuse treatment professionals to a new conversation. Recognizing our common ground and shared interests in serving Californians who are living with mental health and addiction issues, we believe now is the tim for a richer collaboration. Let's make behavioral health real. Call for presentations deadline is January 31, 2014.

MassPRA's 12th Annual Conference and Institutes
MassPRA, the Massachusetts chapter of PRA, held its 12th Annual Conference and Institutes on October 29-30 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. The premier psychiatric rehabilitation training event in the state was once again a sellout event with a total of 630 attendees over the two days who could chose from 26 different workshops to attend. Five all day institutes were offered on the first day. The institutes covered integrating employment and recovery; understanding the rehab in the Medicaid rehab option; treating co-occurring disorders; person-centered trauma informed recovery-oriented approaches; building community connections that enhance recovery, and the Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) credential. The second day was kicked off by welcomes from Marcia Fowler, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health; Steve LaMaster, MassPRA Chapter President; and Dori Hutchinson, PRA Chair Elect. Dennis Rice, Executive Director of Alternatives Unlimited in Whitinsville, Massachusetts provided the keynote about recovery through community partnership.