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The STAR Center provides Support, Technical Assistance and Resources to assist consumer-operated and consumer-supporter programs in meeting the needs of
under-served populations. Specifically, the STAR Center’s focus areas are cultural competence and diversity in the context of mental health
recovery and consumer self-help and self-empowerment. Although we are a national technical assistance center, the following regions have been designated
as STAR Center focus regions/states: Washington DC, Rhode Island, New Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
In pursuit of this mission we offer a broad array of technical assistance to consumer operated and peer run programs, including technical assistance materials
and tools, informative newsletters and listservs, national teleconferences, consumer networking and resource sharing opportunities, and support in the form of
mini-grant awards for creative recovery-based activities, scholarships for Alternatives conferences.
The STAR Center is funded by a grant from the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
Please visit our partner TA Centers:
- National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center at Mental Health America
- National Empowerment Center
- National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
- The Family Café
With grateful acknowledgment to the federal Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS).
CMHS was established under the 1992 ADAMHA Reorganization Act, Public Law 102-321, which mandates CMHS' leadership role in delivering mental
health services, generating and applying new knowledge, and establishing national mental health policy. CMHS is a component of the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (opens in new window),
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (opens in new window).
Find Help
Happy to Announce The New STAR Center Director
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Chacku Mathai, CPRP, as the Director for the STAR Center, a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) funded national technical assistance and resource center dedicated to meeting the needs of underserved communities across the country and in specific states and territories, including Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, Rhode Island and New Mexico. Chacku joins the NAMI staff effective December 1.
Chacku served for thirteen years as the Associate Executive Director for New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS), where he led nationally recognized, statewide campaigns and initiatives in peer services, recovery-oriented systems and services transformation, cultural competence, employment and economic self-sufficiency in both mental health and addiction recovery communities and systems. Chacku was also a key implementation partner for the New York State Center of Excellence for the Integration of Care (CEIC), the SAMHSA Northeast Addiction Technology Transfer Network (NE-C ATTC), the SAMHSA Recovery to Practice Resource Center for Behavioral Health Professionals and the SAMHSA Bringing Recovery Supports To Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS-TACS).
Chacku is a nationally recognized thought leader whose strengths in relationship and capacity building, leadership and management offer the depth and breadth of perspective needed by peer-run organizations across the country. His experience and expertise in supporting people, systems and communities will provide the STAR Center the ability to offer a higher level of concrete and targeted support, technical assistance and resources.
His personal experiences as a youth and young adult in mental health and addiction services in New York launched Chacku and his family towards a number of efforts to advocate for improved services and alternative supports in the community.
Please join us in welcoming Chacku to his new role!
Alternatives 2013
Early Bird Registration Deadline Extended to October 8, 2013
Click here for complete information about registration.
It's also time to apply for caucus sessions (in the evenings) and exhibits:
Click here for information on how to apply for a caucus.
Click here for exhibit information.
Register online, or print this form which may be mailed or faxed. Click here to view/download the Alternatives Conference Registration form (PDF, 128KB, 1 page).
If you would like to receive a print copy of Alternatives information or forms by mail, call NEC at call 800-POWER-2-U (800-769-3728), or send an email via the contact form.
For Registration Questions
Email: alice.sasser@horizonmeetings.com
Fax: (512) 336-1238
Phone: Alice Sasser (888) 776-1286 FREE Ext. 103
Alternatives Conference
December 4-7, 2013
Austin, Texas
Keynote Speakers Confirmed!
We are delighted to announce this year's exciting keynote speakers:
Paolo del Vecchio, M.S.W., Director, Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA Paolo del Vecchio is the Director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Mental Health Services (SAMHSA). Paolo was the first Consumer Affairs Specialist hired in 1995 by SAMHSA. In this capacity, he promoted consumer participation in all aspects of the Center's policies and operations ranging from public education to developing evidence based practices to address the needs of persons with mental illnesses. A self-identified mental health consumer, trauma survivor, and person in recovery from addictions, Paolo has been involved for over 40 years in behavioral health as a consumer, family member, provider, advocate, and policy maker.
Chacku Mathai, Associate Executive Director, New York Association of Psychiatric Rehibilitation Services (NYAPRS) Chacku Mathai is an Indian-American, born in Kuwait, who has over 25 years of experience in mental health and addiction community based services in a wide variety of roles including peer advocate, peer support meeting facilitator, self-help educator, community organizer, and educator. Chacku's personal experiences as a youth and young adult consumer/survivor/ex-patient of mental health and addiction services in New York launched Chacku and his family toward a number of efforts to advocate for improved services and alternative supports in the community.
William Kellibrew IV, William Kellibrew Foundation At age 10, William Kellibrew watched helplessly as his mother and 12 year old brother were shot in their living room by his mother's ex-boyfriend. At age 13, William attempted suicide and was hospitalized more than nine times. He spent many of his teenage years homeless and wandering the streets in a life of despair. Today, William is an internationally recognized trainer, speaker, and advocate on trauma and healing from violence. He has been featured on MSNBC, CNN, HLN, BBC Worldwide, the Washington Post, and countless news media outlets and publications.
Marty Hadge, Trainer, Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC) Marty Hadge is a person in recovery from substance abuse as well as mental health issues, hearing voices, trauma, and poverty. After years of receiving traditional mental health services, Marty began working her way through the experience of hearing voices and extreme states by becoming active in the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community and attending Hearing Voices Groups. She has found meaning and value in this experience. Marty is now working with people transitioning out of psychiatric hospitalization and training Hearing Voices Group facilitators.
Ask the Doctor: Teleconference Series
NAMI's Ask the Doctor teleconference is a monthly series hosted by NAMI's Medical Director, Dr. Ken Duckworth. Typically, he is joined by another mental health professional or advocate who in turn presents on a topic in his or her area of expertise. To access these calls, dial 1 (888) 858-6021 and enter pass code 309918#.
Upcoming Children's Ask the Doctor Call
Save the Date: November 15, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Topic: Diagnosing Borderline Personality Disorder with Dr. Blaise Aguirre
Dr. Aguirre will address the controversy around diagnosing borderline personality disorder (BPD) in adolescents, challenge the stigma around BPD and highlight current and effective treatment options.
Friday children's conference calls with Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI's medical director and a child and adolescent psychiatrist, take place on the third Friday of every month. The calls are toll free and are scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. E.T. To access the toll-free call, please dial 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918#.
Upcoming Adult Ask the Doctor Call
Save the Date: November 22, 2013 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Topic: Crisis Intervention Team programs with Major Sam Cochran
Major Cochran will discuss crisis intervention team (CIT) programs, which bring together police, mental health providers and advocacy to address mental health crisis in a community. He will explain how CIT is more than training and discuss the key role of community leaders who ensure that CIT programs are engaging the whole community in addressing the stigma of mental illness.
Friday adult conference calls with Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI's medical director and a child and adolescent psychiatrist, take place on the fourth Friday of every month. The calls are toll free and are scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. E.T. To access the toll-free call, please dial 1-888-858-6021; access number 309918#.
Community Conversations About Mental Health
The Toolkit for Community Conversations About Mental Health is designed to be a resource to help those interested in holding a community dialogue about mental health. It is comprised of three parts, described below, that will help communities and groups plan and facilitate a dialogue about mental health. (as written by SAMHSA)
The toolkit includes: an Information Brief (also available in Spanish), a Discussion Guide and a Planning Guide. To download the Toolkit, please visit: http://www.samhsa.gov/communityconversations/
Join the conversation on the SAMHSA's GAINS
Center Virtual Learning Community!
SAMHSA's GAINS Center's Virtual Learning Community is an online forum established to foster conversation, information sharing, and dialogue among the various SAMHSA-funded grant projects supported by the GAINS Center and the larger behavioral health and criminal justice communities.
For the SAMHSA grantee programs, this learning community provides a venue to discuss project management, peer involvement, implementation, obstacles, and innovation with one another.
For others passionate about behavioral health and criminal justice, this community provides a space to share ideas on topics such as trauma-informed care, and obtain and access a variety of resources that may improve the way you do business.
To join the GAINS Center Virtual Learning Community, please visit Virtual Learning Center Link.
EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES KITS SERIES
OTHER EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE KITS:
Treatment of Depression in Older Adults
Permanent Supportive Housing
Illness Management and Recovery
Supported Employment
Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders
AND MORE ...
Follow Us
Webinars and Teleconferences:
October Webinar: Transgender Wellness 101
For the recorded Webinar please click here
October Webinar Resources
Powerpoint Slides
Resource Review
Please share your feedback! Your comments and suggestions are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated, click here for a survey
September Webinar: Who's on Your Bus?
September Webinar Resources
Powerpoint Slides
Resource Review
Transcript
Please share your feedback! Your comments and suggestions are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated, click here for a survey
Supporting the Recovery of Justice-Involved Consumers:
Click to view
A Three-Part Series Tool Kit
Archive of Webinars/Teleconferences
Latest Star Center Resource:
Archive of Star Center Resources
Latest Newsletter
English Version
Spanish Version
Find resources by community:
Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders
Native Americans Alaskan Natives
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning & Intersex
Links to resources in languages
other than English.
Sign up to receive the STAR Center's quarterly newsletter, Recovering Together, via email. Or read the newsletter online in the Recovering Together archive.
Visit our event archive for audio files, transcripts, and reports on previous STAR Center events.
© 2011 The STAR Center