Recovery Resources

A Call for Change Toward A Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Service System for Adults was published by the Office of Mental Health Substance Abuse Services. A Call for Change establishes a firm foundation for the Pennsylvania transformation to a recovery-oriented mental health system. It provides a concise definition of recovery, and further consideration of what a recovery-oriented system is and is not. The principal leaders of mental health advocacy in Pennsylvania formed the committee which resulted in this call for change.

Pennsylvania Recovery and Resiliency: Behavioral Health for the New Century includes information on the statewide recovery initiative, guiding principles of the movement, and related resources.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.
• SAMHSA's The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), promotes the quality and availability of community-based substance abuse treatment services for individuals and families who need them.
• SAMHSA's The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) focuses on the prevention and treatment of mental disorders. CMHS helps states improve and increase the quality and range of their treatment, rehabilitation, and support services for people with mental illness, their families, and communities.
• Partners for Recovery (PFR) is an initiative sponsored by SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). It addresses issues of national significance and it is driven by the individuals, families and communities it serves. The PFR Initiative supports and provides technical resources to those who deliver services for the prevention and treatment of substance use conditions and co-occurring mental health and seeks to build capacity and improve services and systems of care.
• National Consensus Statement On Mental Health Recovery. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released a consensus statement outlining principles necessary to achieve mental health recovery. The statement was developed by mental health consumers, families, providers, advocates, researchers, managed care organizations, state and local public officials and others and includes the 10 Fundamental Components of Recovery.

The Consumer Guide, a guide to advocacy for mental health consumers in Pennsylvania, was created to help people in Pennsylvania who are dealing with mental illness learn about the mental health system and when, where and how you can shape it – if you choose.

Faces and Voices of Recovery provides stories of recovery, recovery resources, tools and materials beneficial to being an active advocate for the recovery movement.

MH/DS Program Administrators Association of Pennsylvania provides a list of the local mental health/mental retardation agencies for each county and their phone numbers. They can be contacted for assistance with getting local services or for information.

National Empowerment Center, Inc. contains recovery resources including articles, book reviews, and other publications. You will also find links to consumer-run organizations, peer-run organizations, coalitions and more.