by Tom Coderre, National Field Director, Faces & Voices of Recovery

What we accomplished by bringing the recovery wellness rooms and recovery to the conventions will not soon be forgotten.  It was an incredible project with a lofty goal – to help people.  We were able to support delegates, guests, staff and volunteers.  We were able to work together – both mental health and addiction recovery peers for a common purpose.  We were able to get recognition for our issues in a way that previously wasn’t possible.  We were able to make a case for a public policy agenda that helps people find and sustain their recovery for the long term, become engaged in their families and communities again and lead very worthwhile and productive lives while giving something back.  What we accomplished is truly historic and won’t soon be forgotten.

I want to recognize our committee who met for the better part of six months since the inception of the recovery wellness rooms.  Everyone was able to contribute something to the success of this project and I’m grateful for their help and support! Committee members include: Johnny Allem, David Anderson, Lacy Breuhman, Jo Campe, Peter Fenn, Daniel Guarnera, Merlyn Karst, Bob Keefe, Angela Kimball, Aaron Kucharski, Chris Lawford, Karla Maraccini, Carol McDaid, Allen McQuarrie, Missy Orlando, Karen Pasternack, Marley Prunta-Lara, Don Rothchild, Laura  VanDeusen, and Tonya Wheeler.

On Wednesday, Carol and I attended a special luncheon where Bill Emmet from the Campaign for Mental Health Reform & Linda Rosenberg from the National Council were honored.  The reception was at the Denver Art Museum and was a really nice affair.  Congressman Kennedy spoke and paid tribute to Bill and Linda.  He also thanked me for my work on the recovery rooms.  I was humbled by his recognition but I was only a part of the team that made all this possible.  Walking into the room throughout the week and seeing people engrossed in meetings and others sharing a cup of coffee, a story, laughter and supporting each other is all the thanks I need.

I was able to see two of Congressman Kennedy’s staffers at the luncheon, Adam Brand and Greg Mecher (see the pic above).  Adam and Greg were so helpful in securing the recovery wellness rooms and I was so appreciative of their efforts on our behalf!

I also had an opportunity to visit Radio Row at the Pepsi Center where veteran radio talk show host John DePetro from 630 WPRO back in Providence wanted to hear all about the recovery rooms.  His interview with me let listeners back home know about what we were doing and just like all the other activities we were engaged in, helped break down negative public attitudes about addiction and recovery and put a face and voice on the often misunderstood reality of recovery.  I don’t have audio of the interview but there is a picture for you to enjoy!

Thanks to Missy Orlando and the folks at Caron Treatment Centers who worked hard to get some press on our project.  We’ve included some links to these stories that appeared in the blog.  Phyllis Devine reported about the recovery wellness rooms on her blog www.MIWATCH.org.  I also want to thank  Peter Fenn who attempted to get some national attention for what we were doing.  Peter reached out to his friends at the networks like MSNBC, CNN and FOX. 

About 3pm on Monday my cell phone rang.  The call was from my friend Jimmy back home in Rhode Island who had just finished watching our local NBC affiliate broadcast the first story on our project.  The reporter, Bill Rappleye from WJAR-10 in Providence nailed the story.  He understood what we were trying to do and captured it in a way his audience could understand.  Check out the report here: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=81820735110

Each morning, every state delegation meets  for breakfast, receive their credentials and listen to guest speakers.  Our good friend Mac Prichard from Reclaiming Futures (and a delegate from Oregon) thought it would be a good idea if we promoted what we were doing at these breakfasts.  So on Tuesday and Wednesday we did just that.  The most exciting breakfasts were on Wednesday when I had the honor of traveling with Christopher Lawford, actor & author and a person in long-term recovery himself.  Thanks to Allen McQuarrie of PRO-ACT and his wife Kathy who was a delegate from Pennsylvania, Chris was invited to speak to their delegation.  He wowed delegates in Pennsylvania with his personal story and passionate message.  He spoke of the recovery rooms and urged the delegates to support the platform which was full of recovery planks this year (thanks in strong measure to the work of all of us on the Whole Health Campaign).   Chris also spoke to the Connecticut delegation that morning and met with the Governor of Tennessee. (see pictures)

When Aaron and I arrived in Denver on Friday, the first thing we did is go to the convention center to see the space we’d help transform into a recovery wellness sanctuary.  We were most impressed with the space and knew right away that it was going to work perfectly.  We spent the weekend working out last minute details and confirming and training volunteers.  When we opened on Monday morning, there were so many of our friends there.  Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff did a fantastic job leading the recovery caucus and inaugurating the room.  After those activities concluded, the real purpose of the room started to become clear.  Delegates, guests, volunteers and staff started to arrive and partake of our friendly hospitality, refreshments, good conversation and of course mutual support meetings.

That afternoon, I headed over to the Pepsi Center with Holly to see the pipe and drape area that the DNCC had set aside for our recovery wellness room there.  It was a 15×15 area with about 20 chairs set in a circle inside.  This area would be open from 3-9pm each night when the convention business shifted from the Convention Center to the Pepsi Center.  Having a presence in the Pepsi Center was just unbelievable.  I thought about how historic this was.  I was witnessing history before my very eyes – Recovery for the first time was being mainstreamed at a convention.  We had large signs posted all over the Convention Center and handed out business cards that listed the room number, the hours of operation and the times meetings were being held.

by Tom Coderre, National Field Director, Faces & Voices of Recovery

About a year ago, I received a call from Johnny Allem asking me to go to lunch with him and a few of his friends at the National Press Club.  Not being one to turn down a free meal, I went.  That was the beginning of the road that led us to establishing recovery wellness rooms at the conventions.  The idea crystallized about six months later when Johnny and I were brainstorming with Bob Keefe in his office.  We were joined by Peter Fenn and Wally Clinton and a few others as we fantasized about  making these rooms happen for the first time ever. I can’t begin to tell you how pleased I am with how everything has turned out so far.

I’m grateful to leaders in the recovery movement like Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Congressman Jim Ramstad who fought hard to make these rooms a reality.  I’m also happy that we were able to collaborate with so many national and local allies (both in the addiction recovery and mental health worlds) to secure the financial and people power to make this happen.  While logistically it was a little frustrating, it’s all been worth it.  I felt many emotions as I watched people use the room here in Denver to sustain their recovery – as individuals and family members.  And at the end of the day, that’s what we all strive to do, help people find and sustain their recovery.

The following posts and pictures will reflect on a few of my adventures during the past week….

Last night, as Aaron and I looked around the now-empty recovery room and
flipped off the lights for the last time, I thought about what an amazing
week it had been.  It was my honor to be welcomed into the recovery room, to
listen to people’s stories and talk about the room as I attended various
convention activities.

In Washington, every day, Carol and I work on legislation we hope will
ultimately help individuals in and seeking recovery from addiction and
mental illnesses from all across the country, but sometimes it’s very hard
to see that big picture and the day to day challenges can seem
insurmountable.  However, I’m heading back to D.C. tomorrow reenergized
after the success of the Recovery Room and the Caucus and carrying with me
the new hope and the possibility that change is ultimately in store for this
country no matter what your politics are.  More now than ever, I believe we
can accomplish long-sought policy changes that will end discrimination
against individuals in and seeking recovery.

I can say with absolute certainty that the recovery room helped people and
its presence alone elevated the status of the addiction and mental health
community to an unprecedented level on the national political scene.  I am
so tremendously grateful for the opportunity to be in Denver this week and
thank you to Carol, Tom and Aaron and all the sponsors and volunteers whose
help and support made it possible for the Recovery Room at the 2008
Democratic National Convention to be a tremendous success.

Author: Carol McDaid, Faces & Voices of Recovery Board Chair

I took a moment to look around the recovery room late yesterday at the long list of recovery and mental health volunteers laughing and working cooperatively together, and I just scratched my head.  Things seemed to be going a lot better here than inside the beltway.  A lot better unfortunetely!

I do not have the time or energy to focus on the negative, but I am intent on exploring why this model here worked so well here.  I wonder if it can be replicated, what will be the part I play and why?

I just feel like things are broken so badly in Washington.  

I haven’t celebrated the successes of the Faces & Voices of Recovery staff as they occur nearly as much as I would like to.  I feel like they are the hardest working, and most effective staff in the addiction field.  Even though there was so much going on, we took the time to duck into the very well known Denver institute called the “Brown Palace”  for lunch.    Tom and Aaron were answering their phones the whole time.  When I lectured them about working too much, I coudl tell Tom and Holly were snickering inside, but my own workaholism has cost me a lot, and I do not want them to pay the same price. 

Aaron got his fix of Hollywood A listers when Sean Penn breezed by, and Tom saw his politicos when Roy Roemer strode past Holly Merbaum, who not only helped make his whole recovery room possible, but at the moment is one of this countries strongest recovery advocates that is not in recovery herself.  Pat Taylor is the blur ribbon here.  Holly also helps lead the charge on addiction parity legistlation in Washington. 

We are both off to watch Bill Clinton and Joe Biden speak at the Pepsi Center.  We probably have the biggest purses in Denver, and may take an hour to search.   We have both enjoyed our time here.   

Author:  Aaron Kucharski, Field Organizer for Faces & Voices of Recovery.

The one on one conversations I have had this week were of gratitude and excitement.  This room helped people and served the purpose it set out to do.  People cried, laughed, and felt secure and safe here in an environment that can be so intimidating at the convention. 

I would like to make sure we thank all of the volunteers that showed up here, as a number of them came for more than one shift.  It is also important to thank Congressman Kennedy as he was so instrumental to securing this space for those who needed it most.

So many people worked so hard to make sure that this was a success and I think everything went perfectly.  We helped people, their was a successful recovery caucus last Monday, public policy makers gave their support, and their was even some great media coverage.

This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I will remember the family and community we created last week.    

Listen to the audio on the below link to hear a great interview about the Recovery Room 

http://www.utterz.com/u/utt/u-Nzk5MzEwNA#utt-Nzk5MzEwNA-send_it

http://www.utterz.com/JillFoster

Author:  Aaron Kucharski:  Field organizer for Faces & Voices of Recovery.

We have had some great coverage on the activities of the room this week.  Their have been some great blog posts on the recovery room at www.rifuture.org due to the Rhode Island roots of Congressman Kennedy, Faces & Voices National Field Director Tom Coderre, as well as myself being from Providence, Rhode Island.  Two posts are on the site titled ”Congressman Kennedy: Make Parity a Priority!”  and “Congressman Kennedy interview” Read the post below!

Their was also some great TV press.  The media piece is posted on the Faces & Voices Facebook page.  Click the link below to watch!

 http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=81820735110

Enjoy!

Author: Carol McDaid, Faces & Voices of Recovery Board Chair

The energy in the room was up today with Michelle Obama’s explicit mention of mental health last night in her speech.

I was reassured that the room was a safe harbor for a person who was  waiting when the room first opened bright and early this AM who had experienced on the job harrassment and was stressed and troubled over it.

While the news of the recovery rooms has only been getting out for a few days every where I go , whether its the copy center, the ladies room, the lunch carry out place, the guy selling fun buttons; everyone that sees and hears that I am all about the recovery room at the DNC has the family member, the friend and the stories.  Some are sad, and some are just wonderful stories of redemption.

I met a woman today who owns a newspaper in Southern California whose son had an addiction problem, and now has his life back together.  She saw that I was struggling to make signs and came over and hopped onto the computer shooed me out of her way and helped to make beautiful purple colored “Recovery/ Wellness Room 12 step meetings signs.  I had to stop her from not making them works of art.

I also found that all of the high traffic spots where I had dropped off recovery room cards, such as near by delegate hotel concierge desks, ladies rooms in convention center, coffee shops; all needed to be restocked and we had to get 4000 more cards printed. (Thank you Carla and the Denver Drug Strategies Commission)

We are keeping at it and it is feeling so great to be heard.

Author. Aaron Kucharski:  Field Organizer for Faces & Voices of Recovery.

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

This morning I got to the recovery room early to open up.   I poured myself a cup of coffee as a woman entered the room.

She asks “Is this the recovery room? I need help.”

Aaron  “Absolutely, you are in the right place.”

She immediately was in tears and asked for a hug.   At this very moment I again reafirmed that this is why I am here.  She was so grateful to talk to someone who understood her and what she was going through at the convention, because she was really struggling.  As volunteers started to pour in from both the recovery and mental health fields they embraced our new friend with open arms, and it was a great way to start off our day. 

Carol McDaid recently blogged that she felt this room was magical, and I would like to testify to that feeling.  This room has given us a family this week to rely on.

Author:  Carol McDaid, Faces & Voices of Recovery Board Chair

Monday, August 25, 2008

The Whole Health Campaign, in conjunction with Faces & Voices of Recovery, NAMI Colorado, Advocates for Recovery Colorado, Caron Treatment Centers, the Betty Ford Center, NAADAC, the American Society for Addiction Medicine, Mental Health America, the National Council, and the Denver office of Drug strategies launched the first historic “Recovery Caucus” at a political convention today.

After the initial excitement and flurry, it finally occured to me when I heard Colorado Speaker of the House of Representatives Andrew Romanoff and Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island both speak so passionately about recovery what I was actually in the midst of. The realization of the recovery community becoming a constituency of consequence.  

I looked around at the beautiful 1600 square foot room with all the amenities we have, and realized the recovery caucus with our 50 attendees had more participants than some of the other caucuses at the convention.  This proves that we had seen fit to afford us with all of the trappings and more of other convention caucuses. 

When it came time for me to go over the recovery friendly platform provisions, I was overwhelmed with the posibilities, that just may be our advocacy efforts might be coming together,  almost being too scared to believe it could be true.

Later on this afternoon, the real importance of having recovery rooms at the convention was evidenced when a young man with 27 days of recovery showed up in the room needing a meeting.  When he shared we all knew that regardless of whether you have 27 days clean, 5 years sober, or ten years clean , we were all there for the same reason.

We needed support, and connection with another person in recovery..There is magic in these rooms and we look forward to bringing recovery to delegates and others at the Republican National Convention in Minnesota.

Pictures can speak a thousand words, so I will share some great photos from the activities of the Recovery/Wellness Room today, but also wish to share some touching stories.

Today, I met a young man that had 27 days sober today who was in need of a meeting at the convention.  This is exactly why the services of the room are making a difference.  Not only was I emotional when he was sharing his story, but it really cemented the significance of what could be the difference in someone’s recovery.   He was so grateful to be in the company of others in recovery, and I could tell that many people in the room felt the same way I had at the moment.  That this room needed to happen, and we are in the right place!

Another exciting story to share is Congressman Kennedy and Colorado Speaker of the House Andrew Romanoff took time to stop by the room today, and both spent a considerable amount of time listening and talking with everyone.  It was great to witness the excitement on people’s faces when having their needs and concerns voiced.

We have really seen a great flow of people because of the promotion from the volunteers who are working so hard, and their efforts are so appreciated.

Author:  Aaron Kucharski, Field Organizer for Faces & Voices of Recovery

It is so exciting to be at my first political convention taking part in something that is truly going to make a difference for convention attendees in recovery.  Not knowing what my expectations of the week has only pushed me harder to help make this a reality for the recovery community. 

Today, I got all the assurance and motivation I needed.

This afternoon, Faces & Voices of Recovery’s National Field Director Tom Coderre provided a training for volunteers for the recovery/wellness rooms.  Seeing the motivated faces around the room, and hearing the feedback and appreciation from those attending was truly remarkable.

These are the people that are really going to make this happen!  I included a couple pictures to share the experience!

Author: Carol McDaid, Faces & Voices of Recovery Board Chair

Post Sunday, August 24, 2008

My plane from Dallas to Denver is absolutely jammed with convention goers including short lived VP hopeful Rep. Chet Edwards, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, her incredibly gracious assistant Barbara, and a concoction of other delegates, family members, lobbyists, do-gooders, as well as media types mixed in with mildly worried local Denver folks who are clearly bracing themselves for the worst when they land. 

It just so happens that one of my seat mates is a district delegate from Chesepeake, Virginia (the state I hail from on weekend) has a family member who is struggling with addiction.  I handed her information about the recovery rooms and all the resources at the convention. 

She hugs the papers to her heart, and when she finds out the room is a free service she squeezes my hand so tight I thought it might break.

Now I am clear of my purpose in Denver. 

Author: Carol McDaid, Faces & Voices of Recovery Board Chair

Sunday, August 24, 2008

In Denver?

At the Democratic Convention?

If you had told me a year ago that Faces & Voices of Recovery would be hosting recovery/wellness rooms at a political convention I would have told you that was outrageous.

The atmosphere at conventions has often been challenging and is not always known for taking care of the needs and interests of people in recovery. Yet here we are with a recovery/wellness room of our own, along with a Recovery Caucus on Monday.

Faces & Voices of Recovery, working through Rep. Patrick Kennedy (THANK YOU Patrick) got the space in both the Convention Center and the Pepsi Center. It is up to us to make the most of it.

I will be here, Faces & Voices of Recovery staff members Tom Coderre and Aaron Kucharski will be here, and Rep. Patrick Kennedy will also be involved. It is a place to feel safe given that anonymity and traditions will be respected during all meetings.

Come meet other people from around the country who are in recovery and learn what innovative things are happening in other communities!

Will you bring your recovery to meet us in the Mile High City?

During the week of August 24th-29th, you can catch up with live bloggers from the most recovery-friendly Convention ever!

Special guest bloggers will include Carol McDaid, Faces & Voices of Recovery Board Chair, and Aaron Kucharski, the Recovery Voices Count Field Organizer.

Stay Tuned!

Recovery Month effort aims to promote the societal benefits of alcohol and drug use disorder treatment, laud the contributions of treatment providers and promote the message that recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders in all its forms is possible.

Please visit the web site

Profound article today (July 8, 2008) in the New York Times highlighting “growing body of evidence that alcohol abuse is rising among veterans of combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, many of them trying to deaden the repercussions of war and disorientation of home. While the numbers remain relatively small, experts say and studies indicate that the problem is particularly prevalent among those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, as it was after Vietnam. Studies indicate that illegal drug use, much less common than heavy drinking in the military, is up slightly, too.”
The full article is here

The recent extraordinary death of a mentally ill person in a Brooklyn psychiatric hospital emergency room is quite ordinary in some ways. Many of the mentally ill on the streets of major cities are ignored. Things are slowly changing however. The public wants to protect Medicaid, care for veterans and give parity to mental healthcare and is taking notice and action.

Perhaps for the first time, thanks in part to electronic communication, we have true democracy. So use your power - the power and potential of “citizen government” - to make comments, write letters and engage with others on the Internet.

Bob Beckwith

An historic action only possible from inside the beltway:

Bob Beckwith

Agenda for the 2008 ACMHA Summit

On March 12-15, the American College of Mental Health Administration will host its annual Summit in Santa Fe, NM. This Summit will discuss mental health and substance use care in the national election, in state health reform initiatives, and in primary care settings.  A major goal of this Summit is to advance Whole Health Campaign goals.  Review the attached agenda.   Ron Manderscheid

On March 12-15, the American College of Mental Health Administration will host its annual Summit in Santa Fe, NM. This Summit will discuss mental health and substance use care in the national election, in state health reform initiatives, and in primary care settings.  A major goal of this Summit is to advance Whole Health Campaign goals.  Review the attached agenda

With Clinton and Obama virtually tied for the Democratic nomination, Joe Paduda at Managed Care Matters is comparing their plans for health insurance reform. He notes that both candidates support mental health parity similar to what’s available for federal employees. Here’s a link to Paduda’s analysis of the similarities between the two plans: Clinton and Obama similarities.
David Anderson

Center for Integrated Behavioral Health Policy

The George Washington University Medical Center

 Daniel S. Guarnera has written an article for February’s Recovery Today Online about the actions recovery advocates are taking to influence the healthcare debate, including the formation of the Whole Health Campaign, in partnership with mental health advocates. Mr. Guarnera is Government Relations Liaison for NAADAC, the Association of Addiction Professionals, and the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP).

 An excerpt from the Recovery Today article:

Treatment and recovery support have never been high-priority issues during presidential campaigns. This has hindered the attempts of treatment and recovery advocates to promote much-needed reforms—with no campaign promises or statements on the record, it is difficult to create political pressure for change. With the next presidential election still nine months away, however, there is reason to believe that 2008 will be different. Treatment and recovery advocates in Washington, D.C. and around the country are taking unprecedented steps to ensure that their key issues become—and remain—top policy priorities.

To read the full article, go to http://recoverytoday.net/pages/feb08_guarnera.html

 Tammy Seltzer

National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

www.TheNationalCouncil/org