Since we began our work in the fall of 2001, much has been accomplished. A number of events have been organized to raise awareness of recovery. Each year a recovery dance has been organized as part of the First Night (substance free New Year's Eve) celebration. A recovery fair, in which recovery related services, information and activities are put on display, has occurred each year in the spring. Each autumn, a Recovery Festival which now includes a walk-run for recovery, has taken place in Schenley Park. The festival provides an opportunity to celebrate with and recognize those who have entered recovery.

In addition to these public awareness events, an education toolkit has been developed to assist educators in their efforts to teach about recovery. A speaker's bureau has also been organized so that opportunities to hear about personal experiences with recovery, from a variety of perspectives, are easily arranged. Plans are underway to help develop mobile training teams that would provide trainings to all contracted providers in the County. Dialogues between service users, service providers and family members of persons using services have taken place in a variety of locations. Dialogues help people to talk to one another outside their traditional roles, and provide a basis for collaboration in recovery efforts. A set of "Guidelines for Developing Recovery Oriented Behavioral Health Systems" and plans for putting them into practice have been developed and reviewed by county stakeholders. The recently revised version of these guidelines will be incorporated into Allegheny County Provider contracts in 2005-6.

The Coalition is currently attempting to form stronger relationships with other organizations promoting recovery to strengthen and unify these efforts. A fourth committee has been developed to address issues related to recovery and resiliency in children and families that are affected by mental illness and substance use disorders.

The value of these efforts has recently been reinforced by the release of the report of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. The Commission strongly endorsed the reorganization of services in a manner consistent with the recovery perspective.

Although much has been accomplished, there is much more that remains to be done.

The coalition is seeking the participation of any interested person (consumers, providers, family members) who is involved in the behavioral health system. If you are interested in joining the Coalition for Recovery or if you would like more information, please click on the getting involved page.