Whole Health Campaign

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

The GOP frontrunners, Sen. John McCain and Gov. Mitt Romney, have not devoted the same time to healthcare as their Democratic counterparts, but what they have—and have not—said is worth noting. Healthcare was a minor topic of the CNN hosted GOP debate at the Reagan Library Wednesday January 30. Sen. McCain took the opportunity to blame the Massachusetts universal healthcare initiative, signed into law while Romney was governor, for impeding job creation in the state: “His job creation was the third worst in the country, as far as people of Massachusetts with a $245 million debt because of the big government-mandated health care system.”

In response, Gov. Romney, who has often distanced himself from the Massachusetts reform, took credit for the plan, saying, “I’m the only one that got the job done….. I’m proud of what we accomplished.” The Massachusetts plan includes coverage for mental health and addiction treatment, although it falls short of full parity for both conditions. Gov. Romney went on to support an individual mandate to obtain health insurance, a position that ensures “No more free riders.” Neither candidate mentioned mental health or addiction treatment in the CNN debate.

For a complete transcript of the CNN debate, go to http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/30/GOPdebate.transcript/

On his campaign website, Gov. Romney’s healthcare plan outlines his approach to “free riders,” i.e., people who “just show up at the hospital and say, somebody else should pay for me.” He proposes to use “some” of the safety net funds that currently subsidize indigent care to “help the truly needy buy private insurance.”

Both Sen. McCain and Gov. Romney support a private market approach and favor giving the states more flexibility to address the needs of the uninsured. Sen. McCain specifically mentions giving states more flexibility to use private insurance in Medicaid, an option that has been supported by the Bush administration. Gov. Romney proposes what sounds like a block grant for Medicaid: “Give states flexibility to spend their Medicaid dollars in whatever way they find most efficient and effective.”  Without a guarantee of parity, reliance on private markets is problematic for people who need mental health and addictions treatment, as the majority of private insurance plans have historically excluded, limited and charged higher co-pays for mental health and addictions benefits.

Sen. McCain mentions mental health once in his healthcare plan, proposing that “[w]here cost-effective, employ telemedicine, and community and mental health clinics in areas where services and providers are limited.” To read Sen. McCain’s healthcare plan, go to http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/19ba2f1c-c03f-4ac2-8cd5-5cf2edb527cf.htm

Gov. Romney’s platform does not address mental health or addiction treatment. To find Gov. Romney’s views on healthcare reform, go to http://mittromney.com/Issues/healthcare

A recent survey conducted by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance found that 40 percent of Republican voters and 60 percent of Democratic voters think the candidates are not talking enough about health care issues. For a Congressional Quarterly article on the survey, go to http://CQ-votersurvey-020408.notlong.com

 Tammy SeltzerNational Council for Community Behavioral Healthcarewww.TheNationalCouncil.org 

Democratic presidential candidates Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton spent much of last night’s CNN debate discussing their shared and divergent views on healthcare reform. Although neither explicitly raised mental health or addiction treatment issues, both talked about the importance of addressing chronic health problems. The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and many other respected organizations and researchers consider serious mental illnesses and addiction disorders to be chronic conditions. 

According to the Partnership for Chronic Disease, (http://fightchronicdisease.org/index.cfm )chronic diseases–which they define as “long-lasting, often preventable and treatable but incurable illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and depression”–are the #1 cause of death and disability in the U.S., and the #1 driver of rising health care costs. The World Health Organization found that four of the six leading causes of disability are due to depression, alcohol-use disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. See http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/investing_mnh.pdf

During the debate, Sen. Clinton emphasized that her plan would allow Americans to buy into the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP), which has mental health parity. For Clinton’s complete healthcare proposal, see http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/healthcareplan/

Sen. Obama’s plan would be “similar to the FEHBP,” including mental health coverage but with no mention of parity. For Sen. Obama’s healthcare proposal, see http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/  Neither candidate’s plan addresses addiction disorders.

For the full transcript of the debate, see http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/31/dem.debate.transcript/index.html

You can also see video from the debate, reactions and commentary at www.CNN.com.

Tammy Seltzer

National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare

www.TheNationalCouncil.org

Joe Paduda at Managed Care Matters offers an interesting analysis of the role that health care issues played in the Florida primary. Check it out: http://www.joepaduda.com/archives/001118.html.

Long Fight for Mental Health Parity Continues for Americans

Senator Hilary Clinton has an extensive plan for addressing health care issues.

Bob Laszewski at Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review provides an in-depth analysis of the Clinton plan.

Senator John McCain is one of the (current) leaders in the Republican primaries. Click here for his official position on health care. He favors cost savings with an emphasis on prevention and better performance measurement.

Joe Paduda at Managed Care Matters provides a nice overview and commentary on McCain’s position. Bob Laszewski at the Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review digs deep into the McCain approach.