PEERS Accomplishments

In Fiscal Year 2009-2010, we accomplished the following:

• PEERS was awarded the Alameda County Social Inclusion Campaign) funded by Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS).
• One-day Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) monthly workshops totaled to 345 unduplicated attendees, exceeding our year-end goal of 300.
• Total weekly participant contacts for all WRAP groups were 2,349.
• We increased the professional growth of two of our Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) facilitators to Advance Level WRAP Trainers, ensuring PEERS’ ability to certify WRAP Facilitators in compliance with the Copeland Center’s requirements.
• We piloted a Tobacco Information Program and our facilitators, all POCC members, organized and facilitated 13 Tobacco Information Presentations to over 128 individuals. Some of the sites we presented to included Latino Best Now, Casa de la Vida, Asian Community Mental Health, ACNMHC Berkeley Drop- in Center, the Creative Living Center, Bonita House, and Villa Fairmont.
• We coordinated and awarded scholarships to over 60 POCC members to attend conferences like the National Alternatives Conference, the California Mental Health Advocacy Conference, and the California Network of Mental Health Clients Bay Area regional conference.
• Our staff presented workshops such as Ethnic Realities: The Intersection of Stigma, Prejudice, Race and Culture; Organizing Alameda County’s POCC to Combat Stigma and Discrimination; Promoting Social Inclusion and Challenging Stigma and Discrimination in Employment; and Wellness and Recovery at Work.
• Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), PEERS coordinated a group of members from POCC to take part in and travel to Sacramento on May 26 for Disability Capital Action Day.
• We have continued our efforts locally and statewide on increasing awareness of spirituality as a resource and tool in mental health wellness and recovery. On October 6, 2009 in collaboration with the Alameda County Spirituality workgroup, we organized the National Day of Prayer event. More than 40 individuals representing consumers, family members, providers, spiritual communities and agencies committed to recovery, gathered to recognize the power of unity and its benefits to wellness. We applaud the spirituality workgroup and their continued commitment and involvement in moving this important initiative forward. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.