Workshop Information Subject to Change

1:30 - 3:00 Workshops, Session I

A. Ask The Doctor Achina Stein, DO , NAMI-RI Exemplary Psychiatrist 2008 and Medical Director of the East Bay Center This workshop will address any questions concerning psychiatric illness and treatment.

B. Children with Mental Illness: Getting The Best Out of Your Child‘s Education Sue Donovan, Transition Program Manager of RI Parent Information Network (RIPIN).

Erin Rath, MA , NAMI-RI Board Member and former guidance counselor at North Kingstown High School.

Debra Fisher, MA , Librarian at Central Falls High School and a parent of children with mental illness.

This panel discussion is designed to help identify the needs of younger students with mental illness in school, this will include how to navigate an Individualized Education Plan.

C. The Importance of Work and Education in Recovery

Mike Braet, Manager of Rehabilitation Services at Gateway

Adam Alt, BA , Consumer

Vicki Ferrara, MA , of the Sherlock Center on Disabilities at RIC This panel discussion is designed to show the importance of work and school in the recovery of people living with mental illness.

D. From Crisis to Recovery: Homelessness and Mental Illness

Carol Leveillee, BSW, Case Mgr: Access/RI

Don Boucher, BSW, Program Director of Housing First Rhode IslandColleen Zuckerman, Consumer

Tony Pierre, MD , ED of MHCA of RI

This workshop will portray the journey of homeless mental health consumers.

E. Ask The Mental Health Advocate

H. Reed Cosper, Esq., Rhode Island‘s Mental Health Advocate

This workshop will address any questions concerning the rights of individuals living with mental illness.

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3:15 - 4:45 Workshops, Session II

F. Advocacy Through Recovery

John Dupre, Peer Advocate at the Alive Peer

Support Program

This workshop is designed to show consumers how to advocate for themselves, how to advance their recovery through advocacy and how to give back to the community.

G. Emergency Services: The Need For Crisis Recovery Services

Dee Tavares, Program Manager of Emergency Services at The Kent Center

Lou Azie, Clinical Supervisor of The Providence Center Emergency Services Department.

Melissa Fundakowski , Consumer This workshop will describe the benefits and challenges of mental health emergency services.

H. From Common Ground To Higher Ground Chaz Gross, CAGS, Executive Director of NAMI-RI

This workshop will focus on designing mission-focused legislative advocacy campaigns built on community partnerships, promoting essential recovery services, and resiliency focused support systems in RI.

I. From Hope To Recovery A Personal Perspective

Joseph E. Devenish, Consumer

This workshop will focus on one individual‘s battle with a co-occuring disorder and life strategies for recovery learned over the years from very hard lessons.