[NYAPRS Enews] Consumer Recovery through SDC 'Investment Fund' in PA

[Briana Gilmore]

NYAPRS Note: News and brief personal impact stories like the ones below-shared from the Magellan self-directed care project-are the reason we are so thrilled that NYS is investing in a self-direction approach for individuals with behavioral health needs. The transformative, recovery-oriented model is a path to full community inclusion and enhanced quality of life that people in our community are too-often not afforded. The NYS OMH is working in partnership with multiple stakeholders to design the optimal program, and are looking to Pennsylvania, Florida, and other states where this option has been successfully integrated into a managed service array.

Consumer Recovery Investment Fund (CRIF)/Self-directed Care (SDC)
Magellan Report to the Community; July, 2014

In Delaware County, the Consumer Recovery Investment Fund, a self-directed care project, is
helping adults with serious mental illness and a history of steady engagement in behavioral health
services find the road to recovery. With the help of a recovery coach, who is also a peer specialist,
individuals develop a person-centered, recovery-oriented care plan that includes both traditional,
in-plan services and non-traditional, out-of-plan goods and services, the latter of which are paid for
by "Freedom Funds."

Participants are empowered to purchase the supports needed-books for college, bus passes,
or furniture for a new apartment-to move forward with their recovery plan. A long-standing
partnership with Delaware County, the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania,
and Temple University, this unique program launched in 2009 and has been shared with audiences
nationally and internationally.

Participant satisfaction
Based on results to date, participants are
highly satisfied with the program, saying
they would recommend it to a friend and
felt that being involved in the program had
facilitated their recovery.

*         100% would recommend to a friend

*         98% said program involvement facilitated recovery


The person who knows you best
The one person who knows their illness best
is the person who has lived with it and been
successful in spite of it. CRIF brings hope.
A doctor can't pay your bills to relieve your
stress, but CRIF Freedom Funds can. Once
the stressor is removed, life seems more
manageable, and people can focus on their
recovery.

-      Camille Grubbs, Recovery Coach, Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Taking control of my own recovery
If not for the CRIF-SDC program, my life
would still be lived on the sidelines. I would
never have gained the confidence and
motivation to grow in my recovery and move
past just sitting around waiting for things
to happen to me. I became more confident.
I've become a CPS and WRAP(r) facilitator.
I've attended national and statewide mental
health conferences. I've become involved
with advocacy. I'm the one in control of my
recovery, and I can take it as far as I want to.

-      Julie Schnepp, Consumer

A model of collaboration
For the past five years, I have presented...
nationally and internationally. There are
certain questions that are always asked,
including, "How can bringing together
a service provider, county government,
a [managed care] insurance company
and researchers work for the benefit of
consumers?"
We have become a model for inter-agency
collaboration, cross-disability mobilizing,
and how to maintain a true peer support
program that is based on self-direction within
a managed care environment.

-      Erme Maula, Program Manager, Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Watch the interview here: http://www.magellanofpa.com/report/peer-support-services.aspx
http://www.magellanofpa.com/media/877446/2014_pa_report_to_the_community.pdf
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