Creating a recovery-oriented system of behavioral health care: moving from concept to reality.
This article describes challenges and successes seen in the first four years of efforts the state of Connecticut has made to reorient its behavioral health system to promoting recovery. Beginning in 2000, the Connecticut initiative was conceptualized as a multi-year, systemic process that involved the following interrelated steps: a) developing core values and principles based on the input of people in recovery; b) establishing a conceptual and policy framework based on this vision; c) building workforce competencies and skills; d) changing programs and service structures; e) aligning fiscal and administrative policies; and, finally, f) monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting these efforts. Following descriptions of the first four steps, the authors offer a few lessons that might benefit other states engaged in similar processes of transformation.
Davidson
Larry
L
Program for Recovery and Community Health, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06513, USA. Larry.Davidson@Yale.edu
Tondora
Janis
J
O'Connell
Maria J
MJ
Kirk
Thomas
T
Rockholz
Peter
P
Evans
Arthur C
AC
D001524:Behavioral Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003237:Connecticut; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011635:Public Health Administration