Scaling New Heights - The PCPA 30th Anniversary Conference - Event Highlights

October 2002

Blue Receives PCPA President's Award

Susan C. Blue, President of Community Services Group, Mountville, was honored by PCPA as the 2002 President's Award recipient. A long-time supporter and active member of the Association, Blue has been involved with PCPA since 1986 and served as the board president in 1991-92. She is a founding member and a catalyst in the development of the Community Behavioral HealthCare Network of Pennsylvania, a sister organization to the Association, and has served as the board chairperson of CBHNP since 1998.

During his remarks, PCPA President Pete Rubel noted "Susan has been a person who has been an anchor - both personally and professionally - since I met her. Whenever we would be in meetings together - discussing problems and issues that seemed insurmountable, she was always the first to say 'It will be okay.' She is a rare gift of a person who is a true leader AND a versatile manager."

"I am honored to present this award to her," he continued, "in recognition of her passion and determination to succeed, her courage to lead, and her ability to meet the challenges of mastering change while assuring the success of others. She has effectively transformed managers into leaders and leaders into champions throughout her career. Her spirited nature and potent veracity set her apart as an individual one would seek out to ask for counsel not only on Association business, but as colleague and friend."

PCPA extends congratulations to Ms. Blue for her honor and extends thanks for her long-standing commitment to the growth and success of the Association.

Webb Presents Government Relations Award to Chambers & Hubert

Ray Webb, Jr. presented a dual 2002 Raymond R. Webb, Jr. Government Relations Award to Michael Chambers, Executive Director, MH/MR Program Administrators Association of Pennsylvania and Kathy Hubert, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of County Drug & Alcohol Administrators. Presented to an individual or group, the award honors those who have raised their voices on behalf of adults and children in need of mental health, mental retardation, and/or substance abuse services. Webb, in an act he likened to the "parting of the seas," praised the work of both Chambers and Hubert in their collaborative efforts to bring counties and providers together over many issues and many years in their respective fields, including such activities as the MH/MR Coalition recruitment & retention activities and joint efforts to build a D&A coalition and bring additional funding into the system. PCPA congratulates both Chambers and Hubert on their award and looks forward to continued collaboration with them and the associations they represent.

Stern Honored as Marilyn Mennis Award Recipient

Lenora Stern, recently retired from long-time service in the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, was honored as the 2002 Marilyn Mennis Memorial Award recipient. The award is presented to an individual who embodies the memory, commitment and vision of Mennis. She was renowned for almost three decades of work on behalf of Pennsylvania's children with special needs, holding positions at the local, state, and national levels, advocating, problem-solving and providing invaluable leadership to the community in the provision of quality services for children with special needs. The award was presented by Children's Committee co-chairs Joe DeVizia and Kevin Jenkins. Stern, who was unable to attend the celebration, sent remarks.

"In looking back to 1986 when I first began my work in the state...I was very fortunate to meet Marilyn Mennis...we had a similar passion for children's mental health work and we became an energetic team with the goal of improving children's mental health services in Pennsylvania. We had a vision of a system of care with a common set of principles and a comprehensive set of services which would support children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance in their own communities. Our slogan was, 'Whatever it takes.' I will treasure this award because it is a symbol to me of our mutual interest and passion in working together to improve children's mental health services." PCPA congratulates Stern on the award and thanks her for her decades of work on behalf of children in the Commonwealth.

Curie Highlights Anniversary Gala

Charles Curie, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), was the featured speaker for the PCPA 30th Anniversary Gala October 17. During his remarks (available in their entirety from this link) Curie affirmed the SAMHSA mandate that "behavioral health services need to be available, accessible, and appropriate for people of all ages." He spoke of his vision as a social worker - a vision that guided his work in Pennsylvania and in Washington DC - life in the community for everyone.

Curie reflected on the Bush Administration New Freedom Initiative, where President Bush has pledged his commitment to community-based care for people with disabilities. "The President has made clear," Curie noted, "that the time is past due for mental illnesses to be brought out of the shadows and into the light - where they can be treated and insured like other chronic illnesses. It's really all about enabling people to have fulfilling lives that include jobs, homes, and meaningful relationships with family and friends."

In remarks about the future of SAMHSA and services across the county, Curie spoke of guiding principles for care:

• The need to provide culturally competent services;
• The need to ensure our services are data-driven, evidence-based, and outcome-oriented;
• The need for collaborations and partnerships across the public and private sectors;
• The need to recognize and respond to geographic diversity - to help ensure no one is left behind;
• The need to lift the discrimination and stigma of mental illness;
• The need to build communities of hope through community-based care, including faith-based
• And, most important, the need to focus on recovery - to enable people with mental illness and their families to reach for and realize satisfying and rewarding lives.

Curie closed with a reminder to those assembled. "As long as we keep demonstrating that treatment works, and as long as we keep developing citizen-centered, results-oriented services that promote that life in the community, we bring messages of hope and cheer, beauty, and, above all courage to the millions we touch through our work. It's a hope born of our dedication and commitment to the work we love."

Scaling New Heights Exceeds Expectations

October 15 - 18 marked the PCPA 30th anniversary conference - Scaling New Heights. Held at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, more than 600 providers, state officials, exhibitors, advocates, consumers, family members, health care representatives, and managed care officials gathered for opportunities of education and networking. Sixty-five workshops and institutes across nine program tracks were available during the four day event.

Dr. Earl Braxton, Edge Associates, presented the Keynote Address on Wednesday, When Surviving Crisis is Not Enough: The Art of Engaging in Strategic Management. A nationally recognized speaker, Braxton challenged the audience to learn to manage organizations that enable them to move through crises by thinking systemically. PCPA presented several legislative events during the course of the conference. Stories elsewhere in this issue discuss the second gubernatorial forum, the annual legislative forum, and the kick-off of activities for the Government Relations Institute© Class of 2003.

Exhibit Hall was filled with 50 vendors representing insurance companies, software companies, service providers, managed care organizations, and others who support the work of the community-based system in providing mental retardation, mental health, and substance abuse services. Opportunities for formal and informal networking abounded throughout the conference. Countless prize giveaways were held in Exhibit Hall during the course of the event. PCPA - on behalf of its guests - thanks all the exhibitors for their contributions and involvement in activities.

Mark your calendars for the next PCPA Annual Conference to be held October 7 - 10, 2003 at Seven Springs and watch future editions of Provider News for the announcement of the theme, Workshop Call for Proposals, and the Invitation to Exhibit, Sponsor and Advertise!

PCPA Extends Special Thanks to Conference Sponsors

The PCPA Annual Conference is supported by many organizations - through contributions of time and energy on development committees, attendance, exhibiting, and advertising - and through contributions for conference sponsorships. PCPA extends special thanks to the following organizations for their contributions to the annual event:

• Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, Pittsburgh, Welcome Reception & The Fabulous Hubcaps;
• Children's Service Center of Wyoming Valley, Inc., Wilkes-Barre, Coffee Breaks;
• Brown & Brown of the Lehigh Valley, Inc., Bethlehem, Networking Reception;
• CMHC Systems, Dublin, OH, Cyber Café;
• Askesis Development Group, Inc., Pittsburgh, Coffee Breaks;
• PA Mentor, Norristown, PCPA Hospitality Suite;
• First Nonprofit Companies, Chicago, IL, Grand Prize Giveaway;
• Value Behavioral Health of PA, Trafford, 30th Anniversary Gala Reception; and
• Staffing Plus, Inc., Haverford, 30th Anniversary Fireworks.