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Imagine Care Conference Report
Editor's Note: In November of 1999 M-POWER hosted a statewide conference for Massachusetts' c/s/x. The conference was one step towards M-POWER'S goal of creating a statewide network of c/s/x advocates and friends in Massachusetts. Nan Donald wrote an excellent report describing the event. On November 1, 1999 more than 400 people turned out to participate in the first of what those in attendance learned would be an annual series of statewide consumer/survivor conferences. DMH Commissioner Sudders, addressing the audience in response to an Imagine Care Planning Committee letter promised consumer/survivors funding for an annual conference. This year’s event, entitled "Imagine Care: Real Recovery I" acknowledged the need for a closer statewide network of consumers and survivors, and was also focused on our current needs and priorities. A key theme of the conference recognized that a community that adopts the concept of consumer empowerment yields more effective treatment and services. Imagine Care was presented at no charge to consumers, and included a complimentary continental breakfast, snacks and lunch, as well as a souvenir T-shirt. Held at the Sturbridge Host Hotel, in Sturbridge, the conference was funded by the Department of Mental Health with technical assistance by the Office of Consumer and Ex-Patient Relations (OCER); and additional support from the Center for Mental Health Services. Although the conference itself only lasted a day, the work to bring it off actually started back in 1997, and can be seen as a natural and conscious result of several things, including the "Taking Back Our Lives Conference” in 1994, and a proposal for such a conference drafted by the Statewide Negotiating Team in 1998. Nearly 20 volunteers made final preparations for Imagine Care the day before at the conference site. Planning, outreach and preparation began months before. Breakfast and registration began at 9:30 a.m., followed by brief speeches by Conference Chairperson Jim Shaw, Steve Holochuck of OCER, and Mozella Williams of the Peer Educator's Project. Commissioner Sudders made quite an impression setting off her Imagine Care T-shirt with a string of pearls! The keynote speaker was Yvette Sangster, former executive director of Advocacy Unlimited (a successful statewide consumer advocacy network in Connecticut). Yvette based her speech on "Building an Advocacy Movement One Person at a Time: Don't Just Imagine Care, Let's Make Real Recovery Happen!" As one of her slides emphasized, "Dreams are the beginning of reality…Begin to Dream!!” Following the speeches, people had their choice of workshops and caucuses, which had the intent of kick starting networking amongst Massachusetts consumers. Issues and topics addressed included "Communicating Through the Arts," "Legislation and Making Laws," "Human Rights" and "Making An Impact on the System Through Board and Committee Membership." Workshops and caucuses resumed following lunch, and focused on many different themes: "Organizing as a Community to Work for Alternatives," "Communications in the State: What Do We Have?" and "How Do Organizations Fundraise and Become Self-Sufficient" were just a few of the many on offer. In addition to the speeches, workshops and caucuses, Imagine Care featured artwork from the Anchor House of Artists, and music by The Klezmer group of Tune Foolery. In addition many of the other allied consumer groups in attendance hosted tables loaded with information on a wide variety of topics and concerns of importance to Massachusetts consumers and survivors. The final events of the day took place in an inspiration and plenary session. Linda Stein of Western Massachusetts spoke about "A Network for Us," and there were considered statements from the floor. The conference began with a "Better World Survey" which asked those attending to rate the importance they held to a variety of different changes that could be made to the current mental health system. The survey measured the relative importance to consumers of different issues such as reducing or eliminating restraint and seclusion, as well as other forms of forced treatment, creating better job opportunities, and adopting holistic and wholeness approaches to mental problems. Imagine Care also ended with an election. Consumers/Survivors in attendance voted "yes" on two motions by the Imagine Care Committee. The attendees voted YES! to: 1) Creating a statewide network of Consumer/Survivor/ Ex-patient activists for advocacy; and YES! to: 2) Following up on the progress made at this first Imagine Care Conference. The Nutshell looks forward to reporting on the Better World Survey results, and on the progress in the ongoing efforts to form a Consumer/Survivor statewide network in Massachusetts. In the mean time if you have ideas for the next Imagine Care Conference, call M-POWER and ask to be in touch with Imagine Care II!
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