Writing for Wellness: Walking for Spiritual Wellness March 6, 2019 | PRA Culture, PRA Work | Erika Ihara At PRA we don’t just have lunch, we “strategically renew” at midday. Sometimes that means using lunchtime for typical stuff like eating or running errands, but we are also encouraged to use the time to mindfully take a short break away from our work. Like many of us, sometimes I will use this time to… Read More
MeRT: A Primer February 27, 2019 | PRA Culture, PRA Work | Amanda Starkey In October 2018, I had the opportunity to attend the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) Annual Conference as my professional development for the year. One class I attended was particularly interesting, especially given the population we often advocate for here at Policy Research Associates, Inc. (PRA). Judi Kosterman, Ph.D., from the… Read More
Writing the Medical Summary Report: How Hard Can It Be? February 20, 2019 | PRA Work | Suzy Sodergren As a member of the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Technical Assistance (TA) Center team for 9 years, my role has primarily been behind the scenes. Give me a website page to create, an issue brief to edit, or a SOAR Online Course trainee who needs technical assistance, and I am perfectly happy! However,… Read More
Share the Success of SOAR with a SOAR Infographic! January 23, 2019 | PRA Work | Holley Davis There’s a new page we’re excited to share with SOAR providers and agencies across the country: the SOAR Infographics page! This page houses key infographics to help your agency communicate the success and reach of SOAR. Here are just a few of the available infographics you can download today: SOAR Overview This one-page infographic provides… Read More
Operationalizing Cultural Competence January 16, 2019 | PRA Culture, PRA Work | Kristin Lupfer We all talk about cultural competence. It is part of our professional development and values. But what does it mean and how do we really put cultural competence into practice? One way to operationalize cultural competence is by modifying Evidence-based Practices (EBPs). I am reminded how cultural differences can have an impact across the spectrum… Read More
It Takes a Village December 26, 2018 | PRA Culture, PRA Work | Abigail Kirkman They say it takes a village to raise a child. This is also true of ensuring a successful transition from homelessness and serious mental illness to housing, stability, and recovery. We began working with JT when he was 20 years old. He entered foster care at a young age and was eventually adopted, but due… Read More
Creating the Child Practice Cases December 21, 2018 | PRA Work | Kristin Lupfer Over the course of the past year, we have been developing the SOAR Online Course: Child Curriculum. It has been a challenging and rewarding undertaking. SOAR for Children is going to be an incredible addition to the work of the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center and an important resource for the field. The staff of the… Read More
Homelessness Among Older Adults December 12, 2018 | PRA Work | Pam Heine I have kept this 2016 NY Times article about the rise in homelessness among older adults and a Vox essay written by a 50-year-old woman experiencing homelessness because I had plans for writing a blog on this issue in the future. I am not sure why it has taken me nearly 3 years to write… Read More
10th Year for SOAR November 28, 2018 | PRA Work | Kristin Lupfer As we kick off the 10th year of the SAMHSA SOAR TA Center, I am reminded and encouraged of the incredible impact the SOAR initiative has on individual lives and communities. I get goosebumps when I hear about the ways that SOAR spreads like a good pollinator. Through a wonderful partnership with the Grand Challenges… Read More
Have You Ever Heard of Elmer Ellsworth? November 15, 2018 | PRA Culture, PRA Work | Trevor English The history of the United States is directly linked to the history of the Capital District. Not only is Albany the oldest active city charter still in operation today,[1] innovations such as the telegraph, the electric motor, the steamboat, and the railroad were first established here.[2] Many of us were taught in grade school of… Read More
Writing for Wellness: Quitting Smoking November 7, 2018 | PRA Culture, PRA Work | Lisa Guerin How many times have you heard me say I was going to quit smoking? I know a lot of you have, and honestly, I tried so many times; really, so many times. I am happy and proud to announce that I think I really did it this time! June 1 of this year was the… Read More
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month October 25, 2018 | PRA Work | Jen Elder Organized by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), each October National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and provides education about the value of a workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. DOL has a number of helpful resources to organize your own disability employment awareness event. We also… Read More
