Mental Health Month: Why it Matters May 8, 2019 | PRA Culture, PRA Work | Amelia Allen Mental health awareness matters because we are all affected by it. It is at the center of so many issues affecting our country. Along with issues of poverty and trauma, mental health is woven right into the fabric of our society. Through mental health awareness campaigns and by being an advocate, a voice, for people… Read More
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day — Suicide Prevention: Strategies that Work May 2, 2019 | PRA Work | Karli Keator Once a year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shines a national spotlight on the importance of caring for every child’s mental health and reinforces that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development. The 2019 theme for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day is “Suicide Prevention: Strategies that Work.” Learn… Read More
SOAR 2019 CJ TA Awards April 17, 2019 | PRA Work | Dazara Ware It is often said that the preparation for individuals to be released from prison and jail begins at the time of incarceration. Although the maxim is ideal, it is not uncommon for people with serious mental illness to return to communities without the support they need to ensure successful community integration. When faced with housing… Read More
Acknowledgement of Principles of Brain Development Codified in Alaska April 10, 2019 | PRA Work | Maureen McLeod On Friday, January 11, I tuned into a 1-hour webinar entitled “New Alaska Statute Directs State Policy to Incorporate Principles of Brain Development.” As an educator and trauma trainer with a long-established interest in research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), I was interested in learning how, in this political environment, scientific knowledge on trauma and… Read More
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
