SAMHSA Region 1 | Diversity Inclusion Project Showcase: Promoting Recovery-Oriented Organizations

The New England ATTC was honored to host the inaugural SAMHSA Region 1 Diversity Inclusion Project Showcase (DIPS): Promoting Recovery-Based Organizations! The goal of the DIPS series is to bring together community-based organizations (CBOs); local, state, and regional leaders; policymakers; funders; philanthropic entities; and additional partner organizations. 

This showcase was introduced by Assistant Regional Administrator Taylor Bryan Turner, with remarks by national and state leaders Tom Coderre, Deidre Calvert, and Nancy Navaretta. Moderators Dr. Haner Hernandez, Michele Stewart-Copes, and Daryl McGraw introduced four recovery-oriented community-based organizations that serve historically marginalized communities:

• Recovery Support Services

• New Life II Ministries

• Stairway to Recovery

• STEPRox Recovery Support Center

This event took place virtually on Tuesday, October 5th, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (ET). A recording of the event can be found here and the slides and agenda that were shared can be found here.

Moderators:

	Haner Hernandez PhD, CPS, CADCII, LADCI Senior Trainer, New England ATTC		Michele Stewart-Copes MS, MSW Senior Trainer, New England ATTC		Daryl McGraw MS, CAC, CCJP Senior Manager, C4 Innovations

Featured Speakers:

	Tom Coderre Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, SAMHSA		Taylor Bryan Turner Assistant Regional Administrator, SAMHSA Region 1
	Nancy Navarretta Acting Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services		Deirdre Calvert Director, Massachusetts Bureau of of Substance Addiction Services

CBO Speakers:

	Louray Barton Recovery Coach & Peer Specialist   STEPRox Recovery Support Center 1427 Blue Hill Avenue Boston, MA, 02126 Contact Information: Phone: 617-322-3277 Email: LBarton@northsuffolk.org		Efrain Baez Program Director    Gándara Center: Stairway to Recovery  90 Main Street Brockton, MA, 02301 Contact Information: Phone: 774-257-5660 Email: ebaez@gandaracenter.org
	Marie Spivey, EdD, RN, MPA Administrative Coordinator   Recovery Support Services New Britain, CT, 06053   Contact Information: Phone: 860-221-5382 Email: mmtatem@yahoo.com		Pastor Dana Smith Director   New Life II Ministries  49 Union Street New Britain, CT, 06052 Contact Information: Phone: 860-371-8287 Email: pastorevelyn@newlife2.org

Who Attended?

Federal Partners: Learned about a new and creative way to assist partners with engaging recovery-oriented community-based organizations that service historically marginalized communities in the New England region who might benefit from federal programs.

State Leadership: Discovered creative ways to engage recovery-oriented community-based organizations, match programs to people, and gain access to a database to ease outreach.

Philanthropy: Explored CBOs that might benefit from recovery-oriented investment initiatives.

Community-based Organizations: Learned how to showcase their organization to potential funding partners, access training and technical assistance, and gain exposure.

Community Members: Learned where to get recovery support services, and celebrated organizations dedicated to recovery. 

For more information about the history of the DIPS initiative, please contact SAMHSA's Public Health Fellow Tim Jean at timothy.jean@samhsa.hhs.gov.