MassPRA Board Meeting 1/12/2007

Bob Schueler, Lyn Legere, Clara Carr, Mary Gregorio, Steve LaMaster, Maria Restrepo-Toro, Deborah Delman, Brett Poza, Margaret Jordan, David Webster, Diane Gould, Brian Osborne, Kerri Kuklentz, Will Buckley

Marcia Webster, Paul Ottenstein

The December minutes were unanimously approved after a few changes were made. The following corrections were made.

Bob created a sample order form to start a discussion for the design of the CPRP workbook order form. It was confirmed that single workbooks would sell for $45 dollars. Anyone purchasing five or more workbooks would pay $50 dollars. Sales would be made to MassPRA members only.

A description for the website would be created and posted on the website. A flyer would also be created and mailed out with the next regional conversation information by Mary Gregorio. Ralph would be given the sample order form with change suggestions to be made so the form could also be posted on the website.

It was decided that at the time of ordering it would need to be clear to the purchaser that the money for the workbooks would be sent to Brian, the treasurer, and would choose if they would like to pickup the workbooks or have them mailed.

The membership fee suggestions were brought to the board so they could vote on the changes in membership fee categories

A proposal is in the works that incorporates a description of rehabilitation and recovery into the Institute for Medicine Project’s initial paper that was produced. The aim of the paper is to increase aware of the critical role of rehabilitation and recovery that would be distributed with the assistance of SAMSA.

Annual meeting: Bob volunteered to reserve a room in the Statehouse for the annual meeting in April. Each board member volunteered to recruit 10 people to attend the Annual Meeting to increase our attendance. Potential theme for annual meeting: Workforce Development: Connecting for communities. Steve was going to set up a teleconference about the Annual Meeting at 11:15 on January 19. Diane was going to pull key points as discussion topics for the meeting. A speaker has yet to be decided. Will reported he will be contacting Holy Cross to book a date in October for the conference.

February 23 is the next regional conversation that will be held in Boston on the CPRP from 12-2:30. Maria suggested BU as a location for the meeting.

Mary will be inviting Ann Roy to the February board meeting. Mary also thanked everyone for the team work to get 4 people nominated for the upcoming awards presented at the UsPRA conference.

PUBLIC POLICY
Brett mentioned that Westboro State Hospital was interested in getting staff involved in the next training with the curriculum.

Currently the curriculum is half way done. The next 7 weeks are critical. Presenters need to keep their energy up. One factor that has helped this training be so successful is incorporating the constructive feedback received by students.

HRSI visited the class and will return for more observation. There is a meeting with HRSI on the 26^th to discuss if evaluation should occur at the end of class or if there should be an additional follow-up three months after class ends. There will be a survey for students and instructors.

ONLINE ART GALLERY
It is up and running. Thanks Brett for all your hard work.

WEBSITE
It is out of date. A process and procedure needs to be developed and put in place to keep the website updated. Brett expressed interest in assisting in this task.

E-ACADEMY
E-academy is online training from the Mass Council, which is thinking of producing training for psychiatric rehabilitation. This has been successful for providers to get staff trained. It was decided it would be important to meet with the Mass Council and discuss upcoming training for psychiatric rehabilitation.

STRATEGIC PLANNING
The board identified the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats facing the MASSpra board in the upcoming year. The lists are below. The meeting will be held February 9, 2007.

Strengths
-Board has a diverse, committed, energetic membership
-Connection with peer advocacy membership in transformation process
-Own/piloting a workforce development production
-Website as a way of communication and connection
-Strong affiliation with USpra
-Growing momentum through conference and regional conversation
-Fiscal strength and momentum from membership and conference money

Threats
-Loss of Bu Rehabilitation Counseling Department
-Diminishing workforce (pool of people/difficulty hiring workers)
-Limited funding for services ( competing for money with other groups, i.e. elder services etc.)
-Issues of usPRA not growing
-Eacademy curriculum
-Self-directed care
-State budget
-CPRP (not recognized and funded by legislature and state)
-overly medical-oriented care; potentially moving towards a more clinical focus
-New governor, new lieutenant governor
-Potential change in DMH staff
-Membership growth
-Medical model; funding and grants
-continued emphasis on risk management

Weaknesses
-All volunteer board; no paid positions
-Limited financial resources
-Lack of multiculturalism
-Lack of membership growth
-Lack of awareness of and support for CPRP
-Difficulty recruiting new organizational members
-No mechanism for DMH as an organizational member
-Lack of presence in parts of the state
-Lack of attendance at events, i.e. annual meeting
-Lack of visibility and name recognition

Opportunities
-DMH reorganization of services
-Adding CPRP as a requirement
-e Academy
-Self directed care/Medicare
-Website
-Improvement in national connection
-Annual conference; potential for further growth
-New governor/new leadership
-Potential changes in DMH leadership
-Collaboration with NYPRS
-Organizational memberships
-Recruit state agencies as members
-New MHSACM Leadership ( president and CEOs as board members)
-BU Program; opportunity to influence
-Marketing in different languages; written material and website
-Workforce Development