In this episode, we sat down with Vicki Phillips, Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County., We discussed MHA's mission and services. We also discussed our Civic Action Engagement Initiatives and the importance of disability advocacy, breaking barriers between all parts of the disability community, and reducing the stigma of having a mental health disability through the stigma-free campaign.

Thank you to the New Jersey Division of Disability Services for funding our Civic Action Engagement Initiative through their Inclusive Healthy Communities Grant

Learn more about NJ Division of Disability Services Inclusive Healthy Communities (IHC) Grant https://inclusivehealthycommunities.org/

Learn more about The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County: https://www.mhaac.info/index.html

Learn more about Atlantic CIL:
https://atlanticcil.org/

Music by Aphonic:
https://linktr.ee/apho

Discover the transformative journey of Carolee Morano, who shifted from a successful 14-year career in international banking to becoming a passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, In this episode, we discuss the Atlantic Center for Independent Living and the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County’s Civic Action Engagement Initiative and how people with disabilities can become more involved in the community.

The Civic Action Engagement Initiative is funded by the NJ Division of Disability Services (DDS), New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS)

Links

1. https://www.mhaac.info/ubw-how-to-join.html
2. https://inclusivehealthycommunities.org/

In this episode, we sat down with Michele Kreuzer of BEEhavior Budz, an organization that empowers families and providers with effective strategies to respond to various behaviors. We discussed the importance of supporting people with behavioral disabilities, listening to their needs, and involving them in the process. We also considered the whole environment that can affect someone's behavior.

Learn more about BEEhavior Budz:
https://www.beehaviorbudz.com/

Learn more about Atlantic CIL:
https://atlanticcil.org/

Music by Aphonic:
https://linktr.ee/apho

In this episode, we talk to Rebecca Martin from Rutgers about the Inclusive Healthy Communities grant. Rebecca provides support for the Inclusive Healthy Communities award winners. The Inclusive Healthy Communities (IHC) grant program, established in 2020 by the Division of Disability Services, New Jersey Department of Human Services, funds New Jersey communities and organizations engaged in projects that promote the health and well-being of individuals with disabilities in their communities. We discussed the IHC grant with Rebecca and how she became involved in disability work.

Link-https://inclusivehealthycommunities.org/about/

In this episode, we had the privilege of interviewing Davina Patterson, Executive Director of Disability Resource Network. The organization is located in Huntsville, AL, and serves 13 counties in North Alabama. During the interview, Davina shared her journey, where she started, and how she reached her current position.

Learn about Disability Resource Network:
https://www.drn256.org/

In this episode, We talk to Sophie Poost of Disability EmpowHer Network, which is a non-profit run by and for girls and women with disabilities that connects, motivates, and guides women with disabilities to grow, learn, and develop to their highest potential and have the confidence to lead.

Disability EmpowHer Network:
https://www.disabilityempowhernetwork.org/

We spoke with Kate Kelly and Jesse Schwartzman in this episode to discuss the Integrated Community Project (ICP) and The ICP Toolkit for Municipalities. Created by the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey, these tools allow people to perform accessibility assessments of local governments and municipalities. The assessment and the toolkit give government officials the tools and support they need to become more accessible. The toolkit was developed specifically for local governments and municipalities in New Jersey. Still, the toolkit can make any organization serving people with disabilities more accessible. This initiative was funded by the New Jersey Division of Disability Services with funds from the Inclusive Healthy Communities Grant.

If you would like to learn more about how to use the toolkit, don't hesitate to get in touch with Kate Kelly at kate.kelly@shanj.org

LINKS

1. The Integrated Community Project (ICP): https://www.shanj.org/sha-integrated-community-project/

2. The ICP Toolkit for Municipalities: https://www.shanj.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/SHA-NJ-ICP-Toolkit-Second-Edition-Final.pdf

3. https://inclusivehealthycommunities.org/



Learn more about Atlantic CIL:
https://atlanticcil.org/

Music by Aphonic:
https://linktr.ee/apho

In this episode we interview Carolyn Quinn of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey.
Carolyn Quinn joined MHA in January of 2013. She received a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Studies from Boston University in May 2010 and completed post-bachelorette studies towards a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University.

Carolyn has received certifications/licenses as Certified Recovery Specialist Practitioner (CRSP), Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS), Internationally Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (I/C PRS), Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) and a Disaster Relief Crisis Counselor (DRCC). Carolyn is a certified trainer for multiple curriculums including Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Trainer, Question Persuade Refer Suicide Prevention Training (QPR).

During her tenure at MHA, she has worked in multiple roles, starting as a peer specialist working with individuals in enhanced supportive housing. After Superstorm Sandy hit NJ, Carolyn assisted in recovery work funded by grants from Robert Wood Johnson, Atlantic County Department of Health, and New Jersey Relief Fund. It was her work during Sandy that led to her certification from the Hoarding Intervention Training Institute and Mutual Support Consulting in several evidence based Hoarding Disorder interventions. Carolyn is the co-founder of MHA’s Too Much Stuff Hoarding Behaviors Initiative in 2014 and currently serves as the chair of the Atlantic County Hoarding Task Force.

Carolyn worked as manager of the Wellness Center Manager in Atlantic County, where she coordinated operations, supervised, and supported peer employees, volunteers, and program members by developing and implementing activities, groups, and other services rooted in wellness-oriented models. Wellness philosophies that shaped Carolyn’s work includes Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Copeland Center Wellness Engagement (WE), Whole Health Action Management (WHAM), Emotional CPR (E-CPR), Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) to name a few.

Carolyn serves an integral role as trainer and organizer for the Atlantic County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Steering Committee. The CIT initiative helps create a joint response of police and mental health providers to the community.

During the initial phases of the Covid-19 Pandemic Carolyn provided disaster response crisis counseling, and then as part of the senior leadership she helped develop United by Wellness (UBW)- a virtual wellness center. UBW brings the principles (no-cost support, education, and advocacy in a safe, and diverse community) rooted from in-person peer programs to a virtual platform. In the first six months of launch UBW provided 587 groups to 41,386 duplicated members.

Carolyn currently serves as Community Engagement and Wellness Programs Director, where she oversees Atlantic county’s self-help/wellness & recovery programs and initiatives. In her role she combines her passions by promoting MHA’s public policy agenda and cultivate relationships in diverse communities to provide new opportunities for populations served around housing, education, employment, financial capability, health/mental health, and community inclusion.

Carolyn lives and works in Galloway, NJ. She is a home improvement enthusiast in the home she shares with husband and their two rescued Springer Spaniels.

cquinn@mhanj.org or 609-652-3800 ext. 0303

https://www.mhanj.org/