August 21, 2007

The Advocacy Coalition

7^th Annual Summer Jamboree

It was the coldest and wettest day in August on record but that did not dampen the spirits of the approximately 200 people who gathered on August 21^st at Heckscher State Park for the 7^th Annual TAC Summer Jamboree.  The grills were fired up and manned by hearty Federation staff as folks danced to the upbeat music provided by Paul Antonios of Island Sound.  Everyone chowed down on traditional bar-b-que foods and caught up with old friends.

Our guests of honor included Ms Robin Krajewski, Director, New York State Office of Mental Health Long Island Field Office and Mr. Douglas Drew, Recipient Affairs Specialist also of the Long Island Field Office.

Pictured from left to right: Douglas Drew, Recipient Affairs Specialist , New York State Office of Mental Health Long Island Field Office; Kathy Cascio, Advocate, Federation of Organizations.

One person observed that whenever the Federation banner blew down, staff would run to put it back up.  This statement speaks volumes about the spirit and team work that takes place everyday at Federation of Organizations.

The Summer Jamboree is just one of the things The Advocacy Coalition is involved in. Members of the TAC are people who have personal knowledge of psychiatric services. We spread the message of Recovery through Self-Help, Peer Support and Empowerment by advocating for issues that are important to Consumer/Survivors.  Some of these issues are; insurance parity (Timothy’s Law), putting a stop to coercive and forced treatment, informed consent, having choice in services, more abundant housing in the communities we want to live in and putting an end to Special Housing Units (SHU)  for Consumer/Survivors in jails.  

Once a month TAC hosts a social usually on the second Tuesday of each month that features dinner and dancing.  Members of TAC attend regular meetings to represent Consumer/Survivors and Federation Of Organizations. These meetings include; the Suffolk County Mental Health Subcommittee, Service Area Councils (SAC), Recipient Advisory Committee (RAC) in Albany, New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) Regional Meetings and annual conference. The Advocates have also been on the Steering Committee for the Annual Bi-County Consumer/Survivor Empowerment Conference and the first ever East End Self-Help Conference will be coming this December.  We have welcomed a new addition to the staff, Shauna Reynolds, who will bring a positive energy and new ideas to the cause.