The Alternatives Conference 2005

The Alternatives Conference 2005

October 26-30, 2005

Conference at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, Arizona

In 1985, On Our Own of Maryland hosted the first Alternatives Conference at the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore. The National Empowerment Center's Executive Director Daniel Fisher recalls, "During the twenty years of Alternatives Conferences, our movement has inspired the nation to see that recovery is possible for all individuals. This history of consumer leadership played a role in recovery becoming the goal of the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. Alternatives 2005 is an opportunity for consumer/survivors to continue to lead this transformation to a caring system based on trust, hope, and a belief in the potential of each person to lead a full life."

"Like the mythological phoenix bird that rises from its own ashes in new power, many of us find new ways of being, functioning and making a difference," according to NEC Director, Judene Shelley. "We rise from extreme emotional distress and use our experiences of personal recovery to transform our systems of care into caring systems."

Each Alternatives Conference offers in-depth training and technical assistance on consumer-delivered services and self-help recovery methods.

Alternatives 2005 is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services

Hotel Reservations

Special per night hotel rates: $109 single, $129 double ($64.50 per person for 2 persons in a room), $139 triple ($46.34 for 3 in room), $149 quad ($37.25 for 4 in room).

Reservations for this discounted rate may be made online now (click here to reserve a hotel room for Alternatives 2005) or by calling Hyatt reservations at 888-421-1442 and ask for the Alternatives rate. This discounted rate is available October 24th through 31st for those who might like to stay longer in Phoenix. The Phoenix Hyatt Regency has many handicapped-accessible rooms.

The Hyatt Regency Phoenix has four restaurants including Networks Bar and Grill (open until 2 a.m.), Terrace Cafe, Einstein Brothers Cafe, and the Compass Restaurant, which rotates for a 360° view of Phoenix. Guests can relax in an outdoor pool and whirlpool or work out in a fully equipped exercise facility.

Phoenix boasts 325 days of sunshine per year with 70° to 80° temperatures in October. From historic buildings and cultural museums to sports arenas, restaurants and pubs, the area around the hotel has streets with palm trees and flowers blooming year round. The hotel is located in the Copper Square district where visitors can wander through exhibits at the Arizona Science Center or the Phoenix History Museum, shop at numerous stores, attend a performance at the Herberger Theatre Center or historic Orpheum Theatre, or grab a bite to eat at the numerous local restaurants or nightclubs. In addition to the numerous things to do within walking distance, complimentary DASH buses run from 6:30 a.m. - 11 p.m. around Copper Square and Downtown Phoenix, including stops at the State Capital building, museums and other downtown facilities.

Airlines

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is served by 23 airlines providing nonstop service from Phoenix to 89 cities in the United States and 17 cities in Canada, Latin America and Europe.

Ground Transportation

Shuttle van service is available from the airport to the hotel for $8 each way (a distance of less than five miles). Parking is available at the hotel for $14 per day.

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships will be provided by The Center for Mental Health Services/SAMHSA and the NAMI STAR Center and awarded through AFYA, Inc. The scholarship application will be available later. Please check back for more information.

As the number of scholarships given on the federal level will be limited, NEC encourages individuals to seek local or state funding. Please contact your state Community Support Program office, your state Protection and Advocacy Agency, or your local or state Consumer/Survivor Organization for possible scholarship funding.

Call for Papers

The Alternatives 2005 Advisory Board, which includes consumer/survivor leaders from across the nation, is seeking proposals for workshops on the following subjects: Individual Approaches to Healing and Recovery, Diversity Issues, Creating a Recovery Culture in Mental Health Systems, and Community Integration. Consumers, including those from diverse backgrounds, are invited to present workshops as our knowledge and experience is vital to transforming our lives and our mental health care.

The call for workshop proposals will be available at this website after February 11th and must be completed by March 24, 2005. To receive a form, email your address to info4@power2u.org.

Registration

Registration forms will be available at this website after May 1, 2005. To receive a form, email info4@power2u.org.

Please check back to this website for regular updated information on Alternatives 2005. General conference information is available from Horizon Meetings, 800-776-1286.

Source: National Empowerment Center

This 'Mental Health E-News' posting is a service of the New York Ass'n of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, a statewide coalition of people who use and/or provide community mental health services dedicated to improving services and social conditions for people with psychiatric disabilities by promoting their recovery, rehabilitation and rights. To join our list, please click on the E-News Subscription button.

Last Updated on 02/15/05 webmaster@namiscc.org

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