Texas Recovery Movement
To coincide with the 2013 Alternatives Conference, we produced this short piece on the emerging “Texas Recovery Movement.” It provides an overview of what “recovery” means, who is part of the movement in Texas, and how the foundation conceives of its role as a participant in the movement:
What is Recovery?
Although recovery is a personal experience, which is always self-defined, a good consensus definition comes from the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It describes recovery as a “process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.”
What is Texas Recovery?
There’s been momentum in Texas in the last decade, as state support for recovery-oriented services has converged with a grassroots movement of consumers who have pushed for change. The goal of the Texas recovery movement is keep building on that momentum to transform systems in ways that matter to the people who participate in them. This means empowering consumers and their families, changing the way providers are trained, shifting values, spending money in new ways, reforming laws, and altering services and supports.
Who is Texas Recovery?
We’re people with lived mental health experience who have made the decision to see our own recovery in the context of a larger movement and vision. We’re peer specialists, who’ve gotten certified to provide support to other consumers. We’re state officials working to integrate recovery principles into systems throughout Texas. We’re local mental health centers providing recovery-oriented services. We’re people whose lives encompass many of these roles at the same time.
What is the Hogg Foundation’s Role in the Movement?
Our motto is “advancing wellness and recovery in Texas,” and those aren’t just words to us. Our staff and advisory board include people with lived mental health experience. Our giving is designed to promote the integration of recovery-oriented services and supports at all levels throughout the state of Texas. We’re constantly working to bring people together in support of recovery. And we strive to educate.