In recognition of National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Health Awareness Week, March 26th – 30th, we are highlighting some of the activities SAMHSA has engaged in that align with this year’s theme “Come Out for Health”. First it is important to recognize that many LGBT individuals face discrimination in admission and health insurance policies, ill-prepared providers, fear of harassment or privacy concerns, and client information collection and reporting processes that are not LGBT-inclusive.
SAMHSA is making a difference through our LGBT-targeted efforts. Just a few of those efforts include …

How can data support effective policy-making and integration of quality services for Service Members, Veterans and their Families (SMVF)?  
Find out on March 29, 2012, from 1:30-3:00 (EST).  SAMHSA’s Military Families Strategic Initiative Service Systems Development Program (SSSDP) is hosting a webinar to increase understanding of how data can be used to strengthen behavioral health systems for SMVF.  Donna Aligata will moderate the webinar with presentations from Jamie Taylor, Senior Policy Analyst, Cloudburst Consulting Group, and William R. Abb, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), Deputy Director, Citizen Soldier Support Program.
Key topics to …

Written By: Rashetta Fairnot, Public Health Advisor, CSAT Consumer Affairs

On March 21st from 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET, Recovery Month will be hosting our first Twitter chat of 2012 to help spread the word that prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover. Our co-hosts, Marsha Baker, LCSW, Public Health Advisor, and Linda Kaplan, M.A., Senior Public Health Advisor of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, will share their expertise and insights on the topic of Recovery Support: Promoting Prevention, Collaboration, and Recovery Management.
This is an opportunity for the prevention and recovery …

We offer our sympathies and support to the victims, families, staff, community and all impacted by the recent tragedies in Chardon, Ohio, Jacksonville, Florida, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  SAMHSA has reached out and stands ready to provide that support.
SAMHSA has many resources to assist with coping with the aftermath of such tragedies. Please see SAMHSA’s website to access these materials.
We should continue to work to prevent violence in our schools and communities. SAMHSA has been a leader with the U.S. Department of Education through its Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative. Find out more at: http://www.sshs.samhsa.gov/
We can all do our part to help prevent such …

This post is one in an ongoing series of blog posts introducing SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Strategic Initiative.
By Mary Blake, Coordinator, Community Dimension of Recovery, SAMHSA Recovery Support Strategic Initiative Work Group
Relationships are at the core of recovery. People heal and grow with the support, guidance, and encouragement of others. People with lived experience of behavioral health conditions—or peers—are a critical source of recovery support. Peers have “been there” and can help people feel heard and understood, while fostering a welcoming and accepting community for supporting recovery.
In Alfred’s case, peer support …