Recovery-Focused Behavioral Health System Transformation: A Framework for Change and Lessons Learned from Philadelphia

Lessons learned while building a trauma-informed public behavioral health system in the City of Philadelphia

“…In 2005, DBHIDS initiated a system transformation for people with behavioral health needs (Achara-Abrahams, Evans, & King, 2011). This transformation emphasizes the cultures, resilience and protective factors, and unique recovery processes of individuals and families.…”

Ethnic-Specific Support Systems as a Method for Sustaining Long-Term Addiction Recovery

“…The goals of these efforts include increasing the ethnic diversity and level of representation within mainstream recovery mutual-aid groups, increasing the presence and capacity of CIRSR within ethnic communities, and building bridges of collaboration between these natural resources and mainstream addiction treatment and allied health and human service organizations. The authors have been involved for 7 years in efforts to achieve these goals within a larger recovery-focused transformation of the City of Philadelphia's behavioral health care system facilitated by the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbility Services (DBH/IDS; see Achara-Abrahams, Evans, & King, 2011;Evans, 2007). The importance of achieving these goals is indicated in part by Philadelphia's growing racial diversity: 43.4% Black; 41% White; 0.5% American Indian or Alaskan Native; 12.3% persons of Hispanic or Latino origin; 6.3% Asian persons; and 2.8% persons reporting two or more races (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010).…”

Innovations in Recovery Management for People Experiencing Prolonged Homelessness in the City of Philadelphia: “I wanted a new beginning”

“…The systems transformation in Philadelphia dramatically changed service goals and philosophies, funding and regulatory policies, service practices, constituency relationships, and approaches to performance measurement and monitoring (White, 2008a). This process was marked by unprecedented levels of participation of recovering people and their families at all levels of system decision making increased integration of addiction treatment, mental health, and primary health car; integration of professionally directed clinical services and peer-based recovery support services new organizational partners (recovery community organizations, recovery homes, recovery schools, recovery industries, recovery ministries/churches) assertive approaches to sustained recovery management (Achara-Abrahams, Evans, & King, 2011;DBH/IDS 2007a, b;Evans, 2007;Evans & Beigel, 2006;White, 2008a, b).…”