Magellan Health Services Collaborates with United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association to Offer Recovery-Oriented Training Program.

AVON, Conn. -- Magellan Health Services, Inc., the nation's leading manager of mental health and substance abuse services, is collaborating with the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA) on a training series to educate those involved with public sector mental health delivery about the essential elements needed to develop and sustain a recovery-oriented mental health system. The series also will focus on recovery principles and values that help individuals with mental illnesses become self-sufficient.

"Magellan is proud of its commitment to fostering a recovery-oriented mental health system to benefit individuals and their communities," said Russell C. Petrella, Ph.D., chief operating officer for Magellan's Public Sector Solutions group. "Recovery is a key principle in the public sector mental health community. This training will share best practices and provide practical tips to enhance the experience and knowledge of providers, in particular, in working with individuals with mental illnesses and their families to help them take personal responsibility for their recovery, which ultimately will contribute to their ability to live full, productive lives in their communities."

"Partnering with a recognized industry leader such as Magellan, we have the opportunity to significantly impact the mental health delivery system as it transitions to one based upon recovery principles and values," said Marcie Granahan, CAE, chief executive officer of USPRA. "Together, we hope to expand the scope and reach of our educational programs and strengthen the knowledge and the application of recovery principles within community mental health organizations."

The five-part Web and audio training series, titled "Forwarding the Recovery Paradigm," comprises interactive workshops, each featuring speakers who are leaders in the mental health community, as well as at least one speaker who is also an individual in recovery. The workshops will focus on the following topics:

* Establishing Benchmarks for a Recovery-Oriented Mental Health System - March 21, 2007, 3-4:30 p.m. EDT, with William A. Anthony, Ph.D., executive director, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University; and Lori Ashcraft, Ph.D., executive director, Recovery Opportunity Center (formerly META Services). This workshop will describe the multiple layers of change that must occur to form a person- and recovery-centered mental health system, including system re-design activities and benchmarks for recovery-oriented systems. This program has relevance to a broad audience, however would be of particular interest to state mental health program directors and agency directors.

* Creating a Recovery-Based Mental Health Program - April 4, 2007, 3-4:30 p.m. EDT, with Mark Ragins, M.D., medical director, MHA Village; and Peter Ashenden, executive director, Mental Health Empowerment Project. This program targets program administrators and provides them with tools for examining their programs through a recovery lens.

* Putting Recovery Skills Into Practice - April 18, 2007, 3-4:30 p.m. EDT, with Margaret Swarbrick, Ph.D., CPRP, director, Institute for Wellness and Recovery Initiatives; and Annette Backs, LCSW, CPRP, assistant professor and coordinator of training and technical assistance, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Health-Related Professions. This program targets both administrators and direct service providers and highlights the application of the principles of psychiatric rehabilitation to service delivery across multiple models.

* Forging Your Recovery Path - May 2, 2007, 3-4:30 p.m. EDT, with Larry Davidson, Ph.D., Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health; and Jim McNulty, director of consumer and recovery services, Magellan Health Services. This program focuses on the research evidence regarding how to support people in taking personal responsibility and being active participants in their own recovery. This session is for anyone interested in learning about the recovery process.

* Putting it All Together - Measuring Outcomes and Improving Services - May 16, 2007, 3-4:30 p.m. EDT, with Terry Cline, Ph.D., administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); and Larry Fricks, director, Appalachian Consulting Group. This program highlights next steps required in system transformation and how to bring participants together with a common goal of forwarding the recovery paradigm.

Continuing education credits (CEUs) are available to all providers who participate in the trainings. For additional information and to register, visit www.uspra.org.

About Magellan: Headquartered in Avon, Conn., Magellan Health Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGLN) is the nation's leading specialty health care services organization, managing behavioral health, radiology and specialty pharmacy services for government agencies, health plans and corporations.

About USPRA: The United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA) exists to help advance the role, scope and quality of services designed to facilitate the community readjustment of people with psychiatric disabilities. USPRA continually seeks to improve the quality of psychiatric rehabilitation services and resources, to strengthen the role of community-oriented psychosocial rehabilitation within the mental health service delivery systems, and to facilitate the coordination and continuity of programs. USPRA brings together agencies, practitioners, families and persons with psychiatric disabilities.