Welcome to the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community
The Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC) supports healing and empowerment for our broader communities and people who have been impacted by psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, extreme states, homelessness, problems with substances, and other life-interrupting challenges through:
- Peer-to-peer support & genuine human relationships
- Alternative Healing Practices
- Learning Opportunities
- Advocacy
Essential to our work is recognizing and undoing systemic injustices such as racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, transmisogyny, and psychiatric oppression.
The RLC is made up of PEOPLE (not places) and is wherever and however YOU and others from the community may choose to connect. Together, we offer a variety of events, workshops, trainings, advocacy and leadership councils, as well as a peer support line, three resource centers (Springfield, Greenfield, and Holyoke) and a Peer Respite in Northampton. Above all else, we create space for anyone who has a genuine interest in taking part in our community and holding its values to share and find connection, information, ideas and opportunities to make change in their own lives and/or the community around them. Our shared experiences and ‘humanness’ are what unite us. Our stories, collective wisdom and strength are what guide us and our community forward.
The Recovery Learning Community (RLC) is a peer-run project providing supports to individuals with lived experience. One of the founding concepts behind the RLC is that human relationships with people are healing, particularly when those people have similar experiences. And so, above all else, the RLC strives to create forums through which human relationships, community and a regional network of supports can develop. On a day-to-day basis, that effort may take the form of a community meeting, a support group, a computer workshop and/or simply offering a safe space where people can communicate with others or simply be. The RLC also acts a clearing house for information about other resources in the community.
The Western Massachusetts Recovery Learning Community is funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, the United Way of Franklin County, and a variety of private foundations and donations.
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Employment Supports
In some instances, the RLC community has played a role in supporting people who have been succesful in developing their own small businesses, recording original music, and creating and displaying artwork. Many have also moved on to a variety of competitive employment positions based, in part, on skills learned and supports received through the RLC.- Self-determination
- Increasing access to opportunity
- The importance of valued roles in healing and in life
- The individual as the expert on themselves
- Building bridges to community
- Live in Western Massachusetts
- Have been personally impacted by psychiatric diagnosis, extreme states, trauma and other challenges that have gotten in the way of their ability to explore and achieve their dreams
- Have a clear vision for your business or independent project
- Are self-driven and motivated to reach project goals
- Are not an employee of the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community or the Western Mass Training Consortium, and are not an immediate relative of an employee.
Our funds for Career Initiative Grants are very limited.
Want to donate to increase our ability to give more/larger grants? Click the link below!
Career Initiatives
Career Initatives Grant Applications are NOW available for the 2015-2016 cycle!!!!
Click HERE for the full application in PDF format or HERE if you'd prefer it in Word.
If you are a past grantee who is applying to continue your project, you can also click HERE for the re-application form.
Career Initiatives provides opportunities for people who have personal experience with psychiatric diagnosis, extreme emotional distress, and /or trauma to start their own small businesses, self initiatied projects, or pursue self-employment. Career Initiatives offers individuals the opportunity to apply for seed money to support their endeavors.
Examples of successful Career Initiatives that are now self-sustained include:
Career Explorations
Career Explorations will create opportunities for you to:
- Work independently and as a team
- Learn new skills to reach goals
- Gain hands-on experience
- Practice interviewing techniques
- Establish references
- Create a resume
- Network
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For more information, contact:
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Check out this short film about Tech Scouts!
And here are before and after shots of a Tech Scout project:
BEFORE:
Women's Idea Factory
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RLC Monthly Newsletter and Calendar
Click on the links below to view or download a PDF of each RLC newsletter and calendar.
2020
2019
• November
• April / abril
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
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The Murphy Bills and Beyond
In June of 2015, Representative Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania re-introduced the "Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act" (HR 2646), better known as the Murphy Bill. A month later, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut introduced a very similar bill in the Senate called the "Mental Health Reform Act of 2015" (S2680). Both pieces of legislation threatened to dramatically increase the use of force and dismantle many of the more progressive and healing alternatives that have been developed in recent years. As of November 2016 the fate of both bills remained uncertain.
Meanwhile, another piece of legislation called 21st Century Cures was in development and garnering increasing bipartisan support. A sweeping and expansive healthcare bill, 21st Century Cures was, initially, minimally focused on mental health provisions. Having been stalled in part due to resistance from Senate Democrats' concerns that the bill was dangerously empowering for the pharmaceutical industry, 21st Century Cures also faced an uncertain fate in November. However, the election of President Trump and consequent fears for the bill’s fate prompted a reworking of the bill that also included the absorption of many aspects of HR 2646, “Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis.”
21st Century Cures was passed by the House and Senate on November 30th and December 7th of last year, respectively. On December 13, 21st Century Cures (now including substantial portions drawn directly from HR 2646, "Helping Familties in Mental Health Crisis") was signed into law by President Obama.
- The Murphy Bills and 21st Century Cures: An Update and Overview
- Mental Health in 21st Century Cures: Digging Deeper
- 21st Century Cures: Full legislative text
- Organizations for and against the Murphy Bills
- Archived blogs & articles
- Article Count:
- 14
