The April agenda included time for people attending to look at a big table full of recovery books and movies. Everyone brainstormed how best to be able to share these materials with people across 6 counties. The groups really like the idea of setting up a library system of some sort, so a person may check out materials to borrow and use at home.
The groups also like the idea of “peer centers” in Northern Lakes offices, where consumers may go for assistance from a peer in learning about recovery.
Many people are also interested in getting a little help from a peer on learning about their diagnosis on the Internet. While most communities have free Internet access through their public libraries, some consumers expressed that they would like to take a look at how computers and the Internet work with a peer first.
Northern Lakes has applied for a recovery block grant through the Michigan Department of Community Health to help implement some of these ideas that the Learning Communities and Recovery Council have identified. We will hear in September if the grant is funded!

Our “Stigma Busters” documentary movie, To See What I See, is now available for download at 75% off the price of a regular DVD – $11.24. Watch a To See What I See 30-second clip before purchasing.
The download is in MP4 format and should play on video iPods, iPhone, Zune and other hardware devices, Windows Media Player and with Quick Time.
The Recovery Council finalized the NLCMH Definition of Recovery at its March 2008 meeting.
Recovery is a personal journey of hope, purpose and growth. It is the process of setting our own directions in life. We accept the responsibilities of meeting challenges, using our own abilities, strengths and determination.
This definition was the result of much discussion and reflection. The Recovery Council worked very hard on this as a group and there was strong consensus to accept this statement as the working definition of recovery at NLCMH. Hats off to the Recovery Council for showing such strength in moving this definition forward. It was sent to CEO Greg Paffhouse for approval, and is now the official NLCMH Definition of Recovery.
The group also approved its February minutes.