New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
Announces Name Change to the Alliance for Rights and Recovery
[Albany, NY] – [October 11, 2023] – In keeping with our commitment to enhance our state and national impact in promoting the human rights, wellness and recovery and community success of people with major mental health, substance use and trauma-related challenges, the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) is expanding our efforts and rebranding ourselves as the Alliance for Rights and Recovery, effective today, October 10, 2023.
“This decision builds on our longstanding commitment to advance the policy and programmatic reforms, innovative peer to peer service models and transformed community supports and services that we have promoted since our founding in 1981,” said CEO Harvey Rosenthal.
Since that time, our organization has successfully helped to raise the bar for what people have come to think is possible for themselves and what they should have a right to expect from community-based programs and public policies. In doing so, we have supported countless individuals to strengthen their recoveries and succeed in their communities, free of mental health institutions and hospitals, homeless shelters and prisons and jails.
Our efforts have caused state and national advocacy organizations, governmental bodies and the media to seek out our expertise and experience in advocacy, training, technical assistance and the development of innovative peer to peer service models like the original NYAPRS Peer Bridger Model™ that we created in 1993.
Accordingly, our most recent strategic planning process produced a recommendation that we take the steps necessary to engage in a rebranding process and increase our national presence and impact.
“Our board and staff are very excited and committed to ensuring that the expansion of our efforts as the Alliance for Rights and Recovery allows us to extend our impact in promoting our mission and movement across the state and nation,” said Jeremy Reuling, Co-President of the Alliance of Rights and Recovery’s Board of Directors and Program Director at internationally acclaimed People USA.
As a peer-led organization, the majority of the Alliance’s board and a very high proportion of our staff are people with lived experience in recovery.
“We are determined to join with our allies in the peer support, disability rights, independent living and social and racial justice reform movements to ensure that the voice of our community is the central force in promoting self-determination and the development of state and national mental health policy and programs,” said Taina Laing, Co-President of the Alliance of Rights and Recovery’s Board of Directors and CEO of Baltic AEH, one of New York’s and the nation’s most prominent peer-run agencies.
“At a time when false associations with violence and increased stigma and discrimination are leading us backward to a nationwide increase in the use of coercion and institutions, our work has never been needed more,” said Director for Public Policy Luke Sikinyi.
“As part of the rebranding process, the Alliance for Rights and Recovery has developed a new logo and updated website to enhance our visibility and accessibility to individuals seeking support and information related to mental health rights and recovery,” said COO Len Statham.
For more information about the Alliance for Rights and Recovery and its programs and initiatives, please visit www.rightsandrecovery.org.
About the Alliance for Rights and Recovery:
The Alliance for Rights and Recovery is a state and national change agent dedicated to improving services, public policies and social conditions for people with mental health, substance use and trauma-related challenges, by promoting rights, health, wellness, recovery, with full community inclusion, so that all may achieve maximum potential in communities of choice.
Media Contact:
Alliance for Rights and Recovery
Harvey Rosenthal, Chief Executive Officer
harveyr@rightsandrecovery.org
518-527-0564
NEW WEBSITE :
Rightsandrecovery.org
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