Mental Health Recovery and WRAP Values and Ethics Checklist
Strong values and ethics are the cornerstone of Mary Ellen Copeland’s work and Copeland Center trainings. Facilitators must understand these ethics before leading Mental Health Recovery and WRAP groups and workshops to insure a supportive environment for learning. In addition, they need to review them from time to time. As they are facilitating the group, they review the concepts and make adjustments if there are any indications that the values and ethics are being violated. Facilitators give participants copies of this checklist to review from time to time and ask for suggested changes if the concepts are not being followed.
Each session supports the premise that there is hope, that people can get well, stay well for long periods of time, and do the things they want to do with their lives.
Indicators:Participant responses indicate that they have or are developing a sense of hope.
__ Y __ N
Participants are making plans for their future that include recovery.
__ Y __ N
Self determination, personal responsibility, empowerment, and self-advocacy are key aspects of this program.
Indicators:Participants share ways they have kept or have taken back control over their lives.
__ Y __ N
All topics reflect a focus on self-determination, empowerment, and self-advocacy.
__ Y __ N
The program supports workshop decision- making and personal sharing.
Indicators:
All decisions concerning the workshop are made by the workshop with participants deciding what issues are to be resolved.
__ Y __ N
Personal sharing within time and subject parameters is encouraged and supported.
__ Y __ N
Participants are treated as equals with dignity, compassion, mutual respect, and unconditional high regard.
Indicators:Participants seem comfortable and at ease in the sessions.
__ Y __ N
Facilitator’s self-reports and observations of each other indicate that all participants are treated as equals with dignity, compassion, mutual respect, and unconditional high regard.
__ Y __ N
There is unconditional acceptance of each person as they are - unique, special individuals, including acceptance of diversity with relation to culture, ethnicity, language, religion, race, gender, age, disability, sexual preference, and ‘readiness’ issues.
Indicators:
At each session facilitators ask the workshop if they feel they are being treated well, that their needs are being accommodated and that the program supports diversity.
__ Y __ N
There are no discriminatory comments.
__ Y __ N
Facilitators make needed adjustments and accommodations.
__ Y __ N
This program is based on the premise that there are "no limits" to recovery.
Indicators:
All participant goals and plans are supported without judgment.
__ Y __ N
Participants are given the opportunity to explore choices and options, and are not expected to find simple, final answers.
Indicators:
Facilitators agree that the atmosphere at the session supported choice and options.
__ Y __ N
All participation is voluntary.
Indicators:
Facilitators agree that all participation was, in fact, voluntary.
__ Y __ N
It is understood that each person is the expert on her or himself.
Indicators:
Facilitators agree that participants were supported in speaking from their own experiences and making their own decisions based on their self-knowledge.
__ Y __ N
The focus is on individual strengths and away from perceived deficits.
Indicators:
Facilitators and participants agree that the focus was on things that people do well, and that there were no negative judgments or deficit-based assessments.
__ Y __ N
Clinical, medical and diagnostic language is avoided.
Indicators:
Facilitators agree that they did not use clinical, medical, and diagnostic language.
__ Y __ N
The focus is on peers working together and learning from each other to increase mutual understanding, knowledge, and promote wellness.
Indicators:
Each session includes several interactive exercises that include the entire workshop or smaller workshops.
__ Y __ N
The program emphasizes strategies that are simple and safe for anyone, and it stays away from strategies that may have harmful effects.
Indicators:
Facilitators and participants agree on which strategies are simple and safe and moderate the discussion away from strategies that might have harmful side effects, directing participants to resources that will inform them on these topics.
__ Y __ N
Difficult feelings and behaviors are seen as normal responses to traumatic circumstances and in the context of what is happening and not as symptoms or a diagnosis.
Indicators:
Facilitators react to difficult feelings and behaviors with compassion and support.
__ Y __ N
There is unconditional acceptance of all creative work and expressions that are created or brought to each session. This includes movement, sound, painting & drawing, collage, and three- dimensional construction. The creator is always in control of the work.
Indicators:
Facilitators comment on creative working using their own perspective and encourage participants to do the same.
__ Y __ N
At each session, individuals or workshops of participants who created something decide what happens to it.
__ Y __ N
Resources:
The WRAP Story
Mary Ellen gathered stories from people who are using WRAP, WRAP group facilitators, people who are using WRAP in their organizations and people who are using WRAP to change the mental health system. The stories in this book show the transformative power of WRAP outside the United States, in countries and cultures with varied practices and beliefs about mental health. This book is not all-inclusive. There are hundreds of thousands of other WRAP stories waiting to be told. The hope is that these eighty-two stories will further convince you of the power and effectiveness of this simple tool, designed and developed by those of us who experience mental health challenges.
Training:
Become a
Certified WRAP Facilitator
Interested in becoming a mental health recovery educator? Spend 5 days with Stephen Pocklington, Executive Director of the Copeland Center, and Copeland Center staff which are designed to help you become a powerful change agent as a recovery educator. Learn about the Copeland Center.
E-Learning:
"Finally I have discovered that there are things I can do to help myself." - WRAP Plan User
A Wellness Toolbox is the first step in developing a WRAP plan. It is a comprehensive list of all the things a person does to stay well and to feel better when they are not feeling well. It can include things the person is doing now and things they have learned of that they want to try. New tools can be added to the Wellness Toolbox as the person discovers new options. Tools that are not working well can be removed. For many people, developing the Wellness Toolbox is their first introduction to personal responsibility and empowerment.
This course will lead you step-by-step through the process of developing your own Wellness Toolbox. It is recommended for people who are developing their own WRAP, people (peers, care providers, family members, etc.) who are encouraging others as they develop their WRAP plan and as a refresher for WRAP group facilitators.