Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH)

Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH) In 2009, we celebrated our 10th anniversary with a series of seminars and lectures. Government (DHHS, 2005) and by the recovery community in the U.S.

The Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health, located at Erector Square in New Haven, CT, does collaborative research, evaluation, education, training, policy development, and consultation. About PRCH
The Program for Recovery and Community Health (PRCH) is jointly sponsored by the Connecticut Mental Health Center of the Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine and the Institution for Social and Policy Studies of Yale University. We conduct research, training, evaluation, and policy development in the areas of recovery from serious mental illness and substance use, and health disparities. PRCH was founded in 1999 by a group of social scientists, clinical and community-based providers, educators, community organizers, and people in recovery who had become dissatisfied with the then-current state of mental health and addiction services, the limitations services placed on individuals’ chances for recovery, and the disparities in care based on ethnicity and culture. Since its founding, PRCH has made substantive and enduring contributions to the “revolution” called for in behavioral health care—both by the U.S. and throughout the world. Consistent with the suggestion of John McKnight (1992) that “[r]evolutions begin when people who are defined as problems achieve the power to redefine the problem,” we take the central task of our work to be involving people living with addictions and mental illnesses in redefining their challenges in their own terms. Rather than viewing these individuals as problems to be addressed through the intervention of others, we view people as the experts on the problems and difficulties posed by mental illness and addiction, and, consequently, as the foremost experts on identifying solutions to these same problems. We seek to create and pursue a vision for a dramatically different future in which the “outdated science, outmoded financing, and unspoken discrimination” that far too often characterizes behavioral health care (DHHS, 2003) is replaced by hope-filled, culturally-responsive, and recovery-oriented services and supports which enable people to reclaim their lives as valuable and contributing members of their communities. PRCH has developed a national and international reputation as a leader in articulating, operationalizing, and implementing culturally-responsive and recovery-oriented care through this approach by:
researching innovative and effective community and peer-based services and supports
assisting systems of care in becoming more culturally-responsive and recovery-oriented
reducing health care disparities
improving individual, agency, and system-level outcomes

Click here for a list of PRCH publications (PDF)

Individual Advocacy AwardRecipients: Pastor Evelyn & Pastor DanaOverview:This award honors individuals who have shown ex...
12/04/2025

Individual Advocacy Award
Recipients: Pastor Evelyn & Pastor Dana
Overview:
This award honors individuals who have shown extraordinary dedication to mental health advocacy through personal and community engagement.



Biography – Pastor Evelyn:
Pastor Evelyn has been an unwavering advocate for mental health awareness within the faith-based community, using her position to provide education, support, and guidance to individuals and families affected by mental health issues. Through her church and outreach programs, she has worked diligently to break the stigma surrounding mental health, offering spiritual care alongside practical resources for mental health support. Her initiatives focus on helping people understand that mental health is as important as physical health, and her advocacy has been vital in opening conversations on mental wellness within the religious community.

Biography – Pastor Dana:
Pastor Dana is committed to supporting individuals facing mental health challenges through both spiritual and emotional counseling. Recognizing the power of faith and community support in the recovery process, Pastor Dana has initiated programs aimed at providing relief and hope to those suffering from mental illness. Dana has been a staunch advocate for mental health access, especially for marginalized groups, and works closely with local organizations to connect individuals with essential mental health services.

Presented by

12/04/2025

Cheri Bragg Lifetime Achievement Award
Presented by: Kathy Flaherty
Recipient: Cheri Bragg

Overview:
This prestigious award recognizes an individual for a lifetime of exceptional service and commitment to mental health reform.



Cheri Bragg has been a steadfast advocate for mental health reform and individual rights in Connecticut for decades. She has been instrumental in advancing the cause of mental health advocacy at both the state and national levels. Throughout her career, she has fought tirelessly to ensure equitable access to care, protection against discrimination, and a better quality of life for individuals living with mental health conditions. Cheri’s advocacy work spans from grassroots community organizing to influencing significant policy changes, particularly regarding mental health services and the rights of individuals in care. She has contributed extensively to public awareness campaigns, legislative advocacy, and systemic reforms that align with the mission of Keep the Promise Coalition, focusing on promoting a more compassionate and inclusive mental health system.

03/17/2025

Please join Dr. Annie Harper and others t this great event.
8th Annual Yale Refugee Health Conference
THURSDAY, MARCH 27
5:30 - 8:15 PM
This event will be held in the Hope Memorial Building, Room 110, 315 Cedar St. To view a poster for this event with more information and a link to register please click here. Everyone is invited.

"Physical and Mental Health of Refugees: From Surviving to Thriving"

Speakers:

Oballa Oballa, BSW, Senior Team Leader, Hormel Foods; City Councilman, Austin, MN; Former Ethiopian refugee

Maya Prabhu, MD, LLB, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine; Associate Professor Adjunct of Law, Yale Law School

Sarah Mervine, JD, Director, Yale New Haven Health Medical-Legal Partnership for the Center for Children's Advocacy

Annie Harper, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health, Yale School of Medicine

The conference will feature an update on national refugee policy and discussions of key resources and advocacy strategies to promote resilience and thriving amongst refugee communities in Connecticut. It is sponsored by the the Edward J. and Dorothy Clarke Kempf Memorial Fund and The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale.

03/17/2025

Please join us...

Public Psychiatry Division
FRIDAY, MARCH 21
12:00 - 1:00 PM
This meeting will be held via Zoom. Please click here to log in. Everyone isi invited.

"Attending to Racial Stress and Trauma"

Angela Haeny, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine; Director, The Racial Equity & Addiction Lab (REAL) at Yale

THE PERCH announces an open call for submissions for its new issue, SOCIAL, to be published in September 2025!The PERCH ...
02/06/2025

THE PERCH announces an open call for submissions for its new issue, SOCIAL, to be published in September 2025!
The PERCH is a creative arts journal with mental health themes focused on original voices.
What does being “social” look and feel like in today’s society? How do you experience your own social life? What do your social support networks look like? What does the lack or loss of social support feel like? How have your social networks changed? What does it mean to be in connection with others, in person or virtually? What are you doing or planning to do to stay connected to counteract loneliness and isolation?

Many studies have shown the significance of socializing and social support networks in promoting wellness and recovery from mental health issues, substance use, and physical health challenges. THE PERCH’s new SOCIAL Issue will explore the relationship between our social lives and health through artistic contributions in 2025!

We seek poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction, artwork, virtual [visual] art, and scholarly pieces that illustrate the many aspects of social support and its relationship to wellness and recovery. Narratives may include personal stories about seeking social support, the loss of social support and its consequences, and the complex range of thoughts and feelings you experience about your support systems. Submissions should reflect social support’s many forms, including but not limited to friendships, relationships, mentorship, peer support and support groups, community, and social media. We are looking for specific and, in some cases, unusual or unexpected stories and images.

This is an open call—all are welcome to submit pieces for consideration!
Please submit your stories or artwork by March 30, 2025, at 11:59 pm. We anticipate a publication date in September 2025. Email Graziela Reis at graziela.reis@yale.edu with questions or concerns.
Link for Submission:

The PERCH announces an open call for submissions for its new issue, SOCIAL, to be published in September 2025! The PERCH is a creative arts journal with mental health themes focused on original voices. Many studies have shown the significance of being social and that of social support networks in pr...

02/03/2025

Grand Rounds
Grand Rounds will be in person unless otherwise noted and on Zoom this academic year. Please click this link to sign into the virtual presentations. The passcode is 793432.

All presentations begin at 10:15 and end at 11:30 am.

All in-person talks will be at Fitkin Auditorium. To reach the auditorium, enter the main entrance of the Boardman Building, 330 Cedar St. Proceed down the hallway to a "T" intersection. Go right, pass the elevators, and proceed through an arch and doors. Access a stairwell through the doors on the right and ascend the stairs to Fitkin.

Please visit the department's Grand Rounds website to view videos of past presentations.

MARCH 7, 2025
Honoring Dr. Larry Davidson: A Global Legacy - "Advancing Recovery-Oriented, Rights-Based Care, Systems Transformation, Peer Support, and Community Inclusion Worldwide"

A tribute to Larry Davidson, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine. Speakers will be announced soon.

Address

319 Peck Street, Bldg 1
New Haven, CT
06513

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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