Kansas Recovery Conference

The Kansas Recovery Conference (KRC) gives individuals with mental illness a platform to engage in workshops and discussions covering addictions, recovery & wellness, and trauma informed care.

Peers are given the opportunity to connect, share their personal experiences, and support one another in their recovery from mental illness and/or dual diagnosis.

Attending Recovery Conference Audience

Kansas Recovery Conference Exhibitors

The conference gives exhibitors and peers a friendly, non-invasive space to connect. Some of our past exhibitors include:

  • KanCare (state medicaid program) representatives
  • KS Department for Aging and Disability Services
  • Kansas Disability Rights Center (typically their booth is also encouraging people at the conference to do voter registration)
  • Individual Consumer Run Organizations
  • NAMI KS
  • Kansas Clubhouse Coalition
  • The Community Engagement Institute at Wichita State University

KRC Awards Ceremony

The Conference Awards Ceremony highlights the incredible work being done by peers across Kansas. The goal is to recognize providers or community champions supporting individuals in recovery from mental illness/dual diagnosis.

We are excited to announce the 2022 Kansas Recovery Conference:

Reshaping the Perception of Mental Health

The last few years have undoubtedly changed our idea as a society of what it means to be a peer in the world of mental health and helped grow the mutual understanding that mental health is something that affects us all.

The challenges we have collectively faced in recent years have also come with the opportunity to re-imagine the way mental health services are delivered to those in need and allowed the peer voice to become more important than ever.

Join us on this journey as we work together to Reshape the Perception of Mental Health.

This conference was made possible through funding from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.

Recovery Conference 2022 Event Sponsor Logos

Event Information

Holiday Inn Wichita East I-35

Key Dates

  • Friday, March 25th – Extended deadline for workshop proposals
    Deadline to submit award nominations
  • Friday, April 1st – Deadline to submit Scholarship Applications
  • Friday, May 6th – Early Bird Registration ends

Document Submission

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Kansas Recovery Conference

Workshop Topics

Diversity & Cultural Competence

Developing an appreciation for diversity results in an ability to understand and effectively interact with different people. Being culturally competent includes being aware of one’s own worldview, having a positive attitude towards individuals who are different from us, learning about different cultural practices and worldviews, and developing cross-cultural skills.

Possible presentation topics could include:

  • Diversity issues
  • Cultural experiences and understanding
  • Rural/urban issues
  • Consumer outreach to minority groups
  • GLBTIQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, questioning) issues
  • Effective methods for promoting inclusion
  • …and more!

Systems Collaboration

Systems Transformation involves changing legislation, policy, practices, and community attitudes in ways that will benefit people with disabilities.

Possible presentation topics could include:

  • Certified Peer Specialist Services
  • Consumers as Providers
  • Consumer-operated services
  • Consumers as change agents
  • Evidence based practices
  • Education and training by and for peers
  • Peer advocates in health and human services
  • Participation on statewide committees
  • Building relationships among organizations

Leadership

Leadership covers a wide range of activities including advocacy and activism.

We define these terms as:

  • Advocacy is the art of pleading or arguing in favor of a cause, idea or policy. 
  • Activism is an energetic action taken to obtain a specific goal.

Both advocacy and activism are keys to how consumers share their voices. Other possible subjects could include: self-advocacy, mutual support, promoting and protecting rights, leadership, committee membership, board of directors, legislative issues, advance directives, etc.

Fighting Stigma & Discrimination

Overcoming mental illness is a two-sided act. On one side, consumers must overcome the symptoms, distress, and disability that result from the illness. On the other side, consumers must overcome public stigma that prevents them from equal opportunities in employment, housing, and health care. Stigma affects individual and public attitudes.

Possible presentation topics could include:

  • Anti-stigma initiatives
  • Public awareness /education strategies
  • Self-empowerment

Talking About Trauma Informed Care

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach to engaging people that acknowledges the almost universal experience of trauma in the lives of people seeking mental health care. More importantly, it helps eliminate the re-traumatization that can occur when seeking help.

Possible presentation topics could include:

  • Trauma informed practices
  • Understanding self-harm as a response to trauma
  • Self-help and peer support approaches to healing trauma

Addictions / Dual Diagnosis

This is a set of workshops focusing on addictions and mental health recovery. Our goal is to provide participants with the opportunities to gain a better understanding of living with a dual diagnosis and work toward long-term recovery.

Recovery & Wellness

People with mental health diagnoses are two-and-a-half times more likely to have significant physical health problems than the general population. This can hinder recovery, negatively affect quality (and length) of life, and create financial difficulties. Recovery & Wellness workshops are designed to provide opportunities for attendees to explore methods of improving their well-being and overall quality of life.

Possible presentation topics could include:

  • Physical health issues,
  • Talking with your providers,
  • Holistic/alternative healing approaches,
  • Peer and mutual support in recovery,
  • Use of technology in wellness and communication,
  • Wellness tools and techniques such as arts and journaling, creativity

Learn more about Kansas Recovery Conference.

We’re here and ready to answer your questions! Please contact us and we’ll get back to you.