The director of the Department of Mental Health discussed the upcoming merger with the Substance Abuse department. He confirmed that he will remain the director after the merger. The new department will be called the Department of Behavioral Health. The director provided vague information about the merger and said details will become clearer soon. He recommended meeting with APRA for more specific information. The call established an introduction but many details of the merger remain unclear.

1. “Phone Call With Director Baron, Department of Mental
Health”
11:00- 11:30 AM- 6/18/13
Jeannie Fanning, AJ Senerchia, Director Baron
Objective: Pursue more information regarding the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health merger, and the
ramifications it could have on the Recovery community.

2. Jeannie opened the conversation, AJ followed with a brief
run-down of Young People in Recovery, and YPR-DC.
Director Baron informed us that the Mayor of DC has
appointed him to keep his Directorship once the two
entities merge.
Baron suggested we also schedule a meeting with APRA
(Addiction Prevention and Recovery Agency)
Baron followed with vague information, the new
department will be called the “Department of Behavioral
Health”
The new department has created 4 internal committees to
strengthen their organization from within (he did not
disclose what these committees would consist of)
Baron said, “He can’t say today what will look different, but
work will move into a more specific direction soon”.
Baron said, “Substance abuse is ahead of mental health
regarding peer to peer support and the recovery movement
at large, their plan is to expand those services to Mental
Health as well”.
He often kept referring us to APRA for more information,
(which could just be a way of avoiding question), (AJ has
reached out to Ryan Springer twice with no response).
In conclusion, the call was a very good introduction call.
Although it seems as though they haven’t really spent much
time ironing out the details the merger and what the new
agency will look like in the future, Baron said that they are
bringing in a consultant agency to oversee much of the
merger and he will inform them of who we are, and see if
we can participate in the merger, and offer our insight
(AWESOME).
He wants us to send him more information, and also
schedule a meeting with him and Ryan Springer of APRA.
ON THE NEXT PAGE YOU WILL FIND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS
JEANNIE ASKED. WE DID NOT USE THEM ALL, BUT IT SHOULD GIVE
YOU AN IDEA ON THE DIRECTION WE WERE HEADING.

3. Questions For the Director of the Department of Mental Health
1. Open with a very brief run down of who YPR is, then follow with “We are a
newly developing organization/ young people in recovery organizing in DC,
just trying to get a getter lay out in the district as far as support is for the
recovery community”.
2. We would like to know more about the merger, how it is going to affect the
recovery community. In what areas do you see a change in the way those in
recovery are treated and provided assistance for?
3. We heard the department received a brass tax policy grant, specifically about
peer support and affordable care act, can you explain that a little better to us?
We know you offer peer to peer services, YPR DC is a group of peers in
recovery, and we can provide great feed back and be a great group for people
in recovery
4. We would love to somehow assist; we are just calling today to find out what
is happening with the merger. Has there been any work done, or will there be
a specific focus on, youth in recovery?
5. We want to develop a healthy relationship with your division, since the
merger is happening / who is the direct line of contact for your department
because we really want to stay connected with you?
6. When it wraps up, let him know that we would love to meet him in person.
Our mission is to promote continued
abstinence and improved quality of life for
young people in, or seeking, recovery.
We envision a world where all young people
in or seeking recovery have the opportunity
to reach their maximum potential