The Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery will host our 20th Anniversary Conference August 11 – 13, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA. Our international, peer-led conference is titled “Taking Action for Wellbeing.” We seek compelling, diverse, and well-researched presentations to energize this convergence of Peer leaders, activists, workers, and allies.

This conference is a celebration of 20 years of community building, grass roots organizing, and connection. We are bringing together decades of expertise and peer-led innovation to learn, reconnect, and celebrate. The strides we have made should be celebrated! We have pushed to liberate and transform a system dominated by illness and control and worked to build communities of wellbeing and empowerment! Let’s keep the momentum going by expanding our wellbeing ecosystem—reaching underserved communities through collaboration, networking, and education. Together, we can take action toward a new decade of transformation!

We invite everyone who is committed to the work of advancing wellbeing to submit workshop proposals: grass-roots organizers, organizations, healthcare professionals, faith-based communities, and the mainstream workforce. We seek proposal submissions that focus on wellbeing in one or more of the following dimensions: Individual, Community, Organizational and Systems Transformation. 

1. Expanding wellbeing values, ethics and practices in the community 
2. Transformation initiatives to promote leadership and organizational wellbeing
3. Research and evaluation on innovative approaches to promoting wellbeing
4. Creating and sustaining state/regional/county wellbeing initiatives
5. Strategies to transform the wellbeing of community (beyond mental health system)
6. Wellbeing initiatives for the criminal justice system and re-entry;
7. Developing wellbeing programs for children, family and youth
8. Enhance peer support practices and peer workforce development
9. Strategies to facilitate increased community inclusion
10. Innovative approaches to support and enhance whole health and wellbeing for individuals
11. Strategies to address health and wellness disparities and increase cultural responsiveness

Workshops will be evaluated based on the incorporation of one or more of the following elements of Taking Action for Wellbeing. (submissions will indicate the elements that apply in their proposal):
*Self-direction, self-care, self-management approaches
*Wellbeing concepts: self-esteem, connection, hope, empowerment, self-determination, education, and self-advocacy
*Increasing community inclusion and participation
*Building A Strong Support System
*Increasing personal & community resources
*Applied wellness tools, skills, and strategies for whole health and wellbeing
*Action Planning for Prevention & Recovery
*Addressing physical health and the effects of exercise, nutrition, light, sleep, and smoking.
*Wellness Tools: Spirituality, Complementary, Controversial, and Alternatives
*Enhancing personal outcomes with healthcare providers & medications
*Proactive approaches to crisis planning & advanced directives
*Approaches to re-entry, post crisis & post relapse planning
*Supporting employment and education
*Enhancing motivation and lifestyle

Elements are based on US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Taking Action Curriculum HHS Publication No. 14-4857 developed by individuals with lived experience in recovery, their care providers and family members.

Workshops will indicate preference for 60 minutes, 90 minutes or a 2.5-hour Institute. Preferences are not a guarantee and your workshop may be selected for a shorter period of time based on overall program needs.