Recovery to Practice Curriculum Modules

Curriculum Overview

Curriculum Goal

• Knowledge of the concept of recovery from severe mental illness.
• Knowledge of rehabilitation assessments and evidence based and emerging practices to assist individuals with severe mental illnesses to achieve their goals and full potential.

Curriculum Contents

• Instruction module.
• 15 modules or chapters on a broad range of topics.
• Full references.
• List of required readings.
• Sample learning activity.
• Sample evaluation questions.
• PowerPoint presentations.

Access the Free RTP Curriculum

• Download a complimentary copy of the APA Recovery to Practice Curriculum Textopens in new window (PDF, 6.35 MB).
• Download a complimentary copy of the APA Recovery to Practice Curriculum PowerPointopens in new window (PPTX, 1.26 MB).
  
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Training Modules Flow Chartopens in new window (PDF, 62KB)

Brief Descriptions of the Curriculum Modules

• Introduction Module
  This module contains information about the importance of incorporating people with lived experience of serious mental illness into the teaching of the curriculum along with information about how to use each of the topical modules.

• Introduction to Recovery Based Psychological Practice
  This module introduces the recovery model applied to behavioral health. Characteristics and fundamental components of recovery are defined.

• The Recovery Movement: Role of Psychologists and Health Care Reform
  This module provides a historical overview of the concept of recovery as it applied to mental health and describes its evolution. An understanding of the role of the health care reform in shaping the future of recovery is explored.

• Assessment
  This module discusses sound clinical assessment methodologies consistent with a recovery framework that is strengths-based and focuses on the functional capabilities of the individual.

• Partnership and Engagement
  This module examines the importance of engaging people in the service delivery process and presents some of the impediments that keep people from becoming partners in this process. A discussion of how to successfully engage and involve individuals is presented.

• Person-Centered Planning
  This module provides an overview of person-centered planning in recovery-oriented care. At its core, person-centered planning is a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to treatment in which individuals are empowered to find their own path to recovery.

• Health Disparities
  This module provides an overview of the causes of the premature death experienced by people with serious mental illnesses and includes a discussion of the intersection of race, ethnicity, gender and culture related to these causes.

• Interventions I: Guiding Principles and Integrated Framework
  This module is the first in a series of three intervention modules designed to be used together. Guiding principles that underlie the provision of all psychosocial rehabilitation services (PSR) are discussed, and an integrative framework is presented.

• Interventions II: Evidence Based Practices
  This module is the second in the series of intervention modules. The evidence based practices developed, researched, and found to help people achieve their desired outcomes are presented.

• Interventions III: Promising or Emerging Practices and Supporting Services
  This module is the third in the series of intervention modules, and describes services that have shown promise of achieving specified outcomes. Supporting services that are also widely acknowledged as essential services for helping people recover from the effects of serious mental illness are also highlighted.

• Issues in Forensic Settings
  This module is the first of two forensics modules designed to be used together. This first module highlights the many issues and impediments people with serious mental health disorders face in the justice system.

• Interventions in Forensic Settings
  This second module in the forensics series presents information about the interventions currently recommended to help people in the system avoid re‐incarceration and achieve a stable and satisfying life in the community.

• Community Inclusion
  This module presents an overview of the issues that serve to exclude people with mental health disorders from participation in their communities. These include stigma, discrimination, poverty, and vulnerability. The circular and detrimental impact of social isolation and exclusion on an individual's mental health are explored.

• Peer Delivered Services
  This module focuses on the role of peers in helping individuals recover and achieve a satisfying and productive life in the community. Peer support as an integral component of the mental health service delivery system is presented.

• Systems Transformation
  Transforming a mental health system or an organization to one that is focused on helping people recover requires a fundamental paradigm shift from a system that is provider driven to one that is driven by the individuals who use the system and their families. This module presents key ingredients, challenges, successes and the role of psychologists in systems change.

• Scientific Foundations
  This module provides the empirical basis for recovery, and presents the pros and cons of using quantitative versus qualitative methods to study interventions for people with serious mental illnesses. An introduction to mixed methods research, which offers a solution to the problems of using either quantitative or qualitative methods, is presented.

Serious Mental Illness and Severe Emotional Disturbance Series — New Approaches

This four part APA series on Serious Mental illness and Severe Emotional Disturbance (SMI/SED) — New Approaches is based on the curriculum developed by APA for SAMHSA's Recovery to Practice initiative. The curriculum is a tool to provide pre- and post-doctoral trainees with state of the art instruction on new approaches and treatments for individuals diagnosed with serious mental illnesses; it is also an update and review for more seasoned practitioners.

Questions? Email the APA Office of Continuing Education in Psychology or call (800) 374-2721, Ext. 5991, option 3.