Robley Rex VAMC Holds First Graduation for New Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center
Louisville, KY - The Robley Rex VAMC’s Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC) for Veterans living with severe mental illness celebrated its first graduates in program history on Tuesday.
After more than a year in the program, Nigel Tucker, Tracey Taylor, and Christopher Pompa celebrated the end of a grueling mental health recovery curriculum designed to provide Veterans with skills to reengage in building relationships and interacting in their greater communities.
Also known as the Phoenix Empowerment Center, this program began in August 2019 and offers patients opportunities to participate in mental health skills groups with clinical providers and peer support specialists. The program has 32 participants who are referred by their VA provider. According to Dr. Tina Brown, PRRC program coordinator, the goal is to market the program and become an option to any Veteran suffering from serious mental health issues.
“While today is our very first graduation, we have plans to grow this program,” Brown said. “We currently have two clinicians, two peer support specialists, an individual recovery coach, and a music therapist who provide 15 hours of training each week to program participants. As more success stories are created like today’s graduates, the PRRC program will become an increasingly powerful tool in the VA’s mission to normalize the way mental health is provided and the way it’s perceived.”
In addition to mental health recovery groups, the curriculum emphasizes the development of cognitive behavioral skills, coping and recovery skills, social skills, relaxation and stress management, employment/volunteerism, health education and wellness, illness and medication management, music therapy, spirituality, and specific strategies to accomplish goals.
The graduation also coincides with national Mental Illness Awareness Week.
“Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) occurs during the first week of October,” said Brittany Priddy, a local recovery coordinator with PRRC. “This year, MIAW is observed from October 2 - 8. The MIAW is a time dedicated to increasing people’s understanding about mental health and confront stigma related to receiving mental health care. Awareness events, like today’s graduation, take place across the country during this week to remind us that our mental health is important -- and that recovery is possible.”
“Today’s graduation is a testament to a lot of hard work from our graduates and the PRRC’s staff,” said Brown. “When we first started this program, we knew that we were addressing an important void in the kind of mental wellness healthcare that the VA provided our Veterans. Hearing the testimonies from our graduates today and how this journey has changed their lives cements why this treatment is critical for our Veterans.”
Veterans interested in learning more about the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center are encouraged to call 502-287-6482.
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