This event is being offered to HHS Regions 1 & 2 – ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, NY, RI, NJ, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

From Theory to Practice: The Learning Collaborative

This session presents an opportunity to join a groundbreaking four-part Learning Collaborative. Designed for 8 to 12 committed organizational teams in mental health services, this collaborative empowers participants to harness a new Lived Experience Engagement Toolkit for impactful implementation projects.  The Learning Collaborative will include three group sessions and four individual coaching sessions per team.  See below for group session dates and application link.  Applications will be due by 6/15/26, with participant notification by 6/29/26.

Toolkit features include:

~Defining Representation: Guidance on identifying lived experience in its many forms—including current and past service users, family members, and peer specialists.
~Self-Assessment & Goal Setting: Tools to help organizations measure their current engagement level and set realistic, measurable targets for growth.
~Actionable Strategies: Practical advice on building user-led implementation councils, ensuring meeting accessibility, and utilizing “lived experience surveyors” to measure project impact.
~Refinement & Marketing: Techniques for testing materials with user groups and using community marketing to improve outreach and trust.

Ideal participants are those with an active implementation project and a desire to lead the region in inclusive, user-driven mental health care. Learning collaborative participants will embark on a structured journey that equips them to:
~Define engagement goals unique to their specific community needs.
~Develop a customized plan for incorporating lived experience engagement into organizational workflows.
~Address sustainability to ensure voices of people with lived experience remain central after the initial project phase.

Event Presenters: