The Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery is excited to announce that Matthew Federici will be coming aboard as Executive Director. Matthew Federici is a national leader and advocate for systems transformation. Prior to joining the Copeland Center, Matthew directed the Institute for Recovery & Community Integration which was instrumental in the development and implementation of Pennsylvania’s Systems Transformation through Certified Peer Specialist and Wellness Recovery Action Plan training programs. His work with the Institute on Peer Specialists implementation outcomes was published in the Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. He was also a contributing author in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Skills in Practice: A CPRP Preparation and skills workbook.
Matthew is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner and member of the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. He received his B.A. from Alvernia College in Psychology and Communications and M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. He has also worked in various capacities ranging from group therapy, independent housing support to implementing a supported employment and education program. He currently serves on the National Association of Peer Specialist (NAPS) Board and the Pennsylvania Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (PAPSRS) Board.
He was awarded the Distinguished Advocate Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services in 2002; Exemplary Practice Award in 2007 from the Mental Health Association of Southeastern PA Board of Directors and the Distinguished Career Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services in 2009.
Most significantly, Matthew shares that his passion comes from his personal experience in wellness and recovery and utilizing the wellness recovery action plan for multiple levels of his life. Further, he has found the most powerful tool in facilitating recovery for others has been offering peer support and a message of hope. He is a member of family and consumer advocacy groups and has been a promoter of Psychiatric Advance Directives though local, state and national consumer and provider conferences throughout his career.
Matthew’s vision as a leader for the Copeland Center is based on offering the support and guidance to its WRAP Facilitators and partnering organizations to transform their communities to be healthier environments through the key concepts of Hope, Personal Responsibility, Education, Self Advocacy and Support.
Matthew will begin full-time at the end of January 2010.
