Callahan & Blaine

Callahan & Blaine senior trial attorney, Rich Collins, recently spoke at Mobilize Recovery 2021 in Las Vegas as the official Mobilize Recovery legal advocate.

Mobilize Recovery’s mission is to expand policy to support recovery, create connections to supportive services that are vital and life-saving, and to engage affected individuals in meaningful civic action. The initiative convenes advocates with lived experience to build capacity for organized civic engagement with new leadership across the country.

We had a chance to speak with Rich about the Mobilize Recovery 2021 event:

Q: What was your involvement with Mobilize Recovery 2021

A: I had the great honor of being introduced by my dear friend, Ryan Hampton, to kickoff Mobilize Recovery 2021 in Las Vegas, Sept. 24-27^th, a national conference provided by the Recovery Advocacy Project and The Voices Project with a mission to expand policy that supports recovery, create connections to supportive services that are vital and life-saving, and to engage individuals in meaningful civic action and build new leadership across the country. Callahan & Blaine is a proud sponsor of this impactful event.

Q: Who were some of the other speakers and participants?

A: It was my great pleasure and honor to introduce former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, who was the lead author of the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act that requires insurance companies to cover treatment for illnesses of the mind no differently than illnesses of the body. An incredible lineup of speakers followed, including Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, Clinton Global Initiative Senior Director, Chris Thrasher, and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of SAMHSA, Tom Coderre. President Bill Clinton and Regina LaBelle, White House Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, were gracious to join us via Zoom. And while I didn’t get to share the stage with Macklemore for the iHeart Radio Recover Out Loud concert, I closed my Apple Watch move rings during “Can’t Hold Us” and “Glorious.”

Q: Tell us a bit about the people attending the event.

A: While it is truly an honor to share the same stage as some of the most influential people in our country, being in the company of the hundreds of attendees –advocates, activists, health care providers, caregivers, policymakers – made the greatest impact on me. These people wake up each day and serve their fellow humans, each bringing to this common cause a varied perspective and expertise, an inspirational idea, a compassionate heart. They are the mobilizing force.

Q: How has Mobilize Recovery impacted your work?

A: Damon Eisenbrey, and I have devoted our law practice to enforcing state and federal laws that mandate equity and parity for mental health and addiction treatment. Our charge that we take from this conference can be simply summed up:

• Foster in others an understanding of the suffering of those in recovery – Empathy
• Instill in others a concern for their suffering – Compassion
• Transform our healthcare system to one that is fair and just – Equity
• A healthcare system that gives equal treatment to diseases of the brain as diseases of the body – Parity

For more information on Mobilize Recovery, visit their Facebook page, Twitter page or simply search for the #MobilizeRecovery21 hashtag on social media.