Welcome to the Psychosocial Rehabilitation AssoCIATION of New Mexico
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Chacku is an Indian American, born in Kuwait, who became involved in consumer/survivor/ex-patient advocacy when he was 15 years old. Chacku personal experiences with racism and xenophobia related trauma, suicide attempts and disabling mental health and substance use conditions, including psychosis as a youth and young adult, launched Chacku and his family towards several efforts to advocate for alternative supports, racial equity and inclusion in the community, with special emphasis on youth, young adults, and families of color.
He has since accumulated over 35 years of experience in behavioral health systems transformation in a variety of roles including youth leadership, community organizing/advocacy, psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner/trainer in community mental health centers and residential programs licensed and certified by the Office of Mental Health.
He has served in executive leadership roles such as the CEO for the MHA of Rochester the Director for the NAMI Star Center, a SAMHSA National Technical Assistance Center as the Associate Executive Director for the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. He has extensive training and technical assistance experience through NYAPRS as an implementation partner for the New York State Center of Excellence for the Integration of Care (CEIC), the SAMHSA Northeast Addiction Technology Transfer Network, the SAMHSA Recovery to Practice Resource Center for Behavioral Health Professionals and the SAMHSA Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS-TACS). Chacku was active in state policy leadership by leading a statewide Employment Campaign, became the Chair for the Most Integrated Settings Coordinating Council's Employment Data Integration Team, was appointed to the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) Credentialing Board and the New York State Integrated Block Grant Committee. He is a former member of the Commission that oversees the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA)Certification Program for Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioners (CPRP).He is a founding member and current President of Friends of Recovery-New York, a statewide coalition of people in recovery from addiction and ex-officio board member for National Association for Rights Protection and Advocacy (NARPA). Chacku is also appointed the NYS Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee (BHSAC) and the appointed Co-Chair for the Equity Committee of the BHSAC.
He is also appointed by the New York State Senate to the Daniel's Law Taskforce.Chacku brings a strong mix of experiences developing youth-guided, racial equity-driven, behavioral health infrastructure with communities, community-based organizations. large healthcare systems, as well as multiple state territory and tribal governments across the country