NAMI Charlotte

Tar Heel Footprints in Health Care
A periodic feature that recognizes individuals whose efforts—
often unsung—enhance the health of North Carolinians
Cherene Allen-Caraco, QMHP, QDDP
When Cherene
Allen-Caraco moved
to Charlotte, North
Carolina and observed
gaps in the state’s
mental health system,
she quickly became
involved in efforts to
identify solutions in the Mecklenburg County community.
In her role as director of Mecklenburg’s
PROMISE, Allen-Caraco promotes the concept
of mental health recovery. Where traditional
approaches emphasize stabilization and maintenance,
this recovery model for mental health treatment
differs in that its primary emphasis is on hope
and the ability of an individual to thrive and lead a
productive, meaningful, and valued life despite his/
her mental health condition.
Allen-Caraco’s combination of professional
and lived mental health experience gives her valuable
perspective. Kim Franklin, PhD, a colleague at
Meridian Behavioral Health Services, speaks highly
of Allen-Caraco’s passion and commitment as well
as her strength as a credible and articulate consumer
advocate. She says, “Cherene is one of the
strongest recovery champions in North Carolina. …
She knows how to wrestle with the complex issues
the state is facing.”
About 6 years ago, Allen-Caraco helped to
found Mecklenburg’s PROMISE, a peer-run mental
health community resource. Staffed by individuals
in recovery themselves, Mecklenburg’s PROMISE
not only serves as a leader and resource for recovery
in the community, but it is also a striking
example of what recovery and wellness can look
like for individuals with mental health conditions.
Mecklenburg’s PROMISE offers recovery education
and training to behavioral health professionals and
paraprofessionals, individuals in recovery, and the
community in addition to peer support programs.
Mecklenburg’s PROMISE promotes collaboration
between behavioral health professionals, individuals
in recovery, and their family members and
serves as a resource for any member of the community.
In 2007, it was named the North Carolina
Program of Excellence for Consumer-Directed
Support.
In addition to her work at Mecklenburg’s
PROMISE, Allen-Caraco serves as a mental
health consultant with The Council on Quality
and Leadership (CQL), which offers consultation,
accreditation, and training services to organizations
across the nation. She consults with groups
such as provider organizations, state and local
governing authorities, advocacy and peer organizations,
and hospital systems. She helps the
committed organizations integrate principles of
recovery into their services and cultivate recovery
culture through both practice and organizational
change.
Colleagues speak highly of Allen-Caraco’s
efforts and her contribution to mental health initiatives
throughout North Carolina. Franklin says,
“Cherene has been instrumental in keeping North
Carolina accountable and focused on recovery.”
Another colleague, Debbie Dihoff, MA, from the
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) North
Carolina says, “Cherene does a wonderful job orienting
everything to achieve the best possible
health for people. She always finds time to do the
extra work that makes a big difference in the lives
of people with mental illness in the state.”
Allen-Caraco earned her bachelor degree at
the University of Syracuse, and is currently studying
psychiatric rehabilitation at the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
Electronically published June 7, 2012.
Ms. Anne M. Williams, North Carolina Institute of Medicine,
630 Davis Dr, Ste 100, Morrisville, NC 27560 (anne_williams
@nciom.org).
N C Med J. 2012;73(3):158. ©2012 by the North Carolina
Institute of Medicine and The Duke Endowment. All rights
reserved.
0029-2559/2012/73319