New News
Mad Arts
Altered States of the Arts is a nationwide network of
consumer/survivors, i.e. current or former recipients of psychiatric
services. Artists choose to be called
different things: Healing artists, artists with disabilities, or some breaking
with tradition, choose to call themselves "crazy folk" or "mad folk" as a way
to take back power against negative stereotypes. The "Mad Arts
Festival" for the summer of 2008 will be held at Dayspring
Conference Center
in Sarasota, Florida from July 17-20, 2008. www.alteredstatesofthearts.com
Voices of Hope & Recovery
~ From Lauren Spiro, Director
of Public Policy, National Coalition of Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Organizations
It gives me great pleasure to announce the coalition's just
released CD production- Voices of Hope and Recovery: Our Stories, Our Lives. "If you
care about the future -- your family, community, planet - storytelling
matters. Story might be the most
powerful weapon on Earth, with a nearly-instant impact that may be felt for
decades. Seth Godin," Ode Magizine, April 2006. For more info go to www.ncmhcso.org
Organizing for Social Change
Washington,
D.C./Baltimore area "Organizing for Social Change" training. The
training will be held from November 12-16.
The training helps participants to be more strategic in their fight for
social, economic, racial, and environmental justice. This hands on,
experiential training provides nuts and bolts organizing skill training within
the framework of a progressive world view.
It teaches people to "think like organizers" by training
organizers to think strategically and organizationally. http://www.midwestacademy.com/
Community Needs Assessement
The NCSTAC Community Needs Assessment is a toolkit designed
to assist mental health stakeholders in their efforts to become effective
change agents in their communities. The assessment tool was developed for use
by consumer-run organizations but is a useful guide for any group, organization
or coalition seeking to transform their local or state mental health system. From
The National Consumer-Supporter Technical
Assistance Center. Read this guide at: http://www.ncstac.org/
Peer Specialist and Provider Training
The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and
Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) is pleased to announce that the first of
three Peer Specialist Training will be held in Roanoke, Virginia. These events will be facilitated by the
Institute for Recovery and Community Integration, a project of the Mental
Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania.The Institute will also be providing a
one-day kick-off event on peer support for providers and consumers from the
southwestern areas of Virginia
and western areas in the Southside Region. There is also a one-day
supervisor/manager training on peer specialist employment and supervision.
Events and trainings will take place in December in Roanoke. Future trainings
will take place in Williamsburg or Portsmouth and Charlottesville.
Peer Specialist training is free and includes meals and lodging. For more
information, applications, and registration, contact pat.shank@co.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov
