Clearinghouse Toolkits

National Mental Health Consumers Self Help Clearinghouse publishes booklets on running and starting consumer-run programs and other consumer topics. You can read these online or order free print copies at: www.mhselfhelp.org/techasst/order.php.

Booklets include
* Consumer-run Businesses and Services
* The Art & Science of Writing Proposals
* Starting a Self-Help/Advocacy Group
* Organizing a Speakers' Bureau
* Raising Money for a Self-Help Group
* Drop-in Centers

Organizers Toolbox 

The Virginia Organizing Project toolbox provides a number of articles that can help you develop a strong community organization and work on important issues.
http://www.virginia-organizing.org/toolbox.php 

Articles include:
* Grassroots organizing and fear
* Community-Based Research
* Setting priorities in your organization
* Tips on Talking with Your Legislators
* Tips for Chairing Meetings
* Writing Effective Letters to the Editor
* Grassroots Fundraising

NCSTAC Publications

The National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center publishes toolkits and fact sheets that you can read free online at 
http://www.ncstac.org/content/resource.htm

Toolkits include:
* Community Needs Assessment
* Assessing Systems Transformation
* A Cultural Competency Toolkit
* Fundraising Basics
* Guide to Proposal Writing
* How to Work with the Media
* Voter Empowerment Campaigns
* Working with Volunteers

VOCAL CO-OP Toolkits

CO-OP Tools are available on our website at:
http://vocalsupportcenter.org/tools.htm

Tools include:
* Where to Find Grant Funding
* Where to Find Nonprofit Training
* 21 Best Books for Grassroots Programs
* Free Sample Grant Proposals
* How to Start a New Program
* How to Become a 501c3 Nonprofit
* Buying a Computer for Your Program

Group Facilitation Tools 

Tree Bressen has an excellent website with tools and resources on group facilitation. A superb resource for both new and experienced facilitators, or anyone who wants to improve their groups meetings.  http://www.treegroup.info/topics.

Tools include:
* Agenda Planning
* Conflict
* Dynamic Facilitation
* Equalizing Airtime
* Feedback
* Planning & Preparation
* Opening Meetings
* Reopening Decisions

VOCAL Members Meeting

The next VOCAL Members Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 20, 2007 in Culpeper, Virginia in the Community Room of the Mountain Run Apartments (address below).  The meeting will be held from 11am to 3pm, and lunch will be served.  For further information, contact the VOCAL Network at 804-343-1777 or network@vocalvirginia.org.

Information on Mountain Run Apartments:
608 Claire Paige Way
Culpeper, VA 22701
tel: 540.825.8850 

Mountain Run Apartments is comprised of 50 apartments located in Culpeper, Virginia, 26 of which are designed specifically for the elderly and disabled.

The Second Road
~ from Beth Elliott 

There is a new resource for people in recovery from addiction and those affected by addiction.  The Second Road:  Where Life Intersects with Recovery recently launched their website.   The Second Road is a free online community BY and FOR people in recovery from addictions of all kinds. We welcome people in ALL stages of recovery using ANY method that works for them to: find supporters and community they can relate to, share stories, thoughts and feelings, reach life-changing goals-large and tiny, one minute or one year at a time-24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Please visit www.thesecondroad.org for a community of understanding, acceptance and hope, a place to enjoy recovery videos, live chats with experts and authors, as well as bulleting boards, personal portfolios, and your own customizable support system when the road gets tough.   

Since we just launched the site, we need as many people as possible to support the site and give us feedback.   Please visit the site, consider signing up for a free, secure account and encourage others to do the same.  For more information, you can contact VOCAL member, Beth Elliott at elliottbeth10@earthlink.net or (434) 825-1712.  Thanks for your support!

Peer Program Directory

Peer-run programs are designed, led and governed by people who have been diagnosed with mental illness. To find out more, or to contact the programs in this newsletter, visit our Directory of Peer-Run Programs in Virginia.

New Network Advocacy Coordinator

We are delighted to announce the hiring of Bonnie Neighbour as Advocacy Coordinator for the VOCAL Network. Bonnie can be reached at Bonnie@vocalvirginia.org

Firewalkers

VOCAL plans to create a new project called Firewalkers: 7 Stories of 7 People Transformed by Mental Illness - telling the stories of ordinary people whose experiences with mental illness have transformed their lives.
To learn more, read our full proposal at:
http://vocalsupportcenter.org/file%20cabinet.htm

Read recent issues of the CO-OP News:

http://vocalsupportcenter.org/news.htm