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Exciting News from the Firewalkers Project!
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The Firewalkers Project is looking for well-written, authentic writing for an upcoming Anthology that focuses on the following themes:

Emotional turbulence
Altered states
Spiritual breakthroughs
Visionary meltdowns
Ecstatic visions
Crazy blessings
Mad gifts

What we are seeking is accessible, enjoyable, surprising pieces that relate to the themes listed above. We are interested in creative nonfiction and essays that show insight, humor, quality of writing and diversity of experience.
Submissions can be emailed as an attachment to malaina@vocalvirginia.org. Submissions must be in 12pt Times Roman font, double-spaced, with numbered pages (max 20). All submissions should be accompanied by a one paragraph author biography. One submission per person. No poetry please.

Writers will retain all rights to their work. Previously published work will be considered. There is no payment except for a copy of the book. This is most definitely a labor of love and a chance to define this experience that may be labeled as "mental illness' in our own terms. The anthology is being planned as a self-published book.

Our first book, Firewalkers: Madness, Mystery and Beauty was also self-published and has sold over 1300 copies and 10,000+ people have visited our website, read the book or attended a Firewalkers event.

Please see www.thefirebook.org or www.vocalvirginia.org for more information.

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Webinar: "Ticket to Work: Support Services for People Who
Have a Disability and Are Ready to Work"
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Some people with disabilities may be able to work and continue receiving Social Security benefits. On Wednesday, January 25, learn about the Social Security administration's Ticket to Work program and other work incentives.

Wednesday, January 25

3:00 pm to 4:30 p.m.

Register here: http://chooseworkttw.net/wise/jsp/wise.jsp

For questions or more information about this webinar or Ticket to Work, contact Ticket To Work: http://www.chooseworkttw.net/help-desk/help-overview.html.

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VAULT Advertising Executive Director Position
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During 2010, a group of 13 leaders from Virginia disability groups and organizations came together to form a statewide,cross-disability non-profit organization to bring people with disabilities together for public policy decision-making at  local,state and regional levels. People with disabilities, groups and organizations make up the board of directors for VAULT, including:

·         Autistic Self-Advocacy Network

·         Hearing Loss Association

·         People First

·         Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living (VACIL)

·         Virginia Association of DeafBlind

·         Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership (VOCAL)

·         Youth Leadership Forum alumni 

The successful candidate must have experience, skills, abilities and/or working knowledge of:

·         disabilities and disability systems change activities at the local, state, or national level;

·         interpreting and implementing policies;

·         generally accepted administrative management and personnel;

·         writing reports;

·         general accounting, financial and procurement functions;

·         budget development and monitoring;

·         fundraising and/or grant writing; and

·         Microsoft Office Suite and other related programs 

Preferred qualifications for the Executive Director are:

·         the ability to travel;

·         a Bachelors degree in a human service field or 2 - 5 years of related experience in the disability field;

·         at least 2 - 5 years in a leadership position of a non-profit;

·         supervisory experience of staff; training experience/ public speaking; and

·         a working knowledge of administrative and legislative processes. 

Priority consideration will be given to a candidate with a disability. 

This position is grant funded for 30 hours per week. 

The salary range is $29,000 - $35,000 with no health benefits.  VAULT's office is located in Richmond, Virginia. The position is open until filled. 

If interested, please submit a cover letter and a resume to:

Ann Benner

1904 Byrd Avenue, Suite 111

Richmond, VA. 23230

Or Email:  ann@vocalvirginia.org

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Emotional CPR (eCPR): An Introduction to Assisting
Others through Emotional Crisis
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Thursday, February 16th from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Space is limited. Register now by clicking here:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/744527718

Please register by February 15, 2012.

What is Emotional CPR?

Emotional CPR (eCPR) is a public health education program designed to teach people to assist others through an emotional crisis by three simple steps:

C = Connecting, P = emPowering, and R = Revitalizing.

Emotional crisis is a universal experience. It can happen to anyone, at any time. When we are exposed to an extraordinary situation, we develop amazing and creative ways to protect ourselves. Through using eCPR, we can better understand and overcome our fear of seemingly unusual behavior brought on by an emotional crisis. eCPR gives us the skills to form supportive connections that empower a person in emotional crisis to heal trauma, feel revitalized, and resume meaningful roles in the community. Emotional CPR is a way to reduce harmful and coercive practices such as unnecessary institutionalization or incarceration, as it helps direct individuals in crisis to voluntary, peer-run community resources supporting recovery.

This webinar is geared towards peers, peer-run organizations, mental health service providers, family members, policymakers, administrators, and all other stakeholders.

Presenters:

Sandra (Sam) Ahrens is a Wisconsin-certified peer specialist, and has worked as a peer specialist trainer since 2009. She also provides training and technical assistance to peer-run mental health recovery centers in Wisconsin. Her training and experience includes teaching, social work, and advocacy in the areas of mental health, poverty and homelessness.

Daniel B. Fisher, MD, PhD: Dan's life's purpose comes from his lived experience of recovery from schizophrenia, which inspired him to dedicate himself to helping others find their voice and recover. He earned an MD, and completed his residency in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and has practiced as a board-certified, community psychiatrist for 30 years. In 1992, he co-founded the federally-funded National Empowerment Center and serves as its executive director. He was a commissioner on the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2002-03.

Ann Rider, MSW, CPRP: Ann is a social worker and mediator by training, and a writer and gardener by avocation. Using her own experience recovering from psychiatric disability and addiction, Ann developed and implemented Peer Specialist training for two agencies and for the state of Arizona. She worked as the mental health advocate for Arizona's Protection and Advocacy system, and has taught peer support and recovery classes in Arizona, Canada, and New Zealand. Ann is the CEO of Recovery Empowerment Network in Arizona, an advocate, and a faculty associate at Arizona State University.

Lauren Spiro, MA: Lauren has devoted her life's work to transforming mental health care. Labeled with chronic schizophrenia as a teenager, her journey to wellness informs all her work. She co-founded two non-profit corporations and as the director of the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, she advances the values, vision, policies and legislative priorities of mental health consumers in Washington, D.C. and across the country. She is an artist and holds a M.A. in Clinical/Community Psychology.

Questions?
A Q&A period will follow the webinar. You will be invited to submit your questions any time during the webinar.

Sponsor:

This webinar is sponsored by the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery - www.ncmhr.org. For more information about eCPR, see www.emotional-cpr.org

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VPSC Moves to Facebook

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The VPSC steering committee has decided to shift our online presence from this paid site through groupsite.com to other cost-free online venues such as Facebook and Google.  It was hoped that VPSC would receive funding to cover the monthly cost to groupsite.com but that has not materialized.  Most people have a Facebook account now and we think it makes more sense to move over to Facebook given the amount of discussion taking place on the VPSC site.  This site will remain up for about a week.  Several notices -like this one- will be given to ensure as many folks as possible are aware that the site is shutting down.  We simply cannot afford to operate a website at this time but come find us on Facebook: search for Virginia Peer Support Coalition in groups.