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What's New in Mental Health Recovery?
VOCAL's Mental Health Recovery
News for January 30, 2012
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Dear Reader,
You are receiving the VOCAL Network Digest because you are on our email list. The Network Digest is a twice-weekly update of mental health announcements throughout Virginia and the nation. If you prefer not to receive these updates, please click the "unsubscribe" button at the bottom of this email. Thank you!
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VOCAL Conference 2012 Set for May at James Madison University
***************************************************** Save the dates! The annual statewide VOCAL Conference will be held from Monday, May 21st through Wednesday, May 23rd at James Madison University's Festival Conference Center in Harrisonburg. Please mark your calendar so you can plan to join your peers for recovery education, sharing, networking and fun! A sliding fee scale for registration costs and scholarship opportunities will be available.
Registration forms will be available in March. Ann Benner and Yolande Long |
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MHAV's Well Quest Facilitator Training Scheduled for February
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MHAV is conducting Well Quest Facilitator Training at the Shalom Retreat Center near Richmond on February 21-23, 2012. This training is ideal for consumers already facilitating support groups or consumers wanting start support/health education groups in their community. Well Quest provides training in the following areas: Group Dynamics, Building Trust, Conflict Management, Self Organization, Total Health and Wellness Integration (Including Tobacco Cessation), Shared Leadership and Self-Sustainability. MHAV will be providing ongoing facilitator support through phone and Web Conferencing beginning in April 2012.
SCHOLARSHIPS: 5 Full Scholarships remain available for mental health peers. Scholarships cover the cost of tuition, training materials, food, lodging and transportation assistance if needed. Please contact Chris Owens, MHAV Director of Programs for any additional information at chris.owens@mhav.org or 1-866-400-6428.
APPLICATION: Online at: Well Quest Application Online Or, you may contact Mary Vaughan at mary.vaughan@mhav.orgor 1-866-400-6428 and we will provide you an application by email or the U.S Post Office.
This will be the last class until the fall of 2012. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply now.
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Eighth Annual "The Art of Recovery" Exhibit Seeks Artwork
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"The Art of Recovery" originated from a perceived need to help adults get involved with their local community. It's based on the Fountain House gallery in New York City. According to Helen Conley, Kenmore Club member, and show organizer, "The exhibit had a record number of submissions last year. The quality of the work on displays gets better each year. I lead an art group at Kenmore Club and enjoy working with my fellow members. It's wonderful to see their talent and confidence grow." The Art of Recovery provides a forum for artists living with mental illness to gain confidence in their abilities, challenge mental health stigma, and experience community support.
The RACSB is accepting original drawings, paintings, sculpture, textiles, prints, mixed media, and ceramics. Individuals wishing to submit their work have until April 13, 2012 to contact Helen Conley. Submissions may be in the form of photographs. Entries must include an attached label with the name of the artist, year of completion (if known), locale of the artist, and sale price (if the artwork is available for sale). Participating in the art show does not require the artwork be for sale; The PONSHOP will apply a reasonable commission on all artwork sold. Selections will be made by April 20, 2012.
To submit artwork or to learn more, contact Helen Conley at 540-373-7737 or artofrecovery@racsb.state.va.us.
Submissions may also be mailed to RACSB, attn: Art of Recovery, 600 Jackson St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
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Executive Director Position Open at Friends4Recovery Whole Health
Center in Chesterfield
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Friends 4 Recovery Whole Health Center is a 100% mental health, consumer run and operated nonprofit organization. We aim to provide an accepting and welcoming environment where individuals who have lived mental health experiences can take charge of their own recovery. We offer classes, groups, support, and one-on-one Wellness Coaching for the greater Richmond area. Our board of directors and staff are individuals living in mental health recovery. The successful Executive Director candidate will have lived mental health experiences and recovery education (CELT, WRAP, Peer Support Specialist preferred). Other characteristics are strong communication and organizational skills. We are looking for an experienced individual who can lead Friends4Recovery in all aspects of running a nonprofit organization including administrative functions, financial responsibilities and program and fund development plus be responsible for maintaining an atmosphere of wellness and recovery. Position: Full Time Salary: $35,000 Benefits: Health and dental insurance Open Until: February 10, 2012 How to Apply: No phone calls please. Email resume, cover letter, three references to friends4recoveryjob@gmail.com. We will contact those persons selected for an interview.
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84 Main in Warsaw Holds Support Group and WRAP Class
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Wednesdays in February (1, 8, 15, 22, 29)
Support Group from 11 a.m. - Noon
WRAP Class from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
For further information, call 804.333.3581
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Harrisonburg Non-Profit Seeks PT Hire
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"Pathways of Hope and Healing", a peer-run non-profit located in the Harrisonburg area is looking to hire. Position is very part-time and is more of a volunteer position at this point. Duties would include helping create and teach recovery-based workshops, attend and facilitate two weekly groups, as well as various other projects that may come up.
Peer specialist and/or WRAP facilitator certification is very helpful, but not required.
Interested persons should contact Rachel Spitzer at rspitzer98@gmail.com.
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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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Correction! VPSC's Groupsite.com Web Site Still Active
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Despite earlier announcement in this digest and elsewhere, the site remains:
www.vpsc.groupsite.com
You may also find them on Facebook.
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Central Peer Connect to Meet in Virginia
Office for Protection and Advocacy Board Room in February
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This is a change in venue for February!
We will meet in VOPA's Board Room, 1910 Byrd Avenue, Suite 5 (Richmond) on February 14th from 12:30- 2 p.m.
VOCAL is hosting.
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Proponents of European-inspired Hearing Voices Network Plan
Peer-Run Groups Across USA
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Read article here:
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"Disability is Natural" Website Link
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Volunteer Worker Helps "Doctors Without Borders"
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I do volunteer work walking a dog Monday through Friday, and in turn the owner of the dog donates a pledge of $75 per month to Doctors Without Borders. She specifies that this pledge go to 'mental health programs'. This means that in return for walking a dog, or
babysitting, or any volunteer work that you can do for a pledge, you can help someone in the developing world with their mental health. Imagine what it would be like in the developing world without modern medicine, with a mental illness!
Your help is badly needed, and you know what it would be like to not have medicine and have a mental illness. Please, if you can, do a little volunteer work for a pledge to help the mentally ill in the developing world. Thank you!
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
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"Pathways to Recovery" for Mental Health Consumers
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Free 10 week recovery workshop, two sessions available, February 2 until April 7 pr April 21 to June 30
Classes held on Saturdays from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute, 3301 Gallows Road, in Falls Church. Preregistration is required.
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phone:
804-343-1777
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DISCLAIMER: This page is offered strictly for informational and support purposes. We assume no liability whatsoever for any consequences arising out your use of information or connections provided through any of the above organizations. VOCAL does not necessarily agree with information provided by these organizations, their websites, members or other affiliations.
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