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What's New in Mental Health Recovery?
VOCAL's Mental Health Recovery
News for March 1, 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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Call for Workshop Proposals for VOCAL's Statewide MH Consumer Conference
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All those interested in presenting a workshop/break-out session at our conference, "Strength in Diversity and Purpose" must submit your topic/name, outline, and educational/learning goals to Yolande Long:
yolande@vocalvirginia.org
Outlines are due no later than Monday, April 16th for consideration.
Each workshop will be given a one hour and thirty minute (1.5 hour) time slot. You must be able to provide your own handouts if you will use them.
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Paolo del Vecchio Scheduled to Give Keynote Address at VOCAL Conference!
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VOCAL is pleased to announce that Mr. Paolo del Vecchio will give the keynote address at this year's conference, " Strength in Diversity and Purpose".
Mr. del Vecchio is Acting Director of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). Paolo currently serves as the CMHS Associate Director for Consumer Affairs and in this capacity he manages SAMHSA's precedent-setting activities addressing consumer participation and education, issues of discrimination and prejudice, consumer rights, wellness, recovery, trauma, access to treatment, and other issues affecting persons with mental health conditions.
Paolo was the first Consumer Affairs Specialist hired in 1995 by SAMHSA. In this capacity, he promoted consumer participation in all aspects of the Center's policies and operations ranging from public education to developing evidence-based treatment and recovery practices to address the needs of persons with mental illnesses. Prior to joining SAMHSA, Paolo worked for the Philadelphia Office of Mental Health in the areas of policy formulation and the planning of a comprehensive system of community-based mental health services addressing homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and many other issues. He graduated summa cum laude with a master's degree in social work from Temple University. Paolo has been involved for over 40 years in behavioral health as a consumer, family member, provider, advocate, and state and federal policy-maker.
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NEC Technical Assistance Center Presents a Webinar: "Get Social! Using Social
Media to Advance Your Mission, Raise Awareness, and Provide Peer Support"
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March 2nd from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Space is limited: Register now by clicking here:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/855686286
Registration will close on 5 pm EST on Wednesday, February 29. Please share with others who may be interested.
Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, Podcasting, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google Plus. In an ever-growing social media landscape, it is easy to feel lost and not know where to begin. Our presenters will help you find your place on the social media map and head out on your personal or organizational journey. Using real-life stories, each presenter will discuss how their organization developed a social media strategy, the tools they use and how they use them, and the benefits and challenges they have experienced along the way.
This webinar is geared towards peers, peer-run organizations, mental health service providers, family members, policymakers, administrators, and all other stakeholders.
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Job Opening: Consumer Empowerment and Leadership Training (CELT)
Manager with Mental Health America of Virginia
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Mental Health America of Virginia (MHAV) is seeking a training professional to serve as the Consumer Empowerment and Leadership Training (CELT) manager. MHAV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization. Our mission is to Educate, Empower and Advocate on behalf of Mental Wellness and Recovery.
CELT is MHAV's premier training program. Through its four day leadership academies, CELT gives people with mental health concerns the leadership and advocacy skills they need to make a positive impact on Virginia's mental health system. Having a mental illness and using mental health services gives CELT participants a unique and valuable firsthand view of the mental health system. Many programs, facilities and localities want consumers to join their boards, committees and workgroups to improve mental health services. The CELT academy provides participants the skills necessary to combine their mental health experiences with the ability to network, identify issues, and work with policy-makers and service providers. CELT graduates use their training in many ways, including organizing mental health self-help groups, joining provider workgroups and serving on mental health committees. The CELT program is funded through the Mental Health Block Grant and the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS).
Job Description: The CELT Manager is responsible for the operation and delivery of experientially based peer facilitated mental health consumer educational programs focusing on individual, community and systems transformation. Primary responsibilities include program management (planning, budgeting, staffing and outcomes evaluation), educational needs assessment, curriculum development, graduate placement on boards and committees, event planning and class enrollment to include coordinating participant travel. Occasional overnight travel is required for 4 training events and ten statewide site visits per year. The CELT Manager reports directly to the Director of Programs.
Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Experiences:
- Knowledge and experience in experientially based education and person centered approaches to wellness.
- Personal experience as a mental health consumer
- Possess strong oral presentation, written communication and group facilitation skills
- Conduct training needs assessment, develop behavioral objectives, prepare curriculum and evaluate effectiveness of training.
- Recruit, train, supervise and develop peer facilitation staff.
- Serve as training site director and manage medical and psychiatric incidents.
- Project management: submit proposals, coordinate contracts, prepare reports and track deliverables.
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive marketing plan and marketing materials
- Provide media relations for the CELT program
- 10.Coach and assist graduates in serving in a leadership position on boards, commissions and commissions.
Position: 32 hours per week
Salary: $32,500
Benefits: Not Applicable
Open until: March 2, 2012
How to Apply: Please email your cover letter and resume by March 2, 2012 to: selena.ruffin@mhav.org No Phone Calls Please
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VOCAL's Warm Line Up and Running Again!
************************************VOCAL has an email warm line for people who like to chat and would like a friendly response within a few days. Emails are answered once or twice weekly. This is not a HOT LINE nor CRISIS LINE, but more like a pen pal who can also connect folks with statewide and local resources.
For warm line questions:
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Central Peer Connect to Meet at RAFT House in Ashland
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Central Peer Connect will meet on Tuesday, March 13 at RAFT House, 14433 Washington Hwy in Ashland (23005). RAFT House will provide a light lunch for Central Peer Connect and RAFT House members at 12 noon. The meeting will follow from 12:30- 2 p.m.Come join us, and listen to our special program, "Optimizing Your Support System: Information You Can Use to Build or Repair Relationships with Family Members, Peers, Peer Support Specialists, and Other Professionals" with Betsy Brown, Carla Beck and Ruby Fitzgerald.
RAFT House telephone number is 804.798.4587.
PLEASE RSVP to Yolande Long or Bonnie Neighbour at 804.343.1777 or to bonnie@vocalvirginia.org RAFT House needs an accurate head count to plan lunch.
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Deadline for "Network News" is Wednesday, March 14th***********************************************Please email your news and contributions NO LATER THAN the above date to yolande@vocalvirginia.orgI look forward to hearing from you! |
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A Message from Chris Owens
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Dear Friends,
It has been my pleasure to meet and work with so many of you through CELT, Pathfinders, Quest and Well Quest. The last six years with Mental Health America of Virginia (MHAV) have been an incredible period of experiencing, learning, growing and changing that I will cherish for a lifetime. I would sincerely like to thank you my fellow peers who have shared with me their life stories, passions, challenges, support and courage. Each of you has profoundly inspired me. On February 24, 2012, I moved on from MHAV. The future is bright for recovery and I am in a period of evaluation and planning for my next stage of service to our community. Please stay tuned. If you would like to contact me, I may be reached on Facebook or at owens.chris63@gmail.com.
My Best to You All,
Chris
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Survivors of Sexual Abuse Co-Ed Group
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SAARA Center 306 Turner Road, Suite P
Richmond, Virginia 23225
Every Monday beginning April 2nd
Further questions or concerns contact:
Hallie at (804) 971-1777 or
halliehartman@rocketmail.com
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Peer Support Group at 84 Main in Warsaw
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Wednesday, March 7th from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
The topic will be "Acceptance"
For further information, call 804.333.3581
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Mental Health Weekly Reports Bias in Recent "Dr. Oz Show" Segment on ECT
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A recent segment on "The Dr. Oz Show" about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was one-sided and ignored the risk of the permanent and disabling side effects that may result from this controversial procedure, according to a recent piece in Mental Health Weekly. The news weekly noted that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has resisted pressure from ECT equipment makers to re-classify the equipment from its high-risk Class III category to the lower-risk Class II. It also noted that the show made false claims, including that less electricity is employed in unilateral ECT, when the opposite is true. The item reported on the efforts by the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery to ensure "balanced and truthful coverage" of ECT's risks. Additional information is available in the NCMHR press release at the following link: http://www.ncmhr.org/press-releases/1.26.12.htm. Testimony by Daniel Fisher, M.D., Ph.D., before the FDA is available at the following link: http://www.power2u.org/downloads/ECTtestimonyDanFisher.pdf
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************************************ Exciting News from the Firewalkers Project!
************************************ Spiritual breakthroughs. Mad gifts. Visionary meltdowns. Do these themes resonate with you? We are publishing an anthology of creative non-fiction about what is called mental illness and mystical experiences, shifts in consciousness and unexpected blessings. Deadline is June 21, 2012. Please see full details at www.thefirebook.org
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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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