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"Peer to Peer Mental Health Recovery" in Charlottesville
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Saturdays, 10:30 until 11:30 a.m.
JMRL Central Branch, 3rd Floor Jefferson Room in Charlotesville
Contact Pattianne Waters at 540-223-7053 for further information.

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Free Webinar: "Ensuring Access & Inclusion in Higher Education: Rights,
Rules, and Responsibilities" on June 6^th from 3:00-4:30 p.m.
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The significant disparity in education and literacy levels for people with mental and substance use disorders compared to the general population is a matter of serious concern. For people with mental health and substance use disorders, access to and inclusion in higher education is a central issue in achieving social inclusion.

Access to education impacts the individual in terms of personal satisfaction, wellness, financial stability, and overall opportunity. The community also benefits when people with mental health and substance use problems have access and support to pursue education, graduate, and secure meaningful and rewarding work that contributes to their becoming full participants in the life of their communities.  The statistics show the need for action. Only 35 percent of persons with mental illnesses have a high school diploma, 24.8 percent have completed some college education, and 9.5 percent hold a bachelor's degree or more. These data represent the lowest educational attainment levels of any disability group.

Ensuring proper access for students calls for a proactive approach from the entire higher education community. Most students with these challenges need more than the "reasonable accommodation" offered by the current model of disability services.  Administration; faculty; student services, especially those related to disability; and mental health care providers need a proactive person-centered approach that focuses on how to keep students in school and fosters a system of outreach and support. This outreach and education, along with enforcement of the law, positively impacts the system, supports students in need, and contributes towards moving to a more inclusive society.  

During this webinar you will learn about the administrative, legal, and personal issues related to access and inclusion in higher education for students with mental health and substance use problems and about one university that is leading the way in ensuring that students have the comprehensive supports they need to stay in school and pursue their vocational goals. You will hear how education has made a difference.

To register:

http://promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/teleconferences/archive/training/teleconference06062012.aspx

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Kenmore Club (Fredericksburg) to Host Yard Sale on June 9th
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Kenmore Club, a program of the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB), is hosting a yard sale on Saturday, June 9th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Donations are being accepting through Thursday, June 7th. Kenmore Club is located at the
Barbara C. Terry Building, 632 Kenmore Avenue, Fredericksburg.

 Funds raised through the annual yard sale support club member activities throughout the year.

For more information or to arrange a donation drop-off, contact Anna Loftis, Kenmore Club Advocate, at asilverberg@racsb.state.va.us or 540-373-7737.

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Webinar: "Hospital Diversion Services: Developing a Peer-Respite/Diversion Service in Your Area"
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From the NAMI STAR Center: "Recovery, Wellness and Transgender Equality: Issues, Discussion and Resources for Increasing Multicultural Competence and Effective Practices for Real Lives"
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June 14th at 3 p.m.

Join the STAR Center for this 90-minute webinar:

·         Discoverand discuss recovery, wellness, and equality issues with, for, and about Transgender Persons

·         Deepen the understanding of some of the personal, social, societal and other complex and significant factors involved in empowerment by, with, and for Transgender Individuals

·         Expand knowledge of and access to resources, activities, tools and networks for increasing multicultural competence, sensitivity and effective services and program outcomes in healthcare, mental health services, and other arenas

·         Clarify that while a transgender identity can lead to mental health challenges because of societal structures, it is not a mental illness in itself. Furthermore, many transgender individuals are required to be diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder in order to begin the transition process - taking hormones and undergoing sexual reassignment surgery.

Register online here for the June 14 webinar.  Immediately after you complete the registration you will receive an email confirmation from annies@nami.org. The email will include a link entitled "Join the Meeting". On the day of the webinar you will need to click on that link to bring you to the visual portion of the webinar. The confirmation email will also include the call-in information you will need to hear and participate in the webinar. One day in advance of the webinar, you will receive an automatic reminder from LiveMeeting about the webinar with the log-in information.

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Mental Health Recovery Including WRAP Workshops
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Hilltop Promises (New Location!)2 East Broad Street in Richmond (23219). Saturdays starting 5/19/12, at 10:00 a.m.

Call about WRAP (Heather 877-925-4777) and learn more about Hilltop Promises' services, including homeless outreach, life skills development and Frog's Place, a thrift and consignment shop by visiting www.hilltoppromises.org. 

This will be an ongoing weekly workshop in the heart of Richmond.

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Peerlink National Technical Assistance Center Webinar: "Expanding the Hearing Voices Network" with Oryx Cohen and Daniel Hazen
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Thursday, May 31st from 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Join Oryx Cohen and Daniel Hazen to learn about the history of the international Hearing Voices movement, what Hearing Voices groups have to offer and the increasing numbers of Hearing Voices groups in the United States.  Hearing Voices groups incorporate a fundamental belief that there are many ways to understand the experience of hearing voices and other unusual or extreme experiences.  The network is part of an international collaboration between professionals, people with lived experience, and their families to develop an alternative approach to coping with emotional distress that is empowering and useful to people, and does not start from the assumption that they have a chronic illness.

Also, join to learn about the FREE Hearing Voices Group Facilitation Training that will be offered by Peerlink National Technical Assistance Center and the Hearing Voices Network USA in Portland, Oregon from July 16th through July 18th, 2012 which will offer an opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge to facilitate a Hearing Voices Group.   We are excited that one of the original founders of the Hearing Voices Network in the UK, Ron Coleman, will join Will Hall and Oryx Cohen to offer this training.

To register for this webinar, visit:  http://www.peerlinktac.org/events/ 

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.