**************************** What's New This Week? VOCAL's Mental Health Recovery News for June 18, 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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****************************** Eastern Henrico Peer to Peer (CVA) ******************************
Peer to Peer meeting every other Wednesday night at: Eastern Henrico Mental Health East Center 4825 South Laburnum Avenue in Henrico
Next meeting is June 20th 6:30 -8:00 p.m. Questions? Please feel free to contact Larry Almarode (804) 986-7129 or e-mail lalmarode@live.com
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*************************** New WRAP Group in Richmond *************************** Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. - Noon at Lakeside House Lakeside House is located at 5623 Lakeside Avenue in Henrico (23228)
For further information, email: wrapnrecovery@gmail.com |
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*********************************************************** Opening for Case Manager (HomeLink) with Virginia Supportive Housing *********************************************************** General Statement of Duties: As part of the Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH) support services team, the Case Manger provides a range of supportive services including assessments, service planning, housing stabilization, and crisis prevention and intervention to VSH clients. The VSH support services team assists formerly homeless individuals, including individuals with substance abuse disorders, mental health conditions, and individuals with HIV/AIDS to maintain housing and achieve their personal goals. Services are provided in permanent supportive housing sites that are owned and operated by VSH or in scattered-site apartments in the Richmond community. Qualifications: * Bachelor's degree in human services and at least one year of direct service experience with individuals with low-incomes, mental health and/or substance abuse disorders and/or histories of homelessness. * Expertise in medical, mental health case management and/or HIV services strongly preferred. * Certifications in CPR and First Aid or a dedication and commitment to obtaining them within 3 months of hire. * Excellent computer skills, with working knowledge of the primary Microsoft Office Suite programs * Ability to successfully pass a background check and other pre-employment screening. Compensation: Range $35,000 - $45,000 Commensurate with experience Closing Date: Position closes on 6/27/12 To Apply: Interested applicants please e-mail cover letter and resume to jobs@virginiasupportivehousing.org
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************************************* Exploring the Intersection between Cultural Competence and Peer to Peer Support *************************************
Most of us would agree that the experience of receiving behavioral health services and the outcomes of those services are enhanced when those who have had lived experience are involved in the care and support of those requiring those services. BUT what are we doing to ensure that the Peer to Peer Support is also culturally and linguistically appropriate? How should state CLC coordinators and leaders of peer services support each other to facilitate cultural and linguistic competence? We will start that discussion on Tuesday, June 26th at 3:00 p.m. Please join us AND please invite the appropriate persons within your state mental health department AND community based leaders for peer-to-peer, family-to-family, youth-to-youth to be part of this discussion. To help us get started with the conversation we will be hearing from - Crystal Glover, University of Illinois at Chicago, National Research and Training Center, NAMI Support, Training and Resource (STAR) Center on the Tool to Assess Peer Program Cultural Competence - Conni Wells , Consultant, Axis Group1 on the approach to cultural and linguistic competence taken in the Federation of Families' Parent Support Provider Certification and in California's Working Well Together - Wendy Jones , Senior Policy Associate, National Center for Cultural Competence on the Cultural and Linguistic Competence Family Organization Assessment Tool
We will use WEBINAR technology to share documents and display notes.
CONNECTING INSTRUCTIONS
Via WEBLINK
Use the link below and follow these instructions.
1) Enter as a GUEST.
2) Provide your NAME where prompted
3) Provide your PHONE NUMBER where prompted
3) The webinar will CALL YOU! (only use the audio/dial-in if your phone number includes an extension)
Weblink: http://georgetownuniversity.adobeconnect.com/stateclcnetwork/
Audio Tel - 800.832.0736 Room #: 27 92 585
VIA AUDIO ONLY
If you will be not be at your computer and wish to join by phone, use the call in information below.
Audio Tel - 800.832.0736 Room #: 27 92 585
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****************************************** New MindFreedom Campaign Defies Hopelessness ******************************************
Today, MindFreedom International launches the I Got Better campaign with an invitation for you to participate in this Survey on Hope in Mental Health:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mfi-igb-intro
This brief, confidential introductory questionnaire takes less than five (5) minutes to complete.
I Got Better is an ongoing project defying the all-too-common message that recovery from mental and emotional distress is impossible. The I Got Better campaign will make stories of recovery and hope in mental health widely available through a variety of media.
Your Participation Could Save a Life
Any and everybody with a stake in mental health in our society is welcome to participate, including people who have used mental health services, psychiatric survivors, as well as their friends, family members, colleagues, and mental health workers. Please share the survey link -https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mfi-igb-intro - freely via email, facebook, twitter, blogs, etc.
Respondents to the survey wishing to share additional knowledge will be invited to take an optional follow-up survey about impressions of hope and hopelessness in mental health care, and successful strategies for recovery. Some survey respondents will be asked to share their story on video.
David Oaks, Director of MindFreedom International, said, "When I was in psychiatric care in college, I was told it was forever. Your experience of hope and hopelessness in mental health care could help youth and young adults receiving a psychiatric diagnosis for the first time. Hope could save a life."
The Story Behind I Got Better
The title of the I Got Better campaign is inspired by the successful It Gets Better viral media effort led by columnist Dan Savage that "shows LGBT youth the levels of happiness their lives will reach." While the I Got Better and It Gets Better campaigns are independent, Dan Savage has enthusiastically endorsed I Got Better.
The I Got Better campaign is funded by a grant from the Foundation for Excellence in Mental Health Care to MindFreedom International. MFI is an independent nonprofit coalition founded in 1986 to win human rights and alternatives in mental health. For more information contact news@mindfreedom.org, or call the MFI office at 541-345-9106.
To take the brief, confidential introductory I Got Better survey, which will be active through 15 October 2012, click here now:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/mfi-igb-intro
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Certified Peer Specialist Position Open In Manassas *******************************************
Twenty (20) hours per week at Brandon House, Crisis Stabilization Program, from Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Responsibilities: Peer Specialists will be responsible for providing support services to adult clients with severe and persistent mental illness in need of short-term crisis stabilization.
Qualifications: High School Diploma or GED and Peer Specialist certification are required. In addition, present or past use of behavioral health services and demonstrated recovery are necessary. Familiarity and experience with local mental health services, and Crisis Intervention experience preferred.
Contact: Forward resume to: acovertbryant@fellowshiphr.org or fax to: 703-335-6522.
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****************************************************** Job Opening for Clinician (APTS) with Virginia Supportive Housing ****************************************************** General Statement of Duties: As part of the Virginia Supportive Housing (VSH) A Place to Start (APTS) team, the Clinician provides a range of supportive services including assessments, service planning, symptoms management, housing stabilization, and crisis prevention and intervention to adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse disorders. APTS is an evidence-based program that assists individuals with extensive histories of homelessness to secure and maintain housing and achieve their personal recovery goals. APTS is a multi-disciplinary team that includes a psychiatrist, nurses, clinicians and peer specialists. Supportive services are provided primarily in client apartments in the community. Periodic on-call and weekend duties are required. An outcomes report for this successful program can be found here: http://virginiasupportivehousing.org/aptsreport/APTS_Brochure_FINAL.pdf Qualifications: * Master's degree in human services required. At least one year of direct service experience with individuals with low-incomes, mental health and/or substance abuse disorders and/or histories of homelessness preferred. * Certifications in CPR and First Aid or a dedication and commitment to obtaining them within 3 months of hire. * Excellent computer skills, with working knowledge of the primary Microsoft Office Suite programs * Ability to successfully pass a background check and other pre-employment screening. Compensation: Range $40,000 - $50,000 Commensurate with experience Position closes on 6/27/12 To Apply: Interested applicants please e-mail cover letter and resume to jobs@virginiasupportivehousing.org
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************************************************** Recovery Resources & Support Conducting WRAP Facilitator Training and Peer Specialist Training **************************************************
RRS will be conducting another WRAP Facilitator Training the second week of August and coordinating a Peer Support Specialist Training the second week of September in Richmond.
The WRAP Facilitator Training is the one and only quality program created by Dr. Mary Ellen Copeland. Ike Powell will be coming to co-facilitate the Appalachian Consulting Group's Georgia model of Peer Support Specialist Training. This training will be open to any peer in or out of Virginia with a common application process. Call for more details. * This is not a state-funded training so scholarship opportunities may not be available.
If any of Virginia's peer support specialist trainers of the Georgia model are interested in co-facilitating this training with Ike Powell, please know we're working to pair him up with a Virginia trainer. If you're interested in being considered for this paid opportunity, please call Heather Seaman at 804-314-6316.
We hope all of our peers in Virginia are enjoying much peace and wellness as we start what's probably going to be a very hot summer - call Heather Seaman at 804-314-6316 if you're interested in either of the above trainings.
WRAP Facilitator opportunities and Peer Support Specialist positions are opening up across Virginia!
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VOPA Conducts Outreach on Children's Mental Health Waiver ***************************************************
As an adolescent, Emily and her family struggled to find the mental health services she needed, and Emily had several admissions to psychiatric residential treatment facilities. Fortunately, Emily was able to return to her family home with home and community based wraparound services made available through the Children's Mental Health (CMH) Program. With lots of personal dedication, support from her family, and help from home and community based mental health professionals, Emily graduated high school, works, and is a valued member of her community!
The Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA) is working with the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), the state Medicaid agency, to spread the word about the Children's Mental Health (CMH) Program. The CMH Program provides home and community based services in the form of a Medicaid waiver as an alternative to long stays at psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). VOPA has partnered with peer specialists to provide information on CMH Program eligibility and enrollment and has conducted outreach with a variety of groups interested in children's mental health issues.
The CMH Program serves individuals under the age of 21 with serious mental health issues who are currently residing in PRTFs. The goal of the program is to help strengthen and empower families by providing wraparound services to eligible children and adolescents in their homes and communities as an alternative to remaining in a PRTF.
Services available through the program include
- environmental modifications to the home or vehicle;
- companion care for the child/youth;
- therapeutic consultation/evaluation;
- in-home support;
- respite services for the family/caregiver;
- family caregiver training; and
- transition coordination services (assistance with organizing the transfer from a PRTF to the home).
To be eligible for the program a child/youth must
- be under the age of 21;
- have been in a Medicaid approved PRTF for at least 90 days;
- have a psychiatric diagnosis; and
- have a foster or biological family willing to take the child home.
Enrollment in the CMH Program ends September 30, 2012. However, participants already enrolled by that date will continue to receive program benefits as long as they remain in the CMH Program. For additional information on the CMH Program, contact VOPA at 1-800-552-3962 or DMAS at 804-225-3961.
VOPA is the designated Protection and Advocacy organization for Virginia. VOPA helps clients with disability-related problems like abuse, neglect, and discrimination. For more information about VOPA and to give us feedback on our work, please visit our website at www.vopa.virginia.gov and participate in our VOPA Public Input Survey! We'd really like to know what you think! |
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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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