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VOCAL Board of Directors' Meeting Next Wednesday, June 27th
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This is an open meeting.

10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Quaker Meeting House
1104 Forest Street in Charlottesville, 22903

Please note: VOCAL does not reimburse for mileage nor provides lunch for guests.

And from Ann Conner, VOCAL Board of Directors' President....

I would like to invite all interested Board, staff and members to remain (or to come) after the Board meeting between 2:00 until 3:30 p.m. to give input regarding the priorities for VOCAL's new Executive Director job description.

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Eastern Henrico Peer to Peer (CVA)
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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 20^th 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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Opening for Case Manager (HomeLink) with Virginia Supportive Housing
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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
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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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Nurturing Recovery in Supportive Housing Webinar
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June 25^th from 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Nurturing recovery is an emergent concern for grant-funded programs serving individuals experiencing homelessness across the country. Combining theoretical background and practical experience from the field, this webinar will discuss an approach to nurturing recovery in supportive housing. Presenters will discuss techniques for providing a nurturing environment for clients, addressing pitfalls that can stall recovery, and supporting client accountability.

This webinar will feature three presenters who will address the following learning objectives:

• Present strategies for nurturing recovery in congruence with program goals.
• Provide an overview of ways to nurture recovery by developing a sense of home, personal recovery planning, and self-management.
• Highlight one consumer perspective and experience of recovery in supportive housing.

Register Now

If you have not used the LiveMeeting webinar platform before, please visit its website to check that your browser is compatible and download the necessary software.

If you have questions about the webinar or need assistance during the webinar, please contact Jennifer Martinez at jmartinez@ahpnet.com.

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Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance of Falls Church
Announces Job Opportunities
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Part-time volunteer and paid job opportunities available for mental health consumers interested in becoming Peer Support Specialists.

1. Three team players wanted to facilitate mental health support groups in Reston/Herndon and Falls Church, Pathways to Recovery, and our Mental Health Recovery Weekend Retreat. Peer Support Specialist training included with a minimum commitment of two years.

1. Part time Financial Assistant wanted to keep accounts on Quick Books Online Program, assist with auditing, file necessary reports with Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, pay contractors and bills, and file taxes and licenses. Knowledge of Quick Books, accounting, and taxes required.

Please contact Anne N. Cowley, LCSW, Executive Director DBSAFC, at 703-354-5104 or ANC436@aol.com. E-mailed or attached resumes would be helpful.

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Certified Peer Specialist Position Open In Manassas
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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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Developing an Advance Directive/Crisis Planning - A Webinar with Mary Ellen Copeland
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TODAY June 21^st from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Join Mary Ellen Copeland as she explores how people use WRAP daily as their guide to recovery and wellness.  She will talk about the importance of hope, personal responsibility, education, self- advocacy, support, and problem solving in using WRAP.  In addition she will share ideas for enhancing each section of WRAP, from the Wellness Toolbox to the Post Crisis Plan, so that it becomes a truly powerful personal guide.  Her presentation will include stories that she has gathered from people around the world who use WRAP; stories that illustrate the challenges of using WRAP, and the power of WRAP in helping people to improve the quality of their daily lives and going on to meet their own goals and dreams.

Click here to register

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Job Opening for Clinician (APTS) with Virginia Supportive Housing
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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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Ticket to Work Webinar on June 27th
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Some people with disabilities may be able to work and continue receiving disability benefits. On June 27, tune in to a special webinar and learn about the Social Security administration's Ticket to Work program and other work incentives.

3:00 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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Northwest Peer Connect to Meet at a New Time on Wednesday, July 11^th   **************************************************************

2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the August County Library in Fishersville (right off Rt. 250E/W)
Please be prompt so that we may start on time.
If you have any agenda items, please email to: Clyde.Hoy@dbhds.virginia.gov

Augusta County Library Phone: 540-885-3961

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Recovery Resources & Support Conducting WRAP Facilitator
Training and Peer Specialist Training
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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!

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.