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VOCAL Board Meeting Scheduled for Wednesday, August 1st
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This is an extra Board meeting, and is open to all members.

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

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Eastern Henrico Peer to Peer Support Group
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Peer to Peer Meeting every other Wednesday night at the Eastern Henrico Mental Health East Center, 4825 South Laburnum Avenue, in Henrico (CVA)

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 1^st  from 6:30 -7:30 p.m.

For questions, please feel free to contact Larry Almarode (804) 986-7129 or e-mail at lalmarode@live.com

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Webinar: "Latest Research and Promising Practices for Treating
Tobacco in Smokers with Co-occurring Mental Illness
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Tuesday, July 31^st from 3:00 - 4:15 p.m.

Hosted by: Center for Tobacco Cessation 

To register:Click here 

Speaker: Judith Prochaska, PhD, MPH - Dr. Prochaska is a licensed clinical psychologist, from Stanford University's Department of Medicine. Her research focuses on developing effective treatments for tobacco dependence and other leading health risk factors with a specific focus on populations with co-occurring disorders.

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South County Recovery and Drop-In Center Offers "Recovery Academy"
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Based on the structure of a Community College, PRS and South County Recovery and Drop-In Center now offers "The Recovery Academy".  The Academy is designed to provide a targeted educational curriculum in 12-Week Blocks.  The Academy supports an environment where you can focus on your recovery goals and become empowered to move into alternatives, such as meaningful employment (either volunteer or paid).  Individuals who complete classes earn certificates of achievement.

Do you know a consumer who could benefit from:

• GED Preparation
• Intro to Recovery
• Anger Management
• WRAP
• Stress Management
• Grieving Mental Illness
• Money Management
• Spirituality

These are the kinds of classes South County co-leads with PRS.  Services are completely confidential and free of charge. No referrals needed/no requirements to meet.

Classes Begin today and run for 12 weeks. It is not too late to register.

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Friends 4 Recovery Whole Health Center Offers MBCT Class
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Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)

This class facilitated by Larry Almarode, is an 8-week evidence-based curriculum program focused on creating a Mindfulness Meditation practice to prevent relapse into Depression. It also incorporates principles of Cognitive Therapy in challenging the accuracy of our thoughts as related to our moods.  Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is listed on SAMSHA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices and more information can be found at MBCT.com and here at SAMSHA's website:
http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=239

*Note: No actual "Therapy" is part of the course work; all classes are composed of a maximum of 12 participants and done so in an atmosphere of non-judgmental and open sharing.

Participants are expected to commit to the full 8-week course, start a Mindfulness Meditation practice for at least 8 weeks, be living in Recovery and Wellness and do homework each week. The course includes as part of its curriculum Guided Meditation CDs and a copy of Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn. We ask that participants that are able to pay the Center the cost of the Book and CDs. Partial and full Scholarships for the payment for the Books and CDs are available. We welcome donations to support scholarships.

Classes start August 1^st from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. and will continue each Wednesday at the Center, finishing on Sept 19^th.

Contact: Larry Almarode at W-(804)308-1366 or C-(804)986-7129 or email larry@friends4recovery.org for details.

Friends 4 Recovery Whole Health Center is located at: 9511 Hull Street Rd Suite A, Richmond, VA

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Violet Taylor Recipient of NAMI VA Award!
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Violet Taylor, Regional Peer Bridger and VOCAL member, is the recipient of the 2011 NAMI VA Outstanding Consumer Achievement Award, which was presented this past Sunday in Richmond.

This award is presented to a mental health consumer who has exhibited exceptional service on behalf of people with mental illness. The recipient displays exemplary courage and leadership not only in staying the course to recovery but also in educating and helping others to understand and to overcome.

This award recognizes Violet's commitment and leadership in the mental health recovery field.

Congratulations, Violet! 

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Friends 4 Recovery Whole Health Center to Launch New Programming Initiative
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Beginning Wednesday, August 1st, Friends 4 Recovery Whole Health Center is changing their programming schedule. The following are the highlights of the new schedule. The calendar will be posted (at the latest) by the 4th Wednesday of each month on the website at: friends4recovery.org. 

Daily programming:

1-2PM Peer Support Groups

2-3:30 Core Programming (Monday - Wrap, Wednesday - Mental Agility, Friday - Tech/Employment Skills)

2 45 Minute refresher classes will run at the same time as the Core programming to support the theme of the day

3:30-4 Snack Break

4-5PM Whole Health Programming (Fitness, Nutrition, Budgeting,Guest Speakers, etc..) 

5-5:30PM Community Forum

5:30-6PM Volunteer Time

If you'd like to volunteer your services to the center to support this new programming, please contact Larry Almarode at 804-308-1366 or email: larry@friends4recovery.org 

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Heading for College with Special Health Care Needs: Student
Preparation for a Successful Transition
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When students have special health care needs, leaving for college can mean leaving their health care support networks behind. On August 1, tune in to a webinar from the National Health Care Transition Center. Presenters will discuss practical considerations for a student's health care transition, in preparation for a successful adjustment to college life. Young adult panelists will share their own experiences with college transitions.

Wednesday, August 1^st from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Register here:  

http://fifthfreedom.org/u/ht 

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Friends 4 Recovery Whole Health Center 3rd year Anniversary Celebration

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Friends 4 Recovery Whole Health Center cordially invites you to our 3rd Year Anniversary Party this Friday, July 27th from 1:00 -6:00 p.m., for an afternoon of celebration and fun. The theme this year is a luau. Chuck Hansen, speaker, writer. and humorist, will be part of the entertainment for the afternoon. Come out to the Center and celebrate recovery and wellness with us!  

Questions? Please call 804-308-1366 or e-mail: info@friends4recovery.org

Friends 4 Recovery Whole Health Center

9511 Hull Street Rd

Suite A

Richmond, VA 23236

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.