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New Mental Health Support Group in Northern Virginia (Reston)
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The Depression Bipolar Support Alliance of Falls Church and National Alliance on Mental Illness of Northern Virginia together present a new support group in NOVA.

Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Embry Rucker Reston Shelter

11975 Bowman Towne Dr., Reston (20190)

Contact: Vanessa Priest   703. 966.8935

Email: vanessapriest@hotmail.com

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Virginia Supportive Housing Job Offerings : Peer Specialist (multiple positions)
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Virginia Supportive Housing's Supportive Service programs, HomeLink and A Place To Start, assist formerly homeless individuals, including those with substance abuse disorders, mental health conditions, and various medical conditions to maintain housing and achieve their personal goals. Peer Specialists work directly with clients as part of one of these service teams. Responsibilities include: supporting individuals as they grow in their recovery process through the use of the Peer Specialist's own recovery experience; assisting individuals with identifying and achieving their current goals; and assisting with identifying and accessing community support resources. Services are provided in scattered-site apartments in the Richmond community.

Qualifications for the Full-Time (40 hours/week) A Place to Start Peer Specialist position:

• Ability to provide peer counseling from the perspective of a person who has received mental services for a serious mental illness is required.
• Must meet the minimum qualifications as a Qualified Paraprofessional in Mental Health i.e., associates degree and at least one year direct service experience or certification as a peer support specialist.
• Must not have convictions for barrier crimes as defined by DBHDS.
• Must have a valid Virginia driver's license and the ability to meet VSH's driving requirements.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Direct service experience with individuals who have experienced homelessness and personal experience with homelessness is strongly preferred.

Qualifications for the Part-Time (10-32 hours/week) HomeLink Peer Specialist positions:

• Ability to provide peer counseling from the perspective of a person who has received substance abuse and/or mental services is required.
• Minimum of high school diploma or GED.
• Must not have convictions for barrier crimes as defined by DBHDS.
• Must have a valid Virginia driver's license and the ability to meet VSH's driving requirements.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Direct service experience with individuals who have experienced homelessness and personal experience with homelessness is strongly preferred.

Compensation: $12 - 16.82/hour, commensurate with experience. Full time positions include benefits.

To apply: Send resume and cover letter to jobs@virginiasupportivehousing.org. Please specify the position to which you are applying in the subject line and indicate any experience providing peer support services in your cover letter.

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Trauma Support Group
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New trauma support group beginning October 3^rd at Friends 4 Recovery Whole Health Center. This group will be facilitated by Bryan Tunnell and Laurie Mathews every Wednesday from 2:00-3:30 p.m.

Call 804-308-1366 for details. 

HelpLine Coordinator

 Date Posted: September 18, 2012. Closing date to apply: October 22, 2012.

Program Assistant 

Date Posted:  September 21, 2012.  Closing date to apply:  October 29, 2012

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Exploring Refugee Mental Health Screening in your Organization
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RHS-15 Refugee Mental Health Screening Tool workshop for mental health professionals and refugee case workers

 November 14^th, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Patriot, 3032 Richmond Road, Williamsburg (23185)

 This FREE ½ day workshop will present the RHS-15 as an assessment tool to assist staff in the early identification of refugee emotional distress and identify individuals who may benefit from a referral to community mental health program and (ii) begin the identification of the infrastructure needed for such a tool to be useful.

This workshop is only open to individuals working in mental health and refugee resettlement organizations. Space is limited.  

More on this tool can be found here: 

http://www.refugeehealthta.org/webinars/mental-health-screening-and-care/tools-and-strategies-for-refugee-mental-health-screening-introducing-the-rhs-15-2/

http://www.refugeehealthta.org/files/2012/09/RHS15_Packet_PathwaysToWellness.pdf

About the presenter:

Beth Farmer, M.S.W., LICSW, is the Project Director for the Pathways to Wellness project, a project designed to offer early intervention and support to refugees with depression, anxiety and traumatic stress disorders. She is also the Director of International Counseling and Community Services, a licensed mental health program of Lutheran Community Services Northwest that primarily serves refugees. She has spent over two decades as a social worker, primarily in the fields of women's health and multicultural issues.

*We understand that the start time may make travel difficult for staff coming long distances.   As this is the only session being held, requests for hotel scholarships will be considered.   

Contact Cecily.Rodriguez@dbhds.virginia.gov  BEFORE YOU REGISTER for more information.  

Register at http://tinyurl.com/8ouszdc

 Sponsored by The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services
Made possible by a grant from The Virginia Department of Social Services- Office of Newcomer Services

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STAR Center Webinar: Welcoming Diversity and Culture In Our Lives
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Tuesday, October 23^rd

2:00 p.m.

Join the STAR Center for this one hour webinar as we explore and understand the roles diversity and culture play in all aspects of mental health. The session will also provide useful tips and strategies to ensure our message is heard and understood by people of all backgrounds.

In the mental health community, we're eager to share our experiences and messages of recovery. We can do that more effectively if we're aware of our own cultural biases and background and attentive to others. This session will help you bridge that potential gap.  

Specifically, this webinar will help you:

Gain a basic understanding of diversity and culture and the roles they play in mental health.

Explore different cultural backgrounds and the role they play when we interact with one another.

Learn tips and strategies you can use in order to successfully communicate and engage people from different backgrounds.

Register online here for the October 23 webinar. After registering you will receive a confirmation email with additional information on how to tune in to the webinar.

For further information about the teleconference please (866)-537- STAR  

For information about the NAMI STAR CENTER visit, www.consumerstar.org

The STAR Center is funded by a grant from SAMHSA/CMHS. Please visit SAMHSA/CMHS-http://www.samhsa.gov/ for helpful information and resources on mental health and recovery.

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.