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Public Notice of Meeting: Virginia Advocates United Leading Together Annual Board of Directors Meeting
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Monday, October 29^th, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  

Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services Office
8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Henrico, Virginia 23229

Public comments welcome from 11:00 a.m. - 11:30a.m. and from 2:30pm-3:30pm and are limited to three minutes each.

If you are unable to attend the meeting you may email your public comments to VAULT.Meeting.Secretary@gmail.com

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Ticket to Work Webinar: "Community Service as a Pathway to Employment"
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Some people with disabilities may be able to work and continue receiving disability benefits. On October 31, tune in to a free webinar from the Social Security Administration to learn about the Social Security administration's Ticket to Work program and other work incentives. In this session, you will also learn about a variety of community service opportunities and benefits:

• The Corporation for National and Community Service
• Serve America Act
• Service leading to work
• How to connect with service opportunities

October 31st

3:00 pm to 4:30 p.m.

Register here: http://fifthfreedom.org/u/he 

Never taken part in a Ticket to Work webinar before? Check out the archive of all their past webinars here: http://fifthfreedom.org/u/hf 

For questions or more information, email support@chooseworkttw.net or call 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY/TDD).

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The Hidden Cost of Rx Utilization Management: A Toolkit for Protecting
Open Access to Medications
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Wednesday, October 31st, from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

With states feeling the crunch from budget shortfalls, many are turning to Medicaid pharmacy budgets to realize budget savings. Yet, common utilization management techniques like prior authorization and step therapy have hidden costs for consumers and for the state. This webinar covers key strategies for advocates to use in protecting open access to medications. Join us to learn how to calculate the spillover costs to your state of instituting a prior authorization for psychiatric medications. Understand how to deliver effective messages to communicate the negative impacts to state policymakers. And hear how one state took action to mitigate the effects of prior authorization.

This webinar is offered by the National Council in partnership with Mental Health America and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.  

To register:   https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/405521234   

Questions? Email ssteverman@mentalhealthamerica.net or call 703.684.7722. 

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"Understanding Bipolar Illness:  Learning from One
Another" with Melissa Elliott and Cynthia Power
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Sponsored by Mental Health America of Charlottesville - Albemarle 

McIntire Room, Central Library, Charlottesville
October 31^st at 7:00 p.m.

A conversation between a person who has the deep and expert knowledge borne of living with bipolar illness and a psychiatric nurse who is learning from her patients, their families, and the clinical literature. This exchange will highlight what mental health professionals have learned and still need to learn from the experts who have lived experience of bipolar illness and will explore how they can put to use what they have learned. Participation from attendees welcomed. Knowledge gained from this exchange will be taken back into both the peer and the professional communities.

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Mental Health America of Charlottesville-Albemarle Sponsors Depression Screenings
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Tuesday, October 30^th, between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., at Westhaven Clinic, Crescent Hall and other public housing sites in Charlottesville.

For further information: www.mha.avenue.org or call434-977-4673

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National Institute of Mental Health and National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Hosts Twitter Chat on Depression
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On October 30th at 1:00 p.m. the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is joining the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) for a Twitter chat about what the science says about using complementary health approaches for depression.

About one in 10 American adults suffer from depression. Depression affects people differently and treatments vary from one individual to another. In addition to antidepressants and certain types of psychotherapy, people also turn to complementary health approaches for symptom management. But are these approaches safe and effective?

We will be joined by NCCAM's expert, Wendy J. Weber, N.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., who has a special research interest in mental health, and NIMH's Matthew Rudorfer, M.D., who is the Associate Director of Treatment Research, Division of Services and Intervention Research.

We hope you can join us and get the word out about this timely and relevant discussion. You will find us at the Twitter handles @NCCAM and @NIMHgov.  We invite you to participate in the chat using the hashtag #nccamchat.

Please don't hesitate to contact NIMH if you have any questions at NIMHPress@nih.gov.

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Virginia and the Affordable Care Act
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McIntire Room, Central Library, Charlottesville
October 24th, 7:00 p.m.

The Affordable Care Act is the landmark health care law that was passed in 2010.  We in Virginia stand to benefit greatly from this law as we gain the ability to insure more Virginians and improve our access to primary care and preventative medicine, including mental health care. Erin O'Donovan graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with her Master's in Social Work with a focus on public policy.  Health care is a cause near and dear to her heart because she has family members with chronic physical and mental illnesses.  She currently travels the state educating communities and organizations about health care reform.

For more information, call Mental Health America of Charlottesville - Albemarle, at 434-977-4673  

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Assistant Director Job Description Open with Alaska Peer Support Consortium
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Reports to Executive Director; Full-time (40 hours/week)

Scope of Position: Assistant Director is responsible for Human Resources tasks, supervision of administrative staff and contractors, training and development, attendance at meetings and decision-making in the absence of the Executive Director. The Assistant Director is responsible for ensuring that behavior of staff is consistent with AKPSC values, helping to create a workplace that supports wellness for everyone.

Tasks will include:

*  All HR tasks, including new-hire processes and Exit Interviews

*  New Hire Orientation for new staff

*  Supports staff in decision-making processes in the absence of the Executive Director

*Assists with program development

*Training and development as required

*  Contribution to organizational culture

*  Participates in Leadership Team and All-staff meetings, as well as co-supervision

*  Participates in development of budget and grant management

*Participates in strategic planning as scheduled
* Other duties as assigned by ED 

Qualifications: Knowledge of recovery, the behavioral health system and providers is essential, and preference is given to candidates who are now or have in the past used behavioral health services. The Assistant Director should be able to think creatively about possibilities for alternative services and other ways in which the AKPSC can serve people and generate additional funding. In addition, candidates must be prepared to model recovery methods and collaborative techniques in all activities. Support of AKPSC's values in all activities will be a major focus of this position. Candidates should have had at least two years experience working with people with behavioral health issues, WRAP facilitation skills and at least two years of training and development experience. Experience working within consumer run services is essential and experience working for a statewide consumer network is desirable. Computer skills are required. Experience supervising other staff or volunteers is highly desirable. Candidates must be self-starters who can operate efficiently with some direction and a lot of initiative. Candidates should also have some knowledge and skill in self-care and managing stress, since these skills will be important.

Salary Range: $40,000

Applications (resume and cover letter) must be received by 5pm Friday November 9, 2012:

Alaska Peer Support Consortium, PO Box 240588, Anchorage AK 99524 or admin@akpeersupport.org

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.