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VOCAL Board to Meet Next Wednesday, November 7^th
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The next VOCAL Board of Directors meeting is Wednesday, November 7 th, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. VOCAL WRAP will be conducted for an hour AFTER the meeting.  The meeting will be at the The Albemarle County Building, 1600 Fifth Street Extended, Room A, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Call-in Info: Dial toll-free 1-866-423-8755 and enter Guest code: 843599

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SAMHSA Announces Disaster Distress Helpline
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Strengthening Our Response for Improved Refugee Mental Health
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Wednesday November 7th

Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center

110 Shenandoah Avenue

Roanoke, VA 24016

http://www.hotelroanoke.com/index.php

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Register here- http://tinyurl.com/c6m34nv

Thursday November 8th

The Boar's Head

200 Ednam Drive

Charlottesville, Virginia 22903

Toll Free: 800.476.1988

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

http://www.boarsheadinn.com/

Register here- http://tinyurl.com/8goaons

Although refugees benefit from protective factors such as spirituality and strong family support, they face enormous social and economic factors that expose them to higher levels of stress and disadvantages due to poverty, unemployment, lack of English proficiency, discrimination and the trauma associated with the immigrant experience.  As many states become more diverse, it challenges providers in the mental health system to adopt culturally and linguistically competent ways to prevent, diagnose, treat and address barriers to appropriate and timely mental health services.  DBHDS is hosting a free training for mental health providers, refugee staff, volunteers dedicated to exploring critical topics in refugee mental health.

Who should attend this conference?

This conference is ideal for all professionals providing service, formally or informally, to immigrants and refugees.  These professionals include health care practitioners, policymakers, settlement practitioners, volunteers, sponsorship agreement holders, educators, general practitioners, psychiatrists, multicultural liaison workers, translators, other human-related service providers, immigrants, refugees and consumers interested in the practice of Mental Health.

Outcomes

·         To gain an understanding of the protective and risk factors associated with mental health issues that refugees experience while resettling in the US.

·         To understand the cultural nuances and their impact on stigma and mental health treatment for refugees in the US

·         How to build stronger working relationships culturally and linguistically to diverse individuals in mental health programs

·         Explore specific topics of concern for refugees in Virginia

Understand the importance of and strategies for language services for refugee individuals

This conference will be offered for FREE under the Office of Newcomer Services -Virginia Refugee Health Prevention Grant and hosted by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Commonwealth Catholic Charities, and International Rescue Committee. Six contact hours will be provided by DBHDS.

Cecily Rodriguez, Director

Office of Cultural and Linguistic Competence

Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

1220 Bank Street, Rm 433

Richmond, VA 23219

804.786.5872

cecily.rodriguez@dbhds.virginia.gov

http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/OHRDM-CLC.htm 

Join the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities and the National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse for their first in a series of free webinars on the role of Certified Peer Specialists in promoting community inclusion. The four-part webinar series, sponsored by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is designed to provide a national platform for the discussion of roles that peer specialists and peer-run programs can play in offering the supports and services that individuals may need to participate more fully in the day-to-day lives of their communities.

The first webinar, November 15th, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., will focus on innovative programs that peer-run programs have designed to promote community inclusion, and will draw on a national survey of peer-run programs jointly conducted by The Collaborative and The Clearinghouse. Results of the survey ("Into the Thick of Things: Connecting Consumers to Community Life - A Compendium of Community Inclusion Initiatives for People with Psychiatric Disabilities at Consumer-Run Programs") can be found on the Temple University Collaborative website  

(http://www.tucollaborative.org/pdfs/COMPENDIUM_of_Innovative_CI_Projects_11-29_10.pdf).  

The webinar will review innovative peer-run programs that have helped to connect people to mainstream community organizations: to work opportunities and independent living settings, and to religious congregations and civic and volunteer activities beyond those offered within mental health programs.

November's Webinar will include:

·  Introduction and Overview / Joseph Rogers (Executive Director, National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse)

·  Survey Results: Effective Peer-Run Models / Christa Burkett (Co-Chair, Temple University Collaborative National Leadership Committee)

·  Personal Experiences / Bryce Hewlett (Executive Director, Delaware Consumer Recovery Coalition

To register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/502931257880380416

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Please note the topics of the next three webinars in this series:  
January 2013 - "Certified Peer Specialists: Promoting Community Inclusion in Rural Areas"
March 2013 - "Certified Peer Specialists: Supporting Meaningful Employment"
May 2013 - "Certified Peer Specialists: Connecting to Spiritual Communities"

We will notify you of the specific dates and times of these 2013 events in the new year. Please direct any questions you have to Christa Burkett at cburkett@mhasp.org.

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Friends 4 Recovery Begins a New Educational Series: "BYOB: Be Your Own Boss"
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Friday, November 2^nd from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. and every Friday in November

New series on self-employment titled "BYOB: Be Your Own Boss". 
This class will explore the psychology of entrepreneurship, how to write realistic business plans, marketing using technology, start up costs, legal requirements and more.

Many folks on disability or recovering from a mental health crisis will find this course empowering.
 

For questions, please don't hesitate to call or e-mail Larry Almarode: 804-308-1366 or larry@friends4recovery.org

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A Community Conversation on Health Care Implementation in Virginia
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Tuesday, November 13th at 7:00 p.m.
Temple Beth-El at 3330 Grove Avenue in Richmond (23221)

 Featuring:

·         Dr. Rev. Angela Duncan, VCU Chaplain

·         Jill Hanken, Health Attorney, Virginia Poverty Law Center

·         Cindi Jones, Director, Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services

·         Mike Jurgensen, Senior Vice President for Policy, Medical Society of Virginia

 This event is sponsored by the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and VCV.

For further information: www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org and www.vaconsumervoices.org

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Housing Opportunities Made Equal Presents: "Fair Housing for People with Disabilities"
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Free Webinar, Monday, November 5th, 2012 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Approximately 54 million Americans have at least one disability, making them the largest protected class in the nation. As our Baby Boomer population ages and more veterans return from war, this number will double in the next 20 years.

Disability-related complaints are the most common fair housing complaint received by HUD. For more than a third of individuals with disabilities, assistive technology is essential to being able to take care of themselves at home.

Please join HOME for a presentation on fair housing rights for people with physical and mental disabilities across Virginia. HOME's expert will discuss basic fair housing law and will address how to request reasonable accommodations and/or modifications in housing for persons with disabilities. The presentation will take 60 minutes; a question and answer period will follow.

Please register here: https://student.gototraining.com/r/9150844197746742528

Presenter:
Rachael Deane, HOME's Director of Systemic Investigations and Enforcement

Who May Attend:

Registration is open to all employees of fair housing agencies, nonprofit housing counseling agencies, affordable housing advocates and developers, nonprofit legal services organizations, fair housing assistance programs, state and local housing and community development agencies, and other local, state and federal agencies. All policy makers, social workers, case managers, and other disability rights advocates are also encouraged to attend.   

For questions or requests for special accommodations: rdeane@phonehome.org   

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the training.

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.