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Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Train the Trainers - Three Day Program in Fairfax
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January 7th, 8th and 9th, 2013

This training will create a team of community-based trainers who are capable of facilitating/presenting the CSP curriculum of the Institute for Recovery and Community Integration to individuals throughout Northern Virginia. As a trainer you will become certified by the Institute to train peers as Certified Peer Specialists and will qualify to become a member of the Northern Virginia CPS Training Team. The program is three days in length and includes a current copy of the Institute's curriculum, a program guide for trainers and extensive references, resources and appendices related to the training.

The training will enhance your skills and knowledge regarding recovery and peer support, help you master the Institute's curriculum material and instruct you in how to transfer this knowledge to peers through the use of specific facilitation techniques and practical hands-on activities.

Qualifying for the Training:

For this Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Trainer Program you must be a working Certified Peer Specialist. 

Prerequisites:

 

 You must meet the following prerequisites in order to apply for this training:

1. Successfully completed the Institute for Recovery & Community Integration's Certified Peer Specialist training program.
2. Successfully completed the Copeland Center's WRAP Seminar II Mental Health Recovery Facilitator training.   
   Applications are due no later than 4:30 pm, December 14, 2012. Please email or call Cicely Spencer with any questions

(Cicely.Spencer@fairfaxcounty.gov or (703) 324-7167)

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Northwest Peer Connect Announces Holiday/Christmas Party
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Wednesday, December 12th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Region Ten's Old Lynchburg Road offices.   

502 Old Lynchburg Road, Charlottesville (22903)
Room 502 A

Join your peers for some holiday  fun! 

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From Ann Benner, Executive Director of VAULT
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I am writing to invite you to participate in VAULT's first survey of self-advocates'
needs and issues. 
We are seeking input as we develop our advocacy agenda for the 2013 Virginia
Legislative Session.   This survey is designed primarily for individuals who have
disabilities, but we are also taking input from those who work with and support
people with disabilities.  Please share the survey with any number of other people
with disabilities.   We will send a summary of the results to this email list in January.

Please use this SurveyMonkey link:

Thank you for helping us represent you!

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2013 Medicare Handbook: An Informational Alert Prepared by Fifth Freedom
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Medicare.gov has posted the new 2013 Medicare Handbook. The handbook explains what Medicare covers, prescription drug coverage, and new benefits available under the Affordable Care Act. Turn to page four to learn about new benefits, including:

• More covered preventive services - Medicare now covers depression screenings, screenings and counseling for alcohol misuse and obesity, behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease, and more.

• Even more help in the prescription drug coverage gap - If you reach the coverage gap ("doughnut hole") in your Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D), you'll pay only 47.5% for covered brand-name drugs and 79% for generic drugs.

Download the 2013 Medicare Handbook here: http://fifthfreedom.org/u/ke (140 page pdf, please allow a moment to download.)

Don't forget - Open enrollment ends December 7! Learn more about Medicare at http://www.medicare.gov , or by calling 1-800-medicare.

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Study on Recovery from Mental Health Issues Without Medication Seeks Participants
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Holiday Card Making for Veterans TODAY at Friends 4 Recovery
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December 10th at 4:00 p.m.

Come out TODAY and support our veterans. Our "Art w/Kim" class will be making greeting cards for McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Sitter and Barfoot heroes. The class meets at 4:00 p.m. and we will be sending the cards out the next day.

For more info call 804-308-1366 or email: info@friends4recovery.org

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Veteran Employment Participants Sought by Booz Allen
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Booz Allen is conducting research on Veteran Employment and how the community (family, VSOs, government etc) assists with that transition from the military to the civil job market.   We are seeking to meet with a couple of Veterans who are ideally recently separated and in the process of acquiring civilian employment.  We would be more than happy to interview them at their home or another location where they are comfortable.  The goal of our meeting is to get their stories (insights and experiences) around their transition from the military to the civilian job market.  We will provide gift cards to those selected Veterans who participate.

 

Please let me know who might be available to meet with us next week on either 12/11 or 12/12.

Michael Arthur, Lead Associate, Booz Allen

"Training for Peer Specialists to Provide Vocational Supports,"  December 12th at 3:00 p.m.

"This webinar will describe the Vocational Peer Support (VPS) Training Curriculum and anecdotal experiences from five pilot trainings across the United States." Participants will learn skills "to support others to choose, get and keep meaningful education or employment." According to the promotional material, the program "does not duplicate services currently offered by employment specialists, rehabilitation counselors, etc." There is a $10 registration fee. To register or for more information, click on the source below. 

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"Domestic Violence: Understanding the Basics" by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and VAWnet, the National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women
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This 1 hour interactive eLearning module describes the dynamics and common tactics that characterize domestic violence, provides an overview of the scope and impact on individuals and society, explores the underlying factors that allow domestic violence to exist, offers insight into the various risks and choices that survivors face, and shares how to be part of the solution. Divided into 10 sections addressing common questions related to domestic violence, this course will help new advocates, allied professionals, students, and the general public achieve a basic understanding of this complex issue.

 

Access the course at: http://www.vawnet.org/elearning/DVBasics/player.html

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Submit Application for Reintegration Awards by December 31st
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Winners receive cash prizes of $5,000 to $10,000, to be donated to a non-profit organization of their choice, and are honored at a special ceremony and dinner at the National Council Conference, April 8-10, 2013 (travel and expenses covered for honorees).

Need inspiration? Visit the National Council Awards of Excellence Hall of Honor and see how the stories of past winners can shape your submission.

Submissions are free and open to all. Nominate yourself or an individual or organization you know in any of categories below.

Achievement
Open to individuals who - while living with mental illness - have provided hope and inspiration to others.
Meet 2012 Achievement award winner and Hall of Honor inductee Kevin Cleare.

Advocacy
Open to individuals or organizations that advocate within their community for a better life for people living with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Meet 2012 Advocacy award winner and Hall of Honor inductee Fresh AIR Gallery.

Artistic Contribution
Open to individuals whose outstanding artistic expression (e.g., painting, music) contributes to their own reintegration process and that of others, and leads to greater understanding of people struggling with mental illness.
Meet 2012 Artistic Contribution award winner and Hall of Honor inductee Sharon Denise Wise.

Clinical Medicine
Open to individuals, organizations, or programs that adopt innovative and effective treatment approaches to promote recovery for individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Meet 2012 Clinical Medicine award winner and Hall of Honor inductee Trilogy's Integrated Healthcare Program.

Education
Open to individuals, organizations, or programs that help people living with mental illness achieve their educational goals.

Employment
Open to individuals, organizations, or programs that help people living with mental illness develop the skills necessary to secure and maintain employment.
Meet 2012 Employment award winner and Hall of Honor inductee Café 54, Community Partnership of Southern Arizona.

Housing
Open to individuals, organizations, or programs that help people living with mental illness find safe, affordable housing.
Meet 2012 Housing winner and Hall of Honor inductee Boley Centers.

Mentorship
Open to individuals who successfully manage their mental illness and inspire others by sharing their knowledge.
Meet 2012 Mentorship award winner and Hall of Honor inductee Dr. Tamara Navarro.

Submit your nominations today. Questions? Email us at awards@thenationalcouncil.org or call 202.684.7457.

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.