Scholarships Available for Registration and Lodging for Alternatives 2014 #AltCon14 - Posted 10.6   

VOCAL is offering scholarships for registration and lodging to its members for Alternatives 2014 on October 22-26 in Orlando, Florida.  There are a limited number of scholarships available and preference will go to those who have not received a scholarship in the past; however, don't let that discourage you from applying. 

 Download the application form here 

Please complete this form and email it to Deidre@vocalvirginia.org or fax to 804-343-0160 by close of business on Monday, 10/6/14.

How Can the VOCAL Web Site Serve You Best?  - Posted 10.6  

Please spend a few minutes taking our survey. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/vocalweb  

VOCAL WRAP Facilitator Training - Posted 10.6  

VOCAL's next W.R.A.P. Facilitator Training will be offered November 17 through 21, at the Shalom House Retreat Center in Montpelier. Teachers will be Bonnie Neighbour, VOCAL Executive Director, and Beth Gager, Coordinator of Consumer Empowerment for Region Ten CSB (Charlottesville).  This is the initial training for WRAP Facilitators AND can serve as the Refresher training required by the Copeland Center every 2 years for already certified W.R.A.P. Facilitators.

The cost for the training, room and board, and facilitator manual is $1500. The cost for Refresher training is $900.

Cost will be reduced for those who do not stay overnight at Shalom House.

Several scholarships are still available for this training.

To apply for the training, new trainees should complete the W.R.A.P. Facilitator Training Application at www.vocalvirginia.org. Applicants must have completed their own W.R.A.P.  Refresher students need not complete the application.

What is emotional wellness?

SAMHSA defines emotional wellness as coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships.

For more information about this topic, visit: 

http://www.unh.edu/health-services/ohep/emotional-wellness

Thursday, November 6th at Wytheville Meeting Center (Wytheville)

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Live interviews from those who will share their story, including family members.  

Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.

This is open to all at no charge, but registration is required. To register, call: 276-223-3724

National Dialogues on Behavioral Health Conference in New Orleans, November - Posted 10.2

A national conference titled "Opportunities in Behavioral Health Crisis Services: What Is the New Frontier?" will take place at the Renaissance Arts Hotel in New Orleans November 2-5.  On November 2, there will be a pre-conference workshop entitled "Implementing Trauma-Informed Approaches across Service Systems." The conference organizers write: "What happens when a person experiences a behavioral health crisis? Unfortunately, inappropriate involvement with law enforcement and hospitalization is often the result. The question is: What should happen?" The conference will focus on "issues and models related to services for persons experiencing a behavioral health crisis." The conference is co-sponsored by the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors and the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education. For more information and to register, click here. 

Thursday, October 16th

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Orange Hill Wellness Center, 401 Orange Street, Charlottesville

If you would like to register or would like more information, please call at 434-977-6918 or email james@jamesyatesphd.com 

Tuesday,  October 14th from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Join the STAR Center Community of Practice on Collaborative Leadership and Action for a featured interview with Lauren Spiro to hear more about Lauren's view of her own leadership style, her personal standards for leadership and how we can best support and develop leadership with each other.

Magellan Health Services, in partnership with Appalachian Consulting Group, DBHDS and DMAS is providing a

Peer Support Whole Health and Resiliency Training in Richmond on October 9th - October 10th. 

The PSWH&R training documents are posted on

This course begins October 13, and will be taught by David Silver, MD. Please contact David at davidfsilver@gmail.com if you have questions about MBCT. 

NAMI Homefront is a free, six-session education program for family, friends and partners of Military Service Members and Veterans with mental health conditions. It focuses on the unique needs of military and veteran communities, such as post-deployment and post-discharge transitions.

The course is designed to help family members understand and support their loved one while maintaining their own well-being. The trained teachers of this course are also family members who have experience with military culture and know what it's like to have a loved one living with a mental health condition.  

Tuesdays, beginning October 7th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

DAV Chapter 58 Building, 6265 Professional Drive, Gloucester (23061)

"Building Bridges IV: Embracing Cultural Differences in Community Living" - Posted 8.21

October 16th from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

St. James Episcopal Church

1205 West Franklin Street, Richmond (23220)

This annual event was created though a collaboration among the VCU Partnership For People with Disabilities, Center for Family Involvement, The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities - Office of Cultural and Linguistic Competence and Office of Developmental Services- Community Resources, Commonwealth Autism Service, Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services, Hampton Newport News Community Services Board, and The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. 

Register here  

"Together on the Pathway to Wellness: The Good Life - A Vision for Recovery" - Posted 8.14  

Along with the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board,

Have you or someone you care about experienced mental health and/or substance use challenges? Want to learn more about wellness and recovery? Then this event is for YOU! Explore how to: build and grow good relationships, stay healthy and feel good, and have fun! 

Registration is Still Open for Alternatives 2014!  - Posted 6.23

To register for the conference, and/or to book a hotel room, go to the Alternatives 2014 website and see the links on the navigation bar at the left. Click on the URL below to go to the Alternatives 2014 website:   

#AltCon14  

Every Monday at 1 p.m.