New Depression Bipolar Support Group in Chester (Central VA) - Posted 12.8  

Will meet every other week, starting on January 6 at 7:00 p.m.
Room 228 at Ironbridge Road Baptist Church, 10900 Ironbridge Road, Chester (23831)

This group is free and will offer support brochures, handouts, water and coffee. Open to all.

 For further information, contact Tim: 804-412-5910 or glovertw@msn.com

To find out more about DBSA groups, go here.    

Full Time Salaried Position at District 19 - Posted 12.8

District 19 Community Services Board is seeking a highly motivated self-starter to become a full-time Peer Specialists. The successful incumbent must have proven organizational, along with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Minimum required qualifications for this position include: High School Diploma or GED, relevant lived experience as a consumer of mental health services, must have at least 12 consecutive months of sobriety or drug free (if substance abuse exists) at least 12 consecutive months of success within personal recovery. No less than 500 paid and or volunteer hours within the preceding year providing recovery related activities to consumers with mental illness. Candidate must have proficient computer skills, experience in record keeping/report completion and proficient scheduling/time management skills.

Preference is given to those who have within the past three years completed a DBHDS recognized Peer Specialist curriculum/program. This curriculum/ program should have included no less than ninety (90) hours of training that covered the areas of content for peer support recommended by DBHDS. Content areas should speak to Peer Services within both the mental health and substance abuse disorder context. Twenty five of those 90 hours should have involved experiential learning.

Applications are accepted electronically through their website: www.d19csb.com

Vermonters Using Social Media As Peer Support - Posted 12.8

Funding Opportunity: SAMHSA Statewide Consumer Network Grant - Posted 12.8

SAMHSA has announced the availability of new funding for consumer organizations through its Statewide Consumer Network program. This program provides funding for mental health consumer organizations to promote recovery and support people with mental health needs in states throughout the country. Applications for this program are due February 2. 

Find the full announcement and additional details at http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/sm-15-002

New York Plan Aims to Divert Mentally Ill People From Jail's Revolving Door - Posted 12.8

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a $130 million plan to divert people with mental health needs from the criminal justice system. Read about the details of the plan here:  

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/03/nyregion/new-york-citys-effort-to-divert-the-mentally-ill-from-jails-revolving-door.html

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/a-depression-fighting-strategy-that-could-go-viral/?ref=opinion&_r=0  

A number of the handouts from workshops presented at Alternatives 2014 are available online on the Alternatives 2014 website: click here. The Clearinghouse encourages all workshop presenters to provide a pdf of their presentation handout and we will post it on the website. In addition, to buy CDs of the workshops that were recorded, click here 

for the order form. Video recordings of the plenary sessions will be available in the near future.