VOCAL Conference Registration Deadline Extended to Friday, May 1st - Posted 4.27

May 1st will be the FINAL DEADLINE to register for "Charting the Journey".

You can download the Conference registration form here. We are excited about the opportunity to offer help with writing your Advance Directive at our Conference, but you MUST preregister when you fill out our registration form. Please review that section at the bottom of the form.   

SAMHSA BRSS TACS Develops Draft Core Competencies for Peer Workers - Posted 4.27

In support of its strategic initiative priority areas of Recovery Supports and Workforce Development, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through the Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center (BRSS TACS) has identified and developed a draft set of core competencies for Peer Workers in Behavioral Health settings. 

These core competencies are the foundational and essential competencies required by all positions that provide peer support in behavioral health services. The competencies are common across a range of roles and environments.  This includes such providers as Peer Specialists, Recovery Coaches, Parent Support Providers, Youth Peer Support Providers, and others.

SAMHSA is providing the public an opportunity to review and make comments on these draft competencies. If you would like to review the competencies and provide feedback, go to

 http://www.samhsa.gov/brss-tacs/core-competencies-peer-workers  .   You are encouraged to read the brief overview of the core competencies and the Q&As before providing your comments.

Webinar: "Special Enrollment Periods and Resources for the Unemployed" - Posted 4.27   

May 6th, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.  

The health care law has created special enrollment periods for those who experience special circumstances such as graduating from college and losing health insurance, getting married and needing coverage for a spouse, losing employer insurance or turning 26 and losing coverage on a parent's health plan. Join this webinar to learn more about special enrollment periods and how to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. For those who are uninsured and don't qualify for the special enrollment period, learn what resources are available and when to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

VOCAL Proposed Bylaws Changes Document and Notice of Annual Membership Meeting - Posted 4.23    

The link below will take you to the bylaw changes document, in draft, the final of which will be presented to the membership for a vote at our next annual meeting on May 19th from 1:00 - 2:45 p.m. at our Annual Conference in Harrisonburg.  You do not have to register for the Conference to attend the Annual Meeting. 

We welcome your comments to: network@vocalvirginia.org  

Call: 1-800-273-8255  

Virginia Wounded Warrior Program Link 

http://www.wearevirginiaveterans.org/ 

Veterans Peer Support Group at On Our Own of Roanoke 

New Tool Connects Vets and Employers 

The Veterans Employment Center, an inter-agency collaboration from the White House's Joining Forces initiative, has announced a new online tool to provide veterans with employment resources. ebenefits.va.govwill connect veterans and service members with public and private sector employers who are looking to hire people with military experience, including individuals with disabilities.

For more information and employer resources, visit www.AskEARN.org. 

June 3-4, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily

VACSB Development and Training Conference in Williamsburg - Posted  4.9

The Annual Conference on Trauma in Washington, D.C. - Posted 3.23

The Risk Society and the Germanwings Tragedy: Stigma on Both Sides of the Psychiatry Wars - Posted 4.20