Upcoming conference and meetings

board Meetings

Just uploaded the following video, one which I am quite pleased with,
please feel free to share and spread the word with others who might
be
interested in it:

Consciousness Raising Discussion: The Future of Mental Health Care in

Vermont:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1306507832678805733&hl=en.

Focused on Recovery and Meeting the Needs of People within the
Community

Mary Ellen Gottlieb
Albert Galves
Xenia Williams
Bill Newhall

Vermont State House
Room 11
Montpelier, Vermont
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

For additional information concerning mental health and related
matters within Vermont, visit the Beyond Vermont State Hospital (VSH)
blog: http://beyond-vsh.blogspot.com

Video recorded & edited by: Morgan W. Brown

Video camcorder courtesy of: Vermont Coalition for Disability Rights
(VCDR): http://www.vcdr.org

Morgan morganbrown@gmail.com
Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier, Vermont, USA
Beyond Vermont State Hospital (VSH) blog:
http://beyond-vsh.blogspot.com

Friends of Recovery- Vermont
2008 Calendar of Events

Date	Event	Time/place
February 27	Wit's End Informational Session with Pat Martin, co-founder Learn more about this parent support group	6:00 - 7:30 Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) St. Johnsbury Conference Room B
March 14	Our Stories Have Power: A Media Workshop for Recovery Advocates FOR-VT Membership Recruitment / Orientation	10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Turning Point Center of Rutland 141 State St.
March 18	Supporting Families of Teens with Substance Abuse Issues- FACES and Wit's End Focus Group	6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Conference Room 1 Northwestern Medical Center St. Albans
March 28	Advocacy in Action 10th Annual Recovery Day at the Statehouse	10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Room 11 VT Statehouse Montpelier
March 28	Advocacy 101: A Citizens Guide to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Advocacy	1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Room 11 VT Statehouse Montpelier
April 10	Communities in Action: Town Hall Meeting Alcohol Awareness Month	4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Cafeteria, VT Statehouse Montpelier
April 15 Six Tuesdays	Community Education Series- Central Vermont § Understanding Addiction and Recovery § Hitchhikers Guide to Prevention § Adolescent Brain Development and Youth Substance Abuse § How to Support a Loved One § Medical Aspects of Alcohol and Drug Use § Roadmap to Recovery- Wellness, Mindfulness and Spirituality	Tuesdays 7 - 9 p.m. 58 Barre St., Montpelier Co-sponsored by: FOR-VT, Central Vermont New Directions, Turning Point Center of Central VT
May 6	Our Stories Have Power: A Media Workshop for Recovery Advocates FOR-VT Membership Recruitment / Orientation	10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Turning Point Center of Windham County, Brattleboro
May 14	Know Your Rights in Recovery Legal Action Center	1:00 - 4:00 p.m. VT Dept. of Health 108 Cherry St., Burlington Conference Room 2B

May 22	FACES 2nd Annual Meeting Families of Addiction Consulting for Effective Services	6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Governors Ballroom, Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Montpelier
September 20	Rally for Recovery! 3rd Annual Green Mountain Recovery Walk	Statehouse Lawn Montpelier
September 26	Co-occurring Peer Recovery Conference	TBD
October	FOR-VT Annual Meeting	TBD

http://www.friendsofrecoveryvt.org/

 

 

 

 

 

Just today, Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) (picturedbelow right) and Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) (pictured below, right) confirmed their attendance at the "National Forum on Equality, Opportunity, and Access" - a presidential candidates forum on disability policy to be held on November 2 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Read more about the forum, who else is coming, and how you can tune in via webcast for the event!

See which presidential candidates responded to a disability policy questionnaire and read their answers.

--
Lauren Spiro
Director of Public Policy
National Coalition of Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Organizations
1300 L Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
V: 978-590-2014
www.ncmhcso.org
info@ncmhcso.org info@ncmhcso.org

VCDR 2008 Legislative Platform

(as approved by Board of Governors, 11/26/07)

Vermont Council of the Blind

Model Law Against Interference with a Guide Dog, to protect the rights of blind individuals and their guide dogs to safely travel within their communities without being obstructed, harmed, or killed due to harassment or attack by aggressive dogs - or by humans.

VABVI

$200,000 appropriation to increase rehabilitation and support services to people who are blind and visually impaired.

Parent to Parent of Vermont

A. Update on existing 2006-2007 proposal. Requests $318,000 to assist families with expenses related to modifying a van or other vehicle required to make the vehicle accessible to children whose medical condition requires adaptive equipment and/or a wheelchair.

B. Update on existing 2006-2007 proposal. This proposal requests an appropriation in the FY 2009 budget (to be determined--estimated at about $600,000) to provide EPSDT mandated case management services for children receiving Personal Care and High Tech Program Services. Also supports expansion of case management to unserved adult populations and the Unified Care Plan approach.

C. Update on existing 2006-2007 proposal. This proposal requests an additional estimated $113,000 over the $350,000 current year (2008) budget for the Department of Health/Children with Special Health Needs Respite Program for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 (7/1/2008 to 6/30/2009) to bring the program to parity with the Developmental Services Flexible Family Funding program.

Vermont Protection and Advocacy

A. Vermont legislation to give kids with disabilities the right to participate in graduation ceremonies and related celebrations with their classmates even when their IEP and 504 Plans allow them to continue in high school for a few more years.

B. Vermont law and practice should substitute a truly voluntary admissions process for receiving inpatient psychiatric services for the current process in which voluntary admission is conditional upon yielding one’s right to end treatment without several day’s notice.

Brain Injury Association of Vermont

H.273 - already introduced into the House. Bill assigned to Human Services. The proposed legislation calls for the creation of a TBI Trust Fund by having a $1 surcharge on all motor vehicle registrations annually, which would raise an estimated $500,000.

TASH

A. Modifications in Vermont law for child abuse and neglect to insert proactive requirements for accommodations for parents with disabilities, and having a disability expert as part of the team.

B. (VP&A co-sponsor) Legislation to limit the use of restrictive behavioral interventions and promote positive behavioral interventions in Vermont schools; to establish guidelines for reporting when incidents occur in which interventions exceed the limits; to establish requirements for training for schools and school personnel.

VCIL

A. Support funding for the implementation of a critical care transportation fund. The study committee created by the legislature just began meeting in September and is finalizing recommendations. The creation of this fund would free up other senior and disability transportation funds to address unmet employment and social transportation needs. Will also support appropriations for senior and disability transportation in the transportation budget but will hold advocacy for expanding Ticket to Ride to other counties until next year.

B. Appropriation to bring state funded DAIL personal care rates up to the rates for Medicaid funded PAS services under the choices for care waiver. This is the same proposal VCIL had on the platform last year and they continue to get calls about it from their peers.

C. Legislation and appropriations requests to improve access to hospice and end-of-life care and improve pain management services throughout the lifespan (and not just for end-of-life care).

D. Request for state financial support for the VCIL Youth Leadership Program. In 2002 VCIL began its Youth Leadership Program to help youth in transition develop self-advocacy and independent living skills and find their own leadership abilities and interests. The program has been severely under-funded by the state. The resolution would require funding of VCIL’s Youth Leadership Program from the appropriate state agencies.

E. VCIL is requesting an increase of $200,000 in the DAIL budget for VCIL’s Home Access Program. In 2007, the Home Access Program (HAP) completed projects in 61 households across Vermont. During this time period, HAP spent $341,500 in state funded home modification and leveraged an additional $123,334.25 in alternative resources. Approximately 200 individuals are on the waiting list and VCIL estimates that the individuals often have a three-year wait for HAP funds.

F. VCIL is requesting $55,000 to provide additional Peer Advocacy Counseling services to individuals who receive funding assistance though VCIL’s Home Modifications, Meals on Wheels, and Sue Williams Freedom Fund. Many individuals who apply for funding assistance can benefit from assistance in accessing rights and benefits, managing disability related issues or addressing goals relating to independent living and community participation. In order to provide these individuals timely access to additional services VCIL needs an additional peer advocacy counselor.

G. VCIL is working on a bill to increase the allowed asset level and a disregard of spousal income for Vermont’s Medicaid program for individuals with disabilities who are working. VCIL is not sure if this year’s legislation will call for analysis of need or whether we will be ready to ask for these regulatory changes. Ed said that we often have formal proposals for platform status come up after the Board of Governor’s meeting and if the legislative language is not available by the Board of Governor’s meeting, VCIL should bring it to the legislative committee

Committee Bills

1. (Leg. & I&FS committee, VP&A as lead sponsor) Support legislation that moves Vermont service systems toward use of a more equitable and functional definition for eligibility requirements for services. Initial efforts are expected to be to move the state definition of developmental disability toward the federal language.

2. (Leg. committee) Introduce legislation that would continue child support payments for adult children with disabilities when the loss of payments would jeopardize their housing and ability to stay in the community. (To be written in a way that does not create incentives for parents to keep adult children at home if they want independent housing.)

3. (Leg. committee, VCIL as lead sponsor, with Center for Crime Victims’ Services) $50,000 - 100,000 in funding to make shelters accessible.

Items to Monitor

1) Legislation that may diminish the civil rights of people with disabilities and advocate for adequate funding for the services that make independent living and self-determination real possibilities. (VP&A)

2) Administration proposals for case management that may erode entitlement to case management under EPSDT.

3) Any legislative action on Vermont State Hospital.

4) Medicaid Budget, including system of care plan and Catamount Health implementation.

NCTIC Dare to Transform Conference Shifted to July 11-12, 2008

On July 11 and 12, 2008 in Washington, DC, NCTIC will host Dare to Transform: Revolutionizing Mental Health and Human Services, a 2-day learning exchange and networking transformation forum to highlight useful and practical strategies for moving forward together with the implementation of trauma-informed care. The conference was originally slated for July 9-10 but has been rescheduled to July 11-12.

The forum will mark a first step toward creating a trauma-informed network for the personal exchange of implementation knowledge and strategies for the transformation to trauma-informed care across the spectrum of health and human services. Many organizations, programs, and services have helped to foster this revolution, and the knowledge gained by each can speak to a wide array of program concerns.

The forum is designed for those with expertise in how to do it, for those in the process of learning how to do it, and for those who are considering what to do and how to do it. Administrators and those providing staff support, service providers, consumers and survivors, and representatives of outside groups who have a stake in this revolutionary transformation are all invited and welcome.

Registration and additional information about Dare to Transform will be available by February 1, 2008.

Complex Trauma Speaker Series

sponsored by the NCTSN’s

Complex Trauma Working Group

*This series is free of charge and open to the public.

SCHEDULEof PRESENTATIONS

2:00 - 3:30 EST

11:00- 12:30 PST

January 14, 2008
Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
The Trauma Center
The Neurobiology of
Complex Trauma

February 21, 2008
John Briere, Ph.D.
University of Southern California
School of Medicine
Comprehensive Assessment
of Complex Trauma

March 31, 2008
Joseph Spinazzola, Ph.D.
The Trauma Center
Treatment Planning for
Complex Trauma:
Conceptualization and Core
Components

April 17, 2008
Cheryl Lanktree, Ph.D.
MCAVIC - USC
Integrative Treatment of
Complex Trauma (ITCT)
with Children: Core Principles

May 21, 2008
Kristine Kinniburgh, LICSW
The Trauma Center
ARC: Attachment, Self
Regulation & Competency:
A Framework for Intervention
With Complexly Traumatized
Youth

June 23, 2008
Mandy Habib, Psy.D.
North Shore University Hospital
SPARCS: Structured
Psychotherapy for
Adolescents Responding to
Chronic Stress: A Guide for
Trauma-Focused Groups

July 17, 2008
Richard Kagan, Ph.D.
Parsons Child and Family Center
Real Life Heroes: Rebuilding
Attachments for Children
With Complex Trauma

To register and access presentation
materials, visit: www.NCTSN.org/complextrauma
www.NCTSN.org/complextrauma
Presentations are accessible by telephone or over the web, and continuing education
credits are available.
Please invite your partner organizations.
This series was funded by the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration (SAMHSA),
US Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS). The views, policies,
and opinions expressed are those of
the speakers and do not necessarily
reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.

 Request for Applicants: Peer-Run Crisis Respite Program Development

Vermont Psychiatric Survivors and the Vermont Futures Peer Support Program Development Workgroup is seeking applications from an individual or organization to complete a comprehensive and detailed development plan for the creation and operation of a peer-run crisis respite program to enhance Vermont's community-based mental health care system and reduce reliance upon the Vermont State Hospital (VSH). The development of this plan will be based on previous work completed by the Futures Peer Support Program Development Workgroup.

Background

In 2006, the Vermont Mental Health Futures Plan called for the transformation of Vermont's mental health service system towards a consumer-directed, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented mental health system. This plan was developed through an inclusive, statewide planning process that brought together multiple stakeholders. Work groups were formed to address many parts of the Futures Plan, including the critical issue of how best to enhance the ways in which people with the lived experience of mental illness (peers) are involved in providing direct support to people with serious mental illness. The Futures Plan proposed new Peer Programming to offer effective, recovery-oriented supports targeted to individuals who use VSH. The Governor's Administration has proposed that approximately $ 230,000 be available each year to support the development and maintenance of this new peer programming, and a Futures Peer Support Program Development Workgroup was formed in the fall of 2006 to create recommendations how these funds should be used. Specifically, the workgroup was asked to:

2) develop a recommendation about what service(s) should be implemented; and

3) recommend who and how the service(s) should be staffed and operated

In January 2008 the workgroup recommended that the Department of Mental Health and State Legislature support and fund a Peer-Run Crisis Alternative House. This House will provide an evidenced-based option for people experiencing psychological distress to engage in principles of recovery and peer support. The intended outcome is for individuals both to avert hospitalization and to emerge from crisis with wisdom and skills for living well. Such an option is an important alternative to the existing network of crisis services.

The Peer-Run Crisis Alternative House will operate within a different paradigm that values mutually supportive relationships between staff and guests, is pro-choice on use of psychiatric medication, uses non-medical language, provides a flexible structure and homelike environment, encourages personal responsibility, offers self-empowerment resources and a peer warm line, and approaches crisis holistically as an opportunity to grow, shift, and change.

The House will serve up to 5 individuals at a time, for no more than 2 weeks at a time. It will accept anyone in crisis who is willing to abide by basic safety guidelines, who has a residence to return to, and who willingly desires to approach crisis in a non-traditional way. The House will operate as its own entity, utilizing Vermont Psychiatric Survivors as a non-profit source for administrative tasks, and will work independent of but in collaboration with Vermont's current mental health agencies. It will be operated and staffed entirely by people who have experienced psychological crisis who meet and display all of the criteria necessary for practicing intentional peer support.

The Peer-Run Crisis Alternative House will help reduce the overall need for the Vermont State Hospital by providing an alternative, community-based place for people in crisis to work through their distress in a humane and compassionate manner. We believe that a peer support approach reduces the likelihood that an individual will become aggressive and dangerous, thereby reducing - though not entirely eliminating - the need for beds in a locked state facility. A Peer-Run Crisis Alternative House not only provides Vermonters with much-needed options for their mental health, but is also aligned with federal initiatives to transform the mental health system to a more recovery-oriented approach that values peer services across the country. "The vision of the peer recovery crisis program is to create a safe and empowering house for people in psychological distress to engage in principles of recovery and peer support and to help people to emerge from crisis with wisdom and skills for living well."

Expectations

The individual or organization contracted to complete this plan would be expected to complete a detailed plan within six months of being hired. The plan would need to address the following:

.An assessment of potential locations for the program. This assessment would be based on: 1) the needs of the people who will be using the house, 2) availability of facilities, 3) community support for this type of program, and 4) zoning or other regulatory issues which might support or hamper the creation of this program

.An assessment of the need to rent, lease, purchase or build a facility

.Plans for how the physical space would need to be arranged to meet the needs of the program and its potential inhabitants

.A detailed budget both for the creation of the program and for the ongoing operation of the program

.An assessment of how the program should be licensed and insured

.A detailed staffing plan, which would include number of full time equivalent staff and volunteers needed, costs associated with hiring and maintaining staff, supervision structures, and a training plan to be used both at the creation of the program and for the ongoing operation of the program

.Creation of draft operating program and operations manual(s), which would include mission, philosophy, governance structure, house rules, procedures and policies (e.g. drug and alcohol use policy), admission criteria, and guidelines for the provision of support and treatment

.Plans for 1) referral processes and 2) coordination with other agencies and providers while maintaining independence of vision and supports offered.

The individual or organization completing this development plan would be expected to use recommendations previously developed by the Peer Support Development Workgroup and report regularly to the workgroup on the development of this plan for feedback and input. A final draft of the plan will need to be approved by the workgroup.

The individual or organization completing this plan will also be expected to access other resources (e.g. other peer respite programs) and consultation both instate and out of state to assist in the development of the plan.

Qualifications