Voices of Transformation - National Empowerment Center

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Voices of Transformation: Developing Recovery-Oriented Statewide Consumer Organizations important resources. This newspaper was established before VPS incorporated and is respected as a source of information by mental health providers as well as consumers. Distributed free throughout the state, it has a circulation of approximately 7,000. VPS also publishes an online quarterly newsletter, The Survivor. A major concern of VPS is fostering new leadership, especially helping newer and younger people to get involved. VPS is experienced at mentoring and encouraging new people to take on additional roles as their skills and confidence grow. One important way this happens is through the Recovery Education Program that offers training at sites around the state every year. This program offers not only information and support to participants in recovery, but provides follow-up opportunities for interested persons to learn more, develop skills as group facilitators, and work as paid recovery educators. Many recovery educators use this program as a launch place for other kinds of leadership roles and employment. Vermont Psychiatric Survivors has a budget of approximately $497,000, 65 percent of which comes from Funding Source Mix state funds, 15 percent Vermont Psychiatric Survivors from a SAMHSA Statewide Networking State Funds Grant, and 20 percent Federal Funds: Other 65% from another federal 20% source, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Currently, there are seven full time and additional part time employees of VPS: Federal Funds: SAMHSA 15% • Executive Director • Administrative Assistant • Outreach workers (2 positions) • Counterpoint Editor (Counterpoint is a newspaper published by VPS) • Recovery Education Coordinator • Safe Haven Administrator (Safe Haven is a housing program) • Three part time peer-support workers at Safe Haven. National Empowerment Center 31
Voices of Transformation: Developing Recovery-Oriented Statewide Consumer Organizations COMMONALITIES AMONG RECOVERY CONSORTIUM MEMBERS Reflecting differing local conditions, each organization in the Consortium has developed somewhat differently. Both California and Vermont, for example, have long histories of independent organizations that predated the formation of the statewide group, and in both cases had to work to include people who felt left out. The four groups also vary in factors such as geography and population. California is an enormous state with a large population, while Vermont is a mostly rural state with a small population. However, it is clear from looking at the groups’ histories, that they share a number of characteristics and beliefs. Many of the commonalities found among the Recovery Consortium can also be found as “common ingredients” of consumer operated services and programs, researched by Jean Campbell as part of the Consumer Operated Services and Programs (COSP) Multi-site Research Initiative (1998-2006), funded by SAMHSA. 15 Grass-roots Representation All of these groups share basic beliefs about the importance of grass-roots representation. They were all formed to ensure that people who are receiving or have received mental health services represent their own interests, rather than having other groups speak “for” them. And all of the Consortium organizations take on issues that are important to their members, doing so even when it means opposing their own funding agencies. Focus on Recovery All of these organizations have a strong focus on recovery and provide numerous opportunities for their members to become involved in individual recovery (through support groups, for example), as well as promoting recovery for others. Organizational Independence Each of these groups also illustrates the importance of achieving independence as an organization, even if this takes place over a period of years. Becoming incorporated, getting nonprofit status from the IRS, and having a Board of Directors to govern the organization are all ways for an organization to control its destiny. 15 For more information about “common ingredients” and research into consumer operated programs, see: Clay, S. (ed.) On Our Own Together: Peer Programs for People with Mental Illness (2005). Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University Press. National Empowerment Center 32
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