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Two People, Two Chairs
Two People, Two Chairs is based on the idea that "if you have two people, and two chairs, you can start a peer-run project". Through this program, VOCAL CO-OP supports peer groups to develop grassroots projects. Click here to learn more about Two People, Two Chairs. Or read about some sample two people two chairs projects:
Learn Together Learn Together will design and lead a series of free, well-advertised employment training events for consumers in Northern Virginia. Two informational seminars will focus on Ticket-To-Work and federal government employment opportunities. Seven additional workshops will focus on job-hunting basics (resumes, cover letters, interviewing, etc) along with information on ADA and SSI/SSDI work incentives, and discussions of emotional barriers consumers must overcome to begin the career exploration process. Laurie Mitchell plans to use this project as a springboard for testing out and developing an ongoing workshop curriculum that will be led by consumers at their centers, and included in statewide consumer-to-consumer education. Laurie Mitchell Employment Center operates two drop-in centers
in Fairfax County. The program was established in 1995 as a place where mental
health consumers could drop in when they needed to and receive free peer
support, computer training, employment support, one-on-one consultations, and
job leads. Consumers run the center and individuals chart their own roadmap to
self-defined success. Peer staff members are available to assist and guide – not
dictate treatment plans or discourage dreams. Since 1995, this vision has helped
more than 1,200 consumers in Northern Virginia. The Warm Line Expansion Project will expand the outreach and program service area to also cover the PRS Mount Vernon area. Through this project, the Warm Line will also train bilingual volunteers, and purchase TTY equipment to make this program accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as non-English speaking members of the community. Reston Warm Line is a new program designed to give support to people with mental illness, and to help people stay out of the hospital. The warm line is a free service where people with serious mental illness can call and find peer support and resources. The warm line is staffed by volunteers who are trained by a licensed social worker. The warm line hopes to serve as a stepping stone to eventually forming a drop-in center. Speakers Bureau Anti-Stigma Project Richmond Mental Wellness Mentors will create a Speaker’s Bureau that will be held at locations such as schools, civic groups, CSBs, advocacy groups, police departments, religious congregations, and public television. This program is designed to help heal the perception of the public regarding mental illness. “Because of fear, prejudice and stigma, the public has a distorted picture of what mental illness is like. Fear is most often the result of a lack of information, and what we will be providing is first hand information.” The program will also provide mentoring training and follow-up for new speakers, form collaborative relationships with host organizations, and disseminate educational materials and outreach literature at events. The Richmond Mental Wellness Mentors’ mission is to facilitate
recovery, improve quality of life, and inspire hope for people with mental
illness through education, advocacy and networking. The group was formed by
graduates of the Consumer Empowerment Leadership Training Academy, and now hosts
bimonthly meetings, an email list, training opportunities, social experiences,
and advocacy education. The WRAP Implementation Project will launch a consumer-run education and support program. The project will offer peer counseling to assist individuals in their journey to recovery, and will provide a safe environment for consumers to discuss and learn about their illness and how to manage it. Funds will be used to acquire durable equipment needed to provide life-changing recovery skills to consumers. The Implementation Project will also support the development of a website, brochure, and newsletter in the Tidewater area. People of Power is a newly-developed consumer-run organization
providing education and support to individuals with mental illness. The primary
educational program utilized is a recovery-based, peer-led consumer education
program called Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). The consumers who run POP
have extensive experience in consumer, as well as family-member, education. They
have been through the WRAP program and have a strong desire to reach out to
others with its message of hope and recovery. ABIL will design and implement a prototype for their network of support groups in Virginia. This project is designed to increase awareness of and participation in support groups for those suffering from anxiety disorders. ABIL will build on its 17 years of experience to provide a different approach to support groups, including more detailed and specific educational materials, regular guest speakers, short and long-term goal setting, and round table discussions. ABIL has a 17 year history of providing “hope, support, and
advocacy for people suffering from debilitating phobias by establishing
self-help groups and providing public education.” ABIL is dedicated to
facilitating the development of self-help groups and establish a statewide
network for persons with panic disorders. The program also works to provide
advocacy and information on rights related issues, develop a strong link with
the professional community to improve the quality of treatment, secure and
disseminate current information, and eliminate the stigma associated with panic
disorder. Computer Resources & Internet Connectivity The Consumer Computer Resources Project will improve and upgrade technological services and equipment at the Drop-In Center. Funds will be used to purchase much-needed computer equipment to access the internet, email, and explore developing a website. This project will allow consumers to improve their computer skills, gather facts and information through the internet, and network with their peers and other mental health programs. Consumers will also have the opportunity to become better informed and educated about their illness through the internet. The Peninsula Drop In Center is dedicated to providing
non-traditional/alternative programming to consumers in need. The center strives
to meet the needs of consumers who have chosen not to participate in traditional
programming, as well as those not receiving any mental health services offered
in the community. The center has been successfully operating for nine years,
offering daily structured activities, educational classes, referral information,
recreational activities, washer and dryer use, shower facilities, storage space,
telephone job line, bus passes, holiday events, clothing, and a hot meal every
day. Mental Wellness Consumer-run Support Group The Mental Wellness Support Group has met monthly for over a
decade. This group is requesting a small grant, which will provide an entire
year of rent expenses for their program. The Support Group is an open discussion
group where members can learn recovery skills, and support each other when
dealing with difficult situations. Journeys Membership Project The Journeys Membership Project is designed to help this new program survive. The group cannot afford to send out publicity letters, and cannot afford postage. The Membership Project will provide postage to reach out to members, educational materials to help build a strong consumer support system, social events to have fun together outside of working on mental health issues, and funding guest speakers for to come and share their expertise. This project will also fund leadership skills training for facilitators. This project will lead to improved structure of self-help meetings, reduced isolation and more friendships, better mental health in members, and survival of the group at this critical time. Journeys is an association for persons affected by mental
illness. Journeys meets weekly as a mental health consumers self-help discussion
group. The program is designed as a place where consumers can help each other in
their journeys toward mental health and fulfillment of life goals. Founded on
the concept of mutual aid, Journeys is a place where people seek the support and
guidance of like-minded peers. Spotlight Program: Recovery Speakers Bureau ~ From Betsy Brown, RMWM Co-Founder We are people who have discovered that because of our experiences with mental illness we can, and do help, and encourage others who are having a similar life experience. By coming together to talk about our lives, to laugh, to learn, and meet new people, we experience greater personal meaning, hope, and healing. By sharing our ideas of how to help our fellow man we reach beyond ourselves in ways we may give to others. This movement to help others ultimately empowers our selves. Our Two People Two Chairs Project was to create a Mental Wellness Mentors Speaker’s Bureau to educate the public by sharing our stories, struggles, and successes. This program is designed to help heal the perception of the public regarding mental illness. Our project also included Peer-Facilitated Mental Wellness Education. “I see that we are developing, building and creating community among ourselves to become a consumer community. We are learning to trust ourselves and our abilities, perceptions, observations, judgment, value ourselves and each other, and believe in ourselves, which is a crucial element leading up to being able to speak up for ourselves, advocate for ourselves and then others. This I see as the process of empowerment, recovery, etc. VOCAL has been helping to make it possible for us to do this.” ~ Dorothy Wyatt, Richmond Mental Wellness Mentors “It was great to be able to share my experience with others and educate them about recovery from mental illness. Telling my story reaffirms my belief in how strong I am, because sometimes I can’t believe how far I’ve come. When you tell your story you find out new things about yourself. It’s self-affirming and builds self-esteem.” ~ Byron Stith, Richmond Mental Wellness Mentors “My experience is that most people are looking more for a support group than for an advocacy group because they seem to need the social support and a social life. Our group winds up being a “mini-family” and this may be the strongest most important need that is being met. When I spoke at Chesterfield Recovery Conference it is my opinion that it was professionals who were probably most helped. I think the value of speaking is that people get to see that people can recover from mental illness and go on to lead successful lives. Everyone who spoke was an example of this.” Hugh McGuire, Richmond Mental Wellness Mentors “Each public speaking opportunity I had was really different
and provided me experience that I had not had before. I learned something new
and was stretched in some way by each one. I enjoyed the opportunity to work as
a team with the other speakers. I appreciated the opportunity we had to network
with the community and be visible examples of recovery. I thought that our
speaking engagements were good outreach opportunities and that some people
really learned what they needed to from listening to us. It is a great feeling
to be valued and appreciated for what I have to offer.” Betsy Brown, Richmond
Mental Wellness Mentors Learn More About Two People Two Chairs... Click here to learn more about Two People, Two Chairs
Two People, Two Chairs is made possible thanks to support from the Office of Mental Health Services at Virginia DMHMRSAS |
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