Scholarships & Free Trainings

Scholarships

Conference Scholarships - Many mental health conferences offer full scholarships for consumer participants. Scholarships often include tuition, transportation, meals, and lodging. To receive notices of upcoming conference scholarships join our email newsletter.

VOCAL CO-OP Scholarships - Board members, staff members, and volunteers at peer-run programs can apply for VOCAL CO-OP scholarships to attend nonprofit workshops in their area. Newly-forming groups welcome! Click here to apply or find out more. 

Make-Your-Own Scholarship - Many consumers have been successful at receiving training or conference scholarships by approaching their local or state mental health partnership, advisory councils, community service boards, planning councils, or other mental health groups. Here's an excellent article on Where to find scholarships and how to ask for them. 

Free Trainings

Many training programs in Virginia are free or offer full scholarships to consumers, often including transportation, food, and lodging. Here's a list of some trainings that offer full or partial scholarships:

VOCAL CO-OP Trainings - The VOCAL CO-OP runs trainings and events for leaders and organizers of peer-run programs. Newly-forming groups are welcome. Scholarships are available for member programs. To find out about upcoming events, check our events page, or join our email newsletter 

VOCAL’s REACH Trainings - Learn to lead mental health recovery groups. This week-long training teaches skills for facilitating Wellness Recovery Action Plan. (WRAP). Full scholarships are available. Full scholarships are available, including tuition, lodging, meals, and transportation. Contact REACH.

CELT Leadership Academy is a free 3-day training designed to give mental health consumers important tools for successful leadership. CELT is a program of the Mental Health Association of Virginia. 434-953-9798, www.mhav.org

VHST serves as a training center for consumer providers as well as a clearinghouse for information about consumer provider training and transition issues. Virginia’s Human Services Training Center, 434-970-1255, http://avenue.org/vhst/index.htm

Recovery Innovations of Virginia hosts Peer Employment Training classes to prepare people who are on their journey of recovery from mental health challenges to become peer support specialists and work in the mental health field.  Some consumers may be eligible for free training through DRS. 757-361-0255, marym@recoveryinnovations.org   

The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) offers Peer Specialist Trainings. These events will be facilitated by the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Peer Specialist training is free and includes meals and lodging. For more information contact pat.shank@co.dmhmrsas.virginia.gov 

Laurie Mitchell Employment Center is a consumer-run center. In past years, this center has run a free 9-day train-the-trainer program for mental health consumers to learn & share information about SSA benefits & employment issues.  (703) 531-6380 or cynthialev@yahoo.com,  http://www.lmec.org

Vaaccses offers free workshops on SSI/SSDI Work Incentives and on How to Work and Keep Your Benefits.  They also run a program for Work Incentives Specialist Certification. Workshops are free and take place around the state. Some trainings also have travel and lodging scholarships available.  703-461-8747, mmorrison@ourpeoplework.org, http://www.vaaccses.org/

The NAMI Peer to Peer Mentor Training - Learn how to facilitate Peer to Peer educational class for mental health consumers (taught by consumers to consumers). Training, lodging, meals, and course materials are provided free of charge. http://www.nami.org/MSTemplate.cfm?Site=NAMI_Virginia 

For Northern Virginia: The Regional Recovery Work Group. In the past, this group has offered free WRAP facilitator training, and technical support. 703-876-0390 http://www.pathwayhomes.org/Recovery.html

Free Consultations

These national technical assistance centers sometimes offer free trainings or on-site assistance. Contact them for more information:

The National Mental Health Consumers Self-Help Clearinghouse provides assistance in self and system advocacy, on-site consultations, training, educational events, assistance in starting a group and technical assistance to consumer-run groups. 800-553-4539, TDD: 215-751-9655. www.mhselfhelp.org

National Empowerment Center is a consumer-run center that provides information on self-help resources, conferences, networking, conference calls and workshops. 925-681-0880, TDD: 1-800-889-7693, powertwou@aol.com, or www.power2u.org

National Consumer Supporter Technical Assistance Center works to strengthen organizations supporting mental health consumers by providing research, information, & financial aid. (800) 969-6642, or ConsumerTA@nmha.org

The STAR Center provides Support, Technical Assistance and Resources to assist consumer-operated and consumer-helper programs in meeting the needs of under-served populations. http://www.consumerstar.org

The Virginia Organizing Project provides campaign strategy and organizational development assistance. (434) 984-4655, www.virginia-organizing.org

__________________________________________________________

Find more tools:

VOCAL CO-OP Tools are available to read or print free on our website. Tools include Where to Find Foundation Funding for Peer-Run Programs, 21 Best Books for Programs, Sample Grant Proposals from Peer Programs, How to Start a New Program, How to Become a 501c3 Nonprofit, Tips for Buying a Computer for Your Program, and more. VOCAL CO-OP Tools