Advocacy Education

Overview
Education is Advocacy Unlimited's primary mission. AU's Advocacy Education Course provides advocacy skills training to persons with, or in recovery from, psychiatric disabilities. Focusing on self, systems, and legislative advocacy, the course covers many important topics, such as the Consumer Movement, the ADA, stigma, public speaking, and Working with the Media. It is one of the most comprehensive education courses in the nation for persons in recovery.

This section of our website provides specific information about the Advocacy Education Course. It has been an extremely successful course, and over 330 persons with psychiatric disabilities in the state of Connecticut have graduated and gone on to serve as Community Advocates.

Through this training, Advocacy Unlimited selects and educates leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to helping themselves and others. Upon graduation, students become part of AU's grassroots network of consumer advocates. They are urged to become voting members of the Regional Mental Health Boards and Catchment Area Councils established under state statute. Their active and informed participation ensures that a loud, clear consumer voice is heard.

Future leaders of the mental health movement learn advocacy, public speaking, and other skills through an intensive 14 week semester. Classes are held one day each week during the semester. Class size is limited to afford plenty of individual attention. Following graduation, the advocates meet every other month on a Saturday to keep up-to-date and to continue learning in support of their advocacy efforts.

Individuals selected to participate in the Advocacy Education Course must commit to a six-month community service placement (or internship) following their graduation. This Community Service Commitment consists of volunteering six hours of their time each week for six months at an agency, organization, or clubhouse in their local area. This includes, in addition to assisting others in advocating for their needs, arranging presentations and workshops where others can attend and learn from people with expertise in pertinent subjects, thereby encouraging the network to flourish.

We accept applications from people in recovery with the desire and the drive to become advocates. Skills learned will be used to assist in advocating for systems and individual changes in the mental health and addictions service and recovery systems. Graduating students then become a part of the various boards, Catchment Area Councils, and Mental Health Authority Advisory Councils. Graduate advocates ensure participation in state legislation through the grassroots network of consumers.

To see where and when upcoming courses are being held, check the Course Schedule.

If you are interested in applying for this course, please review the…

        Requirements
        Community Service Commitment
        Course Outline

…then complete and submit an Application.