What's New
This page provides a summary of the latest changes and updates to our website as well as a listing of important Special Notices.
See what's new in...
Most recent updates:
• Keep the Promise Supportive Housing Trainings (posted 04/27/08)
• Raise the Age Advocacy Alert (posted 04/27/08)
• Part-time Admin Assistant / In-house Advocate job opening at AU (posted 04/25/08)
• Part-time Web Developer job opening at AU (posted 04/25/08)
• Project Coordinator Opening at FOR-U (posted 04/25/08)
• Job openings at Walgreens for people with disabilities (posted 04/25/08)
• Join the KTP-NAMI Walks Team (posted 04/18/08)
• Forging Community Partnership Exhibition (posted 04/15/08)
• 35th AU Graduation Ceremony (posted 04/15/08)
Updates and Changes
- New in Advocacy Education...
See the current schedule for AU's Advocacy Education Course at Course Schedule.
Anyone interested in applying for upcoming classes can submit an application now. You can apply online, or you can download and print a copy of the application.
For complete information about AU's comprehensive Advocacy Education course, see Advocacy Education.
- New in Resource Library...
Regional Mental Health Boards - A listing of Connecticut's five Regional Mental Health Boards, along with a link to the Catchment Area Councils (CAC's) in each region, has been added to the Resource Library. See Regional Mental Health Boards.
See Charles Barber's article as published in the Washington Post, Healing a Troubled Mind Takes More Than a Pill.
Malta House of Care - Free basic health care for the uninsured in the greater Hartford area! See Malta House for details
AU Newsletter - Current and past issues are available online, or you can subscribe to receive it by mail. You can also submit a Letter to the Editor online.
- New in Events and Announcements...
KTP-NAMI Walks Team - Join the “Crusin’ Community Crusaders,” KTP's NAMI Walk team. See NAMI Walks for details.
Forging Community Partnership Exhibition - The Consumer Transformation Network will present "Forging Community Partnerships" on Friday, May 9, 2008 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm at the LOB in Hartford. See Forging Community for details.
AU Schedules 35th Graduation Ceremony - AU is pleased to announce the scheduling of its 35th graduation ceremony. To be held May 29, 2008 at Tarrywile Mansion in Danbury, the ceremony will honor the graduating students from the 2008 Hartford and Danbury Advocacy Education Course classes. See 35th Graduation Ceremony for details.
Wellness and WRAP Trainings - Focus On Recovery-United, Inc. (FOR-U) is offering Wellness and WRAP trainings for Spring '08. See FOR-U Trainings for more info.
DMHAS Art Exhibit - Artists and photographers from the recovery community are invited to show their works in the exhibit space at the DMHAS office in Hartford. See DMHAS Art Exhibit for details and how to participate.
Alternatives 2008 - This year's Alternatives Conference, the 23rd Annual Consumer/Survivor run National Conference, will be held October 29th thru November 2nd in Buffalo, New York. See Alternatives 2008 for more info.
2008 NAMI Convention - The 2008 NAMI Convention will be held in Orlando, FL from June 13-16. A limited number of scholarships covering the convention registration fee and possibly lodging costs are available from CMHS. The deadline for submitting scholarship applications is February 29, 2008. See 2008 NAMI Convention for details.
No Kidding, Me Too! - Entertainment industry members unite to de-stigmatize mental illness. See No Kidding, Me Too! for more info and a link to No Kidding, Me Too founder Joe Pantoliano's (The Sopranos) in-depth interview on NBC News with Brian Williams.
Search the Internet and raise money for AU - Did you know you can help raise money for Advocacy Unlimited just by searching the Internet? That's right! Just use GoodSearch (powered by Yahoo!) for all your Internet searches, designating AU as your selected charity. Every time you do, GoodSearch will donate a portion of their revenue to AU. How simple is that !?! Learn more.
- New in Job Opportunities...
Part-time Web Developer at AU - Advocacy Unlimited has a part-time job opening for an experienced website developer. See Web Developer for details.
Part-time Admin Assistant / In-house Advocate at AU - Advocacy Unlimited has a part-time job opening for an Administrative Assistant / In-house Advocate. See Administrative Assistant for details.
Project Coordinator for C-RECS Project - FOR-U is looking for a highly motivated individual for a full-time position (35 hours per week) to work out of their Middletown Training Center to manage the C-RECS project. See C-RECS Coordinator for more info.
Job openings at Walgreens for people with disabilities - Walgreens is committed to employing people with severe physical and mental disabilities. Multiple openings are available at Walgreens' new Distribution Center in Windsor, CT. For more info and how to apply, see Walgreens Job Openings.
Job openings at VOCAL, Inc., Virginia - VOCAL, Inc. in Virginia is seeking a Program Director and an Administrative Coordinator. See Out of State Openings for info.
More Resources - In addition to specific openings posted on our Job Opportunities page, there are links to several other online resources that list job openings for persons with disabilities. You can find those links in Other Employment Resources.
Help Getting a Job - Information and resources are available to help with job searching, resume writing, interviewing skills, and more. See Help Getting a Job.
- New in Links to Related Sites...
Keep the Promise's new website - Keep the Promise has launched their new website. KTP is dedicated to advocating for the "Blue Ribbon Solutions" necessary to maintain and expand critical mental health services for adults and children and housing options to meet their needs. See the link to KTP's new website.
No Kidding, Me Too! - Entertainment industry members unite to de-stigmatize mental illness. For more info and a link to No Kidding, Me Too founder Joe Pantoliano's (The Sopranos) in-depth interview on NBC News with Brian Williams, see No Kidding, Me Too!
No Stigma (National Mental Health Awareness Campaign) - Public education campaign dedicated to battling the stigma, shame, and myths surrounding mental disorders that prevent so many people from getting the help they need.
See our complete listing of links to other online resources providing pertinent help and information.
- New in Advocate's Connection...
Bimonthly Meeting - The next Advocate's Bimonthly Meeting has been scheduled. Sign in to Advocate's Connection for details.
Advocate Monthly Reports - Advocates doing internships can submit their Monthly Reports online. Sign in to Advocate's Connection and go to "Submit Monthly Report."
Bimonthly Meetings - AU Graduate Advocates can check Advocate's Connection for info, schedule, and location of upcoming Bi-Monthly meetings.
Special Notices
- “Intentional Peer Support” - AU's VISTA Volunteer has poem published
AU is very proud of staff member and VISTA Volunteer Selina Welborn, whose stirring poem "Intentional Peer Support" has been published on Shery Mead's Mental Health Peers website. See Intentional Peer Support on Shery Mead's website (scroll half-way down on the home page - opens in a new browser window).
- 2007 Dr. Karen Kangas Award Winner
Congratulations to AU Advocate Virginia Gerena, recipient of the 2007 Dr. Karen Kangas Award for Excellency in Advocacy. Ginny was presented this prestigious award at the 2007 AU Holiday Party held December 7, 2007. See 2007 Karen Kangas Award for more info.
- Message from the Office of the Commissioner
In a Message from the Office of the Commissioner, DMHAS Commissioner Thomas A. Kirk, Jr., Ph.D., highlighted several individuals who had received small grants at an awards meeting of the Regional Consumer Advisory Council (Region 4). Included in the group was AU staff member Selina Welborn. See Commissioner Kirk's Recovery in Action message.
- In Memoriam
Kim Yarrow, a student in AU's 2007 Middletown Advocacy Education Class, passed away on March 21, 2007 from complications due to her illness. See In Memoriam for a tribute to Kim.
- AU Advocate receives Public Service Award
AU Advocate Sharon Johnson-Carter has received the Secretary of the State's 2006 Public Service Award. Congratulations, Sharon! The ceremony, held March 29th at Welte Hall on the CCSU Campus, was hosted by Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz. See Public Service Award for details.
- AU receives 2006 Spirit of the ADA Award
AU is proud to have received a 2006 Spirit of the ADA Award. The award was presented to AU, along with the other nominees, on July 26, 2006 at the Second Annual Spirit of the ADA Celebration sponsored by the Developmental Disabilities Network. See Spirit of the ADA Award.
- AU Advocates featured in Danbury News-Times
Danbury AU Advocates were honored at a graduation ceremony held December 14, 2005. The graduation and two of the graduates were featured in an article published by the Danbury News-Times. See Danbury Graduation for more.
- Prescription Drug Assistance Programs
Prescription Drug Assistance Programs now contains links to more organizations whose purpose is to offer information about, or assistance with, Patient Assistance Programs that provide free medications for a small processing fee to low-income individuals and families. Please be sure to read all the requirements and qualifications.
- "On our Own, Together" features chapter on AU
"On our Own, Together: Peer Programs for People with Mental Illness," by Sally Clay (Editor), includes a chapter about Advocacy Unlimited written by AU's Founding Director Yvette Sangster. See On our Own, Together.
- SAMHSA Elimination of Barriers Initiative (EBI)
SAMHSA has updated and expanded its official website for the Elimination of Barriers Initiative (EBI), an eight state demonstration project designed to support and evaluate efforts to address the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illnesses.
- Section 8 Waiting List
The State of Connecticut has established a website where anyone can easily find out which Section 8 waiting lists in Connecticut are currently open. You can see a list of open waiting lists, and you can also register to receive notice whenever a list opening is posted. See Section 8 Waiting List for more info and a link to the site.
- 2004 Media Awards
Advocacy Unlimited is honored and proud to have been presented with the 2004 Stigma Buster award at the 17th Annual Mental Illness Awareness Media Awards presentation. See Media Awards 2004 for more info.
- DMHAS Commissioner pays tribute to AU's Advocacy Education training
AU would like to thank DMHAS Commissioner Dr. Thomas A. Kirk, Jr. for his tribute to AU's Advocacy Education Course and our Fall 2003 semester graduates in his message "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." AU is proud of all our graduates, and all of us truly appreciate the Commissioner's recognition. See Commissioner Kirk's message.
- Connecticut adopts Recovery-Oriented Policy
In a major step forward, the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) adopted their Recovery Oriented Service Policy on September 17, 2002. See the Commissioner's Policy Statement.
- Get the AU video!
Learn about AU through our video cassette and other products. Order form and details here.
