The Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership or VOCAL is the Virginia statewide organization for consumers of mental health services.

 VOCAL runs three statewide programs. These three programs are:

 1.       The VOCAL network--uniting consumers in the interests of empowerment from around the state.

2.       The VOCAL Co-op is a collective of peer-run mental health programs.

3.      Recovery Education and Creative Healing or REACH. REACH trains Wellness Recover Action Plan or WRAP facilitators. These WRAP facilitators in turn run WRAP training groups in the area of the state in which each facilitator resides.

MindFreedom Virginia is a member of the VOCAL Co-op and as such represents an example of how MindFreedom affiliates and consumer groups may work together in a synergic relationship.

As VOCAL has officially come out in opposition to forced treatment and in favor of choice in Mental Health Care treatment, despite any differences in viewpoint we may have, there is still much we have in common.

 The following article is an announcement of the completion of the VOCAL website:

Dear Mindfreedom,

Thank you for the excellent job you do with your website and newsletter. I am writing from VOCAL, a statewide consumer group in Virginia. Below is an announcement for the completion of our website for consumer-operated programs. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share this announcement with your readers, and post a link on your website, if you feel it’s appropriate. Thank you for your help. Warm regards, Cassandra from VOCAL

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 Website for Mental Health Advocates & Consumer-Operated Programs

 VOCAL CO-OP (Consumer Owned & Operated Programs) is pleased to share with you the completion of our website for consumer-operated programs. Our website is designed for Virginia, but many of the materials would apply to consumer groups anywhere:

 10 Most Popular Website Pages

 1.       Directory of Consumer-Operated Programs in Virginia

2.       Grant Seeker's Treasure Map & Orienteering Guide

3.       News: Trainings, Scholarships, Job Openings, Updates & Opportunities

 4.       Blueprints for Change: How to Create a Peer-run Mental Health Program

 5.       Step-by-Step Guide to Applying for 501c3 & Becoming a Nonprofit

 6.       Toolbox: Tools for Building & Strengthening Peer-Run Programs

 7.       Where to Find Nonprofit Training Workshops in Virginia & Online

 8.       Free Samples: Sample Grant Proposals from Peer-run Programs

 9.       Training Programs for Leaders of Consumer-Operated Programs

 10.     VOCAL CO-OP Publications

You can visit us at www.VocalSupportCenter.org or join our free email newsletter at http://VocalSupportCenter.org/newsjoin.htm.

The VOCAL CO-OP is part of the Virginia Organization of Consumers Asserting Leadership (VOCAL), a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health recovery, empowerment, and peer leadership. VOCAL is 100% peer-run - all of our staff and board members self-identify as people in mental health recovery.

This website was created by consumers and made possible thanks to funding from Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services through a CMS Real Choice System Change Grant.