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:
• Low Key Café - next meeting December 21st (posted 12/01/08)
• Recovering Your Mental Health Self-Help Guides (posted 11/28/08)
• Connecticut's Network of Care for Behavioral Health (posted 11/24/08)
• AU Celebrates 36th Graduation (posted 11/15/08)
• New job openings at Walgreens Distribution Center, Windsor, CT (posted 11/12/08)
• GED Classes - open enrollment (updated 11/05/08)
• People First Language: Dignity, Not Semantics (posted 10/13/08)
• FOR-U Seminars and Workshops for Fall and Winter (posted 10/08/08)
• Plan Helps Persons with Serious Mental Health Issues (posted 10/08/08)
Updates and Changes
- New in Advocacy Education...
On Thursday, November 13th, Advocacy Unlimited celebrated its 36th Graduation Ceremony honoring the graduating students from the 2008 Torrington, New Britain, and Waterbury classes. See Graduation for the full story.
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 Events and Announcements...
Low Key Café - A café for persons in recovery, with songs, poetry, short stories, music videos, and more. A forum to express yourself through art. Free admission, free refreshments. Meets monthly. See Low Key Café for more info.
Plan to Help Persons with Mental Health Issues - Oct. 6, 2008 -- Governor M. Jodi Rell announced that Connecticut has been granted approval by the federal government to begin using Medicaid funds to help divert and discharge people with serious mental illness from nursing homes to appropriate community settings. See the press release for more.
FOR-U Seminars and Workshops for Fall and Winter - FOR-U has published their Fall and Winter WRAP and Recovery Workshop schedule. See FOR-U Workshops for details.
GED Classes - Advocacy Unlimited, in conjunction with CCAR, is now offering GED classes. Take this opportunity to transform your future! See GED for more info.
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 Resource Library...
Recovering Your Mental Health - SAMHSA's series of self-help guides providing facts, strategies, and ideas that consumers/survivors have found helpful in exercising best practices in promoting wellness and preventing illness. See Recovering Your Mental Health.
Connecticut's Network of Care for Behavioral Health - The Network of Care site is a resource for individuals, families and agencies concerned with mental health. It provides information about mental health services, laws, and related news, as well as communication tools and other features.
People First Language: Dignity, Not Semantics - New article by AU's Founding Director, Yvette Sangster: "…it is about dignity and a right for people to be treated with respect."
Connecticut Shelters - Contact info for food, homeless, and emergency shelters in Connecticut.
Prescription Drug Interactions - A very handy interactive tool for checking drug interactions. This interactive tool is driven by a database of more than 5,000 drugs, vitamins, and herbals and 11,500 potential interactions. See Drug Interactions.
Malta House of Care - Free basic health care for the uninsured in the greater Hartford area! See Malta House for details
- New in Job Opportunities...
Walgreens - New job openings at Walgreens Distribution Center, Windsor, CT have just been listed. See Walgreens for details.
Phone: (860) 704-0556
Toll Free (CT only): (866) 255-5029More 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...
World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders - Support and information for families coping with schizophrenia and serious mental illness. Locate international family self-help, support, and advocacy associations. See World Fellowship for Schizophrenia.
Teen Challenge New England - Teen Challenge is a 15 to 21-month Christian residential drug recovery program with an incredible success rate for graduates. 86.6% of graduates after seven years remain drug and crime free, as opposed to 6-7% rate for secular programs. It is part of a network of 10 Teen Challenge centers across New England and New Jersey. See the link to Teen Challenge New England.
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...
Advocate Monthly Reports - Advocates doing internships can submit their Monthly Reports online. Sign in to Advocate's Connection and go to "Submit Monthly Report."
AU Advocate Meet and Greet meetings - AU Graduate Advocates can sign-in to Advocate's Connection for the schedule and location of upcoming Advocate Meet and Greet meetings.
Special Notices
- Charter Oak Health Plan - It's here! Connecticut's new affordable health care. For the first time, adults in Connecticut who aren't lucky enough to get health insurance on the job will have access to decent, affordable coverage. See Connecticut's Health Care for details and how to apply.
- Spanish language version of AU's website - To better support persons with psychiatric disabilities and their families in the Hispanic community, Advocacy Unlimited is pleased to have launched the first release of a Spanish version of its website. See Spanish version for more info.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
