DMHMRSAS - IConsumer and Family Involvement Project

Consumer and Family Involvement Project for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened or Deafblind

October 19, 2001

For Immediate Release

Contact: Martha Mead

Phone: 804-786-9048

Consumer and Family Involvement Project for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened or Deafblind

The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services has initiated six consumer and family involvement projects around the Commonwealth specifically for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, or deafblind and who have a mental illness or substance abuse problem. The goal of the projects is to provide opportunities for discussion and interaction among consumers and family members about the needs and strengths of the individuals and their families. The Department wants to provide opportunities for people who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families to become more involved and knowledgeable about mental illness and substance abuse.

Each of the six regional programs received $10,000 to initiate a local effort to provide mental health and substance abuse prevention education and training to individuals and their families. The program offices are located in Fairfax, Richmond, Staunton, Lebanon, Roanoke, and Hampton/Newport News. Each collaborative project will involve mental health providers, the centers for independent living, the local chapter of consumer and family groups, local chapters of deaf and hard of hearing consumer advocacy and support groups, and other service providers and local educators. The groups will work together to determine how they can best organize their efforts to help consumers and families in their regions.

The projects will provide education and training in mental health, substance abuse prevention, consumer leadership, and protection of human rights. Local mental health community groups and substance abuse prevention staff and trainers will be involved to assist in the development of these training opportunities.

For more information about the project in your area, contact:

Jeffrey Christensen
Regional Coordinator
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare
836 Campbell Ave., SW.
Roanoke, VA 24016
540-342-2086 (V); (540) 344-4427 (TTY)
540-345-7689 (FAX)
jchristensen@brcsb.org

Mike Bush
Cumberland Mountain Community Services
P.O. Box 486
Lebanon, VA 24266
540-889-3785 (V) 800-347-4939 (TTY)
540-889-2842 (FAX)
mbush@cmcsb.com

Dominique McLaughlin
Hampton/Newport News Community Services Board
2501 Washington Ave., 2nd Floor
Newport News, VA 23607
757-245-0217 (V) 757-245-3089 (TTY)
757-245-0218 (FAX)
dmclaugh@hnncsb.org

Emmett Jones
Deaf and Hard of Hearing CCS
8917 Fargo Road
Richmond, VA 23229
804-762-9671 (V) 804-346-3043 (TTY)
804-270-3876 (FAX)
DHHCCS@Juno.com

Becky Ebeling
Fairfax/Falls Church Community Services Board
8348 Traford Lane, Suite 400
Springfield, VA 22152
703-866-2100(V) 703-451-1245 (TTY)
703-451-7539 (FAX)
rebecca.ebeling@county.fairfax.va.us

Kathy Baker
Valley Community Services Board
110 West Johnson Street
Staunton, VA 22401
540-887-3200 (V) 540-887-3246 (TTY)
540-887-3245 (FAX)
kbaker@racsb.state.va.us

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Consumer and Family Involvement Project for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened or Deafblind