VERMONT'S INTEGRATED TREATMENT SERVICES INITIATIVE

Development of Peer Groups, Leaders and Advocates for Co-occurring Substance use and Mental Health Services

This collaboration between consumer-run advocacy organizations models the goal of the Vermont Department of Health to improve Vermont's capacity to provide effective treatment for individuals with co-occurring substance and mental health disorders. Involving consumers in infrastructure development ensures effectiveness across the continuum of services, specifically peer recovery support.

Goals

• Implement co-occurring training and education programs for consumers with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and to facilitate the creation of peer led support groups in the mental health and substance use recovery communities.

• Convene a broad based group of individuals experiencing co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders to help guide and strengthen co-occurring treatment recovery services across the state of Vermont.

• Educate, train and support individuals with co-occurring disorders, and others providing peer services, concerning the policy issues that state government and treatment providers face in developing and delivering services.

• Develop capacity at the state and local level to provide effective education and training on co-occurring issues for consumers and consumer led organizations.

• Assist the substance use and mental health recovery community in developing peer led co-occurring support programs.

Partner Organizations

Friends of Recovery-Vermont

El'Anya Nightingale, Peer Service Coordinator
1 (800) 769-2798
FORVTPeerService@aol.com
www.friendsofrecoveryvt.org

Vermont Psychiatric Survivors

Mary Fitzgerald, Peer Services
1 (800) 564-2106
mfitzy222@yahoo.com
http://www.sover.net/~vpsinc/

VT Department of Health, Division of Mental Health Services

Paul Dragon, Chief of Integrated Services
1 (802) 652-2020
pdragon@vdh.state.vt.us
www.healthvermont.gov