PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

THERE ARE TWO PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS THIS YEAR

#1

NEXT STEPS RECOVERY TO PRACTICE PEER TRAINING COURSE

Thursday & Friday, May 21-22 (Sliding Scale Max: $100)

We’ve just secured this two-day workshop (Thursday and Friday spearheaded by AVP Facilitators Mike Murphy and Noelle Pollet. 

Next Steps is a training that brings together mental health and addiction recovery peer support providers from a variety of places (geography, philosophy, training, lived experiences, educational backgrounds, and perspectives) to share the richness of their peer support experiences, learn with and from each other, and come to a common understanding of best practices in peer support. Based on a cooperative learning model, facilitators guide the process (rather than teach), and participants actively contribute (rather than passively listen). The whole group benefits from the wisdom of practical lessons from the field. 

Next Steps was created by the International Association of Peer Supporters (iNAPS) in partnership with the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) for a nationally developed initiative, Recovery to Practice. 

View course information and register for this workshop  HERE.

This pre-conference will be held off-site at:

Comprehensive Life Resources

1201 South Proctor Street

Tacoma, WA  98405

If you're staying at the University, transportation will be available.

Also, add Wed. & Thurs. lodging and meals when you register for the core Gathering.

#2

LOOKING BACK....MOVING FORWARD

SHAPING AVP’s SECOND GENERATION

Friday, May 22 (No extra charge)

Please join us for a lively discussion that will propel our organization into the next 40 years of success.  We have grown and spread AVP across the US and around the globe during these first 40 years.  So what is next for AVP?

What began with a C of C board discussion has blossomed into an invitation for you to join us and broaden this discussion to the entire AVP community.  The workshop will be moderated by our Keynote speaker, Anthony Normore. Discussion questions will explore our foundations; investigate our practices; set policy; and challenge our decision-making processes:

How do we define the “Heart and Soul of AVP”? 

 What are the essential components of AVP?  What are the non-negotiables? 

• • Can we recognize self-disclosure as a critical element of AVP facilitation

  • Can we preserve AVP politics as the “art of right action” without enemy-making, while resisting partisan politics?  

 How can we honor this “Heart and Soul” at our May gathering?

How should we work with AVP spin-offs? 

Those using AVP exercises and possibly being paid for trainings.  

Should we develop some form of AVP Certification / Credentials Program for AVP-based Spin-off Programs (and Staff?).  

• Could we develop critical best practices to include as a guide in the AVP-USA Policy Statement?

  • How do we proliferate AVP-based training throughout the social fabric? 

How can we Support Returning Citizens as Facilitators?

• • Should we develop a speakers bureau?

  • Should we fund paid talks with mini-workshops to promote AVP?

  • Should we consider maintaining list of relevant work opportunities and how to apply? (facilitators’ references on website, like LinkedIn, …)

After 40 years we are losing our founding generation of AVP.  What other guiding, driving questions can help shape AVP’s second generation?

 Please join us for this preconference day (Friday, May 22, 9am - 5pm) and take these questions with you into the greater AVP community (inside and out) so we can get a better representation of our entire AVP community, nationally and globally.

3. Prison Program

We will have the opportunity to participate in one of the most requested activities at our Annual Gatherings: a prison program.  This year 25 Gathering attendees will be able to visit Monroe Correctional Complex for a mini AVP workshop.  Facilitators and agenda will come from the MCC inside facilitators, and this year participants will include those who are not yet facilitators.  Our host inside facilitators are developing a new and timely agenda just for this mini.

The Program will be held as a Pre-Conference activity on Friday May 22, so you'll need to arrive Thursday evening for our departure for the prison Friday morning.

The prison requires clearance for all attendees, and time is short  (Deadline April 5).  Sign up for the program here:  Prison Program

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