Washington, DC—The Department of Behavioral Health is offering a limited number of scholarships to attend the Alternatives Conference  2014 "Creating the Future: Change, Challenge, Opportunity”,  from October 21-October 26, 2014, in Orlando, Florida.  The annual Alternatives conference is the oldest national mental health conference organized by and for mental health consumers. The scholarship will cover the conference registration, airfare and hotel costs.

 The Alternatives Conference offers peer-delivered services and in-depth technical assistance on self-help/recovery methods, networking opportunities, and a rich social and healing environment in which the arts play a large role.

To be eligible to apply, you must be a District resident, at least 18 years of age, in recovery from mental health or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders,  and self-identify as consumers.  To apply for a scholarship, please submit a written statement on why you want to attend the conference along with a letter of reference.  All applications must be submitted by 12 noon, Friday, August 1, 2014.  No application will be considered after this deadline.  Recipients will be notified by 5:00 pm Friday, August 22, 2014.

The application must be submitted to Melinda Hasbrouck, Special Projects Coordinator, DBH Office of Consumer and Family Affairs, at [email protected] or delivered to the Department of Behavioral Health, Attn: Melinda Hasbrouck, Office of Consumer and Family Affairs, 64 New York Avenue NE, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20002. 

For more information about Alternatives Conference 2014 "Creating the Future: Change, Challenge, Opportunity”,  http://alternatives2014.mhasp.org/.