[NYAPRS Enews] Wanted: Stories of Recovery and Economic Self-Sufficiency

[Harvey Rosenthal]

Build hope

Inspire action

Tell your story!

 

SEND US YOUR STORY BY FEBRUARY 25TH, 2011

 

WE Can Save is a campaign for and by individuals in mental health
recovery with the goal of building hope and sharing information so that
all people can achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Our campaign is looking for individuals willing to share their stories
of achieving their economic goals (e.g., gaining control over their
finances, getting better-paying jobs, buying a car, purchasing a home,
getting a degree, starting a business), and how their economic
self-sufficiency has benefited their recovery and quality of life.

WE Can Save will disseminate selected stories via online and printed
materials currently being developed. Don't miss this opportunity to
share your hope and recovery story with thousands of people across New
York State!

 

HOW CAN I SUBMIT MY STORY?

Read the questions below to help you organize and submit your story...

 

IN WRITING

Write your story in 2 pages or less, 

 

OR

 

IN VIDEO

Record your video in no more than 10 minutes Send us a Windows media
file or a recorded DVD


 


 


WHO DO I SEND MY STORY TO?


Oscar Jimenez


One Columbia Place, Albany, NY 12207


Email: oscarj at nyaprs.org 


Fax: (518) 436-0044        


Tel: (518) 436-0008 


 


WHAT SHOULD I SHARE IN MY STORY? 

Here are some questions that may help you organize your ideas when
writing or telling your story. You don't have to follow them exactly. 

 

How did you become economically dependent?

Did you ever have to depend on benefits? How did you become dependent on
benefits (e.g., SSI, SSDI, food stamps)?

Have you ever lived in poverty? What was it like? 

Did someone else take control over your money? 

Did you ever feel that you would have to depend on others for the rest
of your life? How did you feel about yourself and your life?

How did being dependent on others or being poor affect your recovery and
life?

Did you ever lose hope? What made you lose hope? Did anyone or anything
discourage you from becoming more self-sufficient? 

 

How did you come to believe or know that you could be more in control of
your financial life? 

Did you see it happening for others? 

Did someone tell you that you could? 

What gave you hope? 

 

What life dreams/goals did you have for which you needed more financial
independence? 

Did you want to buy certain things? Did you want to have a better-paying
job? 

Were you tired of depending on benefits? Were you tired of having little
money? 

 

What barriers did you have in pursuing greater financial independence? 

What made it difficult for you to achieve to achieve self-sufficiency?
What did you do to overcome the barriers you experienced? 

Did you have a lot of debts? Did you have little experience
with/knowledge about money? 

Did you have other people controlling your finances? Did you have to
convince others to help you achieve your goals? 

 

What resources and tools did you use to pursue employment and greater
financial independence? 

 

*	Financial education 

Did you get financial education to learn about money?

Did you get help in creating and following a budget?

 

*         Savings:

Did you receive help to save for a car/home/school, or other assets?

Did you get a Plan to Achieve Self- Support (PASS)? 

Did you get an Individual Development Account (IDA)? 

 

*	Work incentives:

Did you use the Trial work period?

Did you use the Medicaid Buy-in? 

Did you use other work incentives to be able to work and maintain some
benefits to help you transition?

 

*	Taxes:

Did you receive free tax preparation? Did you file your taxes? 

Did you qualify for Earned Income Tax Credit? 

 

 

*	Credit: 

Did you get assistance to repair or improve your credit?

 

What other resources/ supports in your community did you use to achieve
greater financial independence?

Your peers? Counselors? Local organizations? Your faith? Your PROS
program?

 

How has achieving greater economic independence impacted your recovery
and quality of life? 

Do you feel more self-sufficient today? Are you independent from
benefits or relying less on benefits? 

How has being more self-sufficient brought meaning to your life? How has
becoming more independent benefited your recovery? How does it feel to
have greater financial independence? What can you do now that you that
you could not do before? 

 

What tips or suggestions do you have for someone who would like to
achieve greater financial independence?

 

 

PLEASE INCLUDE

 

For your story you should include:

*	First and last name
*	Age, gender and ethnicity (optional, but it would help us assure
diversity)
*	Contact information: 

	1.	Your mailing address, 
	2.	Your phone number or the phone of someone close to you
(if you don't have a personal phone), and 
	3.	Your email address (if available).

*	Picture (optional): Please provide us with a picture of yourself
if you would like to have it on our website and/or printed materials.

 

WHERE WILL THESE STORIES BE SHARED?

 

Your story may be selected to be on the NYAPRS' website and other
printed materials that the campaign is developing. People interested in
participating must submit their story by the deadline. We will notify
those selected no later than mid-March 2011.

 

 

 

 

 

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