Happy Thanksgiving!

At Voice and Vision, it is our passion to be the Voice for those living with mental illness, addictions, and disabilities and to give flight to their vision.   As we reflect on the past year, we are proud of what we’ve accomplished.

College Plus.  A peer-led initiative, College Plus has been a stepping stone for the last 10 years into the college experience for 159  individuals with mental illness or co-occurring disorders.  The peer support they receive provides the encouragement and confidence that they too can succeed in college. In turn, we are encouraged by our students who provide positive feedback each semester.  Take Sarah, for instance, who said: “[College Plus] opened up a job opportunity for me at a paralegal office.” Or, Lisa, who said, “I was nervous going back to school, but College Plus gives all the support to go when you doubt whether or not you can do it.”

Compeer matches caring, trained volunteers with adults in one-on-one, same-gender, co-equal friendships. We’ve seen how the strong bonds of friendship have helped people in mental health recovery lead happy, productive lives. We currently have 55 peer matches and 2 veteran matches  – with more in the pipeline!

Help and Hope Guide. Aptly named, our guide is fast becoming a must-have resource for families and professionals throughout Bucks County. We have distributed over 3000 copies in a little over a year. The guide provides families with information and support, helping navigate challenging situations and complicated systems to find the help they need. Accounts from other families with similar experiences offer insight into what others have experienced and found helpful.

You are receiving this letter because you have been a part of our story – whether it be through donations or referrals or other support- and we want to give THANKS for YOU and all that you have done to help us be successful in our endeavors.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Voice and Vision Team