The Copeland Center has limited scholarship funds which cover partial scholarships. If you are seeking financial assistance, it is a good idea to contact others who might be able to help.
To get started it is often helpful to write your own statement of why you want to attend the seminar and how you would like to use it when you are done. When you are asking for financial assistance having the statement clearly written out to give to anyone who might be interested along with a description of the course which you can copy from the website may help them understand your interest and commitment. This is a chance to put into practice the key concept self-advocacy.
Here are some places where others have been successful in getting funding to cover some or all of their expenses to do training through the Copeland Center:
- Ask relatives and friends to contribute to the cost training and travel expenses. Explain to them why you want to go and why they should invest in you. Facilitating WRAP groups helps others and might be a cause some of those around you would be happy to support. Even small contributions can help get you there.
- State Departments of Mental Health, Office of Consumer Affairs. Call or write your state Mental Health Commission or office of the Mental Health Consumer Affairs and the the director you are looking for financial assistance to help attend a Mental Health Recovery Seminar. If the director cannot help you, ask this person where they would suggest you look for funding.
- Social Clubs – drop-in centers where people meet for support. If your state has one, they may give grants to people who are interested in being trained to teach others.
- If you are working with Vocational Rehabilitation, they may provide funding. (Voc. Rehab. is a state agency.)
- Check groups that serve people with disabilities to see if they have something to offer. Look at both state and local levels.
- If involved with a place of worship, check to see if they may have connections. One person funded her attendance by connecting with her church who was able to get funds from the Catholic Office of Ministry for Persons with Disabilities. Your place of worship might have similar resources.
- Some people prearrange a trade with agencies or organizations to fund part of their tuition and travel expenses. They promise to conduct a certain number of presentations or WRAP groups in exchange for money to train. Some people approach multiple groups cover more of the costs.
- Contact the local branch of NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill)