Lived Experience & Recovery Network

Lived Experience & Recovery Network Peer Support in Northeastern Ontario Annual Report 2011-2012

What is LERN? • The Lived Experience & Recovery Network is a networking body linking, supporting and educating all consumer/survivor and family organizations in the Northeast Region. • Our network serves peer organizations and programs operating in over 20 communities across the northeast • We also network and advocate for our members at regional and provincial levels • We offer mental health promotion programming throughout the region

Why a regional network? • Mandated as part of our funding agreement • Connect CSIs/FIs, bridge geographic distances, reduce the feelings of isolation • Provide resources, support and knowledge exchange • Enhance the effectiveness of CSI/FI programs and services • Build capacity within CSIs/FIs and peer programs • Provide a unified voice at various planning tables

LERN Programs & Services • Charter of Peer Support • Mental Health First Aid training • WRAP training • NOW Strategy • Organizational development and support • Knowledge Exchange Network, SPARK training • CSI/FI and Peer Support advocacy • Peer support for the peer supporters • Responding to member requests and needs

New WRAP Facilitators LERN funded the training of 10 new WRAP facilitators from across the region. These folks can now offer WRAP groups as well as train others in WRAP one-to-one!

WRAP one-to-one LERN can offer and/or arrange for WRAP one-to-one training for staff and volunteers of member organizations.

Regional Networking Events LERN organizes and sponsors three to four regional networking events per year. These offer participants opportunities to meet other members, share information and learn.

Fun and safe learning environment! LERN promotes safe, supportive and inclusive environments for members to learn, grow and share.

Team Building Integrated in all our programming and events is the element of team building. Not just within each organization, but with members from across the network.

NOW Strategy • Funded through Healthy Communities grant • Addresses physical activity and healthy eating practices • Teaches basics of mental health promotion • Provides resources to offer PA an HE programs • On-site training available for members at no cost

Getting active with Zumba! At all of our events we incorporate the principles and practices of our Northeast Ontario Wellness Strategy, which are to include physical activity and healthy eating!

Laughter Yoga Leaders LERN has sponsored the training of Laughter Yoga Leaders and can offer assistance in setting up Laughter Yoga clubs in the community or in member organizations.

Nutrition and Wellness Specialist Training 10 folks from across the northeast received training through Can Fit Pro Canada as Nutrition and Wellness Specialists in June 2012. They will be writing their certification exams July 19th. Good Luck!!

The Big Gym Bag Everything you need to run nutrition and physical activity programs; from the tools to the handouts to the program plans!

Charter of Peer Support • promote peer support as a cost effective and integral part of the mental health and addiction system • promote the involvement and empowerment of people with lived experience and family members • showcase the validity and value of peer support as a method of service delivery • encourage various stakeholders, partners and government agencies to invest in, recognize and appreciate the power of peer support to reduce incidence of use of services as well as to increase over-all well-being and self-reliance of people

Stamp Out Stigma Launch of Canada Post’s new mental health awareness stamp. Proceeds from the sales of these stamps will be directed to grass-roots efforts to reduce stigma.

Getting Involved! • Our members sit on a variety of local, regional, provincial planning tables, committees and working groups • Keep in touch – make use of social networking sites and communication technologies • Volunteer! Although we advocate for peers to have paid employment opportunities, volunteering is a great place to start • Letter writing – if issues about mental health and/or addictions are important to you, take the time to write to your local, provincial or federal government officials

Getting Involved! • Show up! We are here for you, if people don’t show up it could affect our programs/services in the future • Let us know what you need! Our programs/services are designed with your input to meet your needs! • Get educated! There are lots of great learning opportunities, many of them are free or inexpensive, knowledge is a powerful tool • Be a supporter! Peer support is a mutual relationship. It feels good to give as well as receive!

Recognizing Peer Support Leadership & Excellence Last year, in partnership with PEP’s Peer Support Week activities, we created and gave out our first award of recognition for a regional peer support leader!

Supporting our local talent! Whenever possible, LERN supports and promotes the talents of our members. The Freedom band playing at one of our AGMs, a highly talented group of peers!

Supported Employment • We are active members of a regional Employment Advisory Committee • Over 40 people, including those with lived experience, have received training and a university certificate in Supported Employment • Hosted a full-to-capacity workshop for employers and service providers • Currently working to deliver workshops and information sessions about supported employment and social enterprise • https://sites.google.com/site/neontarioemploymentadvisory/

Celebrating CSIs! This year marks our official 10 year anniversary!

LERN now offers MHFA training! For members/associate members the only cost associated with this training is that of the manuals. LERN sponsors the rest of the training. LERN can also offer MHFA to non-members on a fee-for-service basis.

Mental Health First Aid • MHFA teaches participants to help someone showing signs of a mental health problem or experiencing a MH crisis. The course aims to teach people to: • Identify when a person may be a danger to themselves or to others and take steps to preserve life • Recognize the early signs of MH problems and provide help to prevent more serious problems from developing • Provide comfort to someone with a MH problem and support them in the recovery of their MH • Guide a person towards the appropriate professional help

MHFA in Elliot Lake • July 3-4 travelled to Elliot Lake to teach MHFA Basic course • This course was open to members of the Bee Hive • 13 people completed the course! • Comments on the evaluations were all very positive, folks found the course materials, the presentation and the course itself as beneficial for peer supporters and some are planning to recommend this training for other community organizations

MHFA across the region • Will offered MHFA in Sundridge to employees of Employment North, regular fee is $225 per person, but we are offering a 15% group discount • Currently working with NISA to schedule MHFA in Sudbury

SPARK Training Taking a break near the Tall Ship from Indonesia

St. John’s NFLD Newfoundland and Labrador Dog monument

SPARK Training • Our Mentor: John Garcia, Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Health Systems, university of Waterloo • We were one of two representing Peer Support • Engaging Stakeholders • Getting Started with KT • Design, implementation and Evaluation • Knowledge Translation Tools • Our next steps: Complete planning template and learning event summary

ST. John’s NFLD Queen’s Battery, Signal Hill National Park

St. John’s NFLD East end of the harbour

News and Activities Across the Region • Expansion of the WARM Line • Algoma MH&A Integration • Regional recovery homes project • Peer support navigators in the NBRHC emergency department • Employment Advisory Committee, supported employment conference and social enterprise • CSIs providing source of peer support workers for other organizations • WRAP facilitator network • NE LHIN Regional MH & A Consultation Group • Realignment plans for Cochrane Hub Area and Temiskaming District

On the Horizon • Educational program in development to train 12-15 master trainers/facilitators of WRAP, MHFA, ASIST and more • Provincial and National partnerships in development to take the TBGB to the northwest and across Canada! • Marketing of the TBGB and NOW resource guide to outside agencies to raise programming funds • Working with CAMH to develop and deliver an anti-stigma presentation in hospital emergency departments and community agencies • Research projects: Peer-staffed Regional Recovery Homes and Peer Support Workers in NE Ontario, Challenges and Opportunities • Chronic disease self management master training

What our members have to say… • “...they do everything possible. They give good tools, they're always there to debrief - they do almost everything” • “over the last year LERN has been wonderful at working with us to make sure our needs have been met” • “...fantastic all the way through. I'm impressed with their energy and intelligence” • "LERN (NEON) has built a vibrant and proactive presence in our region and is truly speaking into (and working into) pressing issues."

For more information and regular network updates visit us online at: www.livedexperience.org You can also find us on Facebook

Lived Experience & Recovery Network