Peer Specialist 101

1. Peer Specialist 101 What is peer support, peer specialist and how does it affect the mental health system? Matthew R. Federici, M.S., CPRP Program Director The Institute for Recovery and Community Integration www.mhrecovery.org mfederici@mhasp.org 215-751-1800 ext 265

2. 20 Counties Developing Peer Specialist Projects in PA • 3 -Montgomery, Philadelphia and Delaware County • 13 -Systems Transformation Grant Western Region – 1 Erie County Northeast Region – 7 Counties - Lackawanna/ Susquehanna, Bradford/Sullivan, Luzerne/Wyoming and Tioga Counties Central Region – 5 Counties – Dauphin, Cumberland/Perry, Lancaster, and Lebanon Counties • 4 -Harrisburg State Hospital Closing York/Adams Counties Franklin/Fulton Counties

3. Peer Support Service • The purpose of a Peer support service is to provide an opportunity for consumers to direct their own recovery and advocacy process and to teach and support each other in the acquisition and exercise of skills needed to facilitate the individuals recovery and for utilization of natural resources within their community* *Based on DRAFT Recommendations for State Plan Amendment Requirements as starting point for Peer Specialist Workgroup and Review of Other States’ Peer Programs

4. “Peer Support is a system of giving and receiving help founded on key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is helpful.” - Shery Mead, 2003 “Defining Peer Support”

5. Peer Specialist • Peer Specialist is an individual providing the peer support service • Peer Specialist is an individual with a mental health and/or co-occurring disorder who has been trained to help his/her peers identify and achieve specific life goals

6. Examples of duties and Responsibilities • Facilitating Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Groups • Establishing self-help groups • Self advocacy • Life and community skills (community integration) • Listening • Introduced individuals to Recovery tools • Assisting individuals in getting ready for doctors appointments • Reminding individuals of appointments • Crisis intake worker

7. Qualifications for a Peer Specialist* • Must be self identified current or former, mental health consumer or co-occurring consumer who can relate with others with similar experiences • High School diploma or GED • Demonstrated proficiency in verbal and written communication • One years paid or volunteer experience in human services, including one year of mental health or co-occurring direct care experience Continued

8. Qualifications of a Peer Specialist* • Ability to demonstrate recovery expertise (knowledge of approaches to support others in recovery) and has the ability to demonstrate own efforts at self-directed recovery • Commitment to consumer choice and empowerment • Ability to establish relationships with peers *Based on DRAFT Recommendations for State Plan Amendment Requirements as starting point for Peer Specialist Workgroup and Review of Other States’ Peer Programs

9. Curriculum Topics include: • Stages of recovery • Communication skills • WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) • Working with People who appear Unmotivated • Group Facilitation skills • Workplace practices • Boundary Issues • Cultural Competency • The CPS Training is a 10 day training – 75 hours of training.

10. Employment/Provider Concerns • Individual is a regular employee; same as any position you would advertise and employ an individual for • The time that individual works (full or part-time) depends on how the position was advertised • As a regular employee, new individual working as peer specialist uses the agency’s current personnel policies • Receives the same benefits as other employees • Entitled to the same vacation, sick, personal and holiday time off continued

11. Continued: Employment • As regular employee, you select candidate for job – individuals apply directly to agency with position • As regular employee, new individuals will need orientation to company • As regular employee, new individuals come with certain skills but will need training on company’s specific policies and procedures • You and your existing employees understand and learn more about the consumers’ perspective of recovery

12. Employees/Employers • Job is advertised • Candidates interviewed • Candidates take training after hired • New employees can request reasonable accommodation at time of employment just like any other employee • Peer Specialist and Supervisors are encouraged to participate in support group, technical assistance and continuing education activities

13. Supervisors • Currently require each supervisor complete a 12 hour orientation offered by certified trainers (being completed within six months of becoming Peer Specialist Supervisor) • Must make every effort to ensure that organizational barriers (internal or external) do not interfere with the responsibilities of the Peer Support Specialist

14. Support and Technical Assistance • For Providers -needs assessment for recovery education and creating a recovery “culture” in the workplace - assistance with job descriptions, job responsibilities and selection of candidates; • Support through answering one-on-one requests but also by holding regular meetings to work on issues once Peer Specialist start their positions

15. Support and Technical Assistance • For Peer Specialists - after training completed help establish monthly network meetings. Group can be used to network with other Peer Specialist, sharing resources, reality checks, and educational opportunities

16. What can you do to become active in your areas Peer Specialist Project? • Providers, explore the idea of hiring Peer Specialist • If you want to hire Peer Specialist contact your planning team • If you want to take the Peer Specialist Training, contact your training team to get updated information

17. Delaware County’s Commitment • Train 60 Certified Peer Specialist in two years (classes of 20) • Provide a two day kick off for planning implementation team • Assess readiness and needs for change to improve recovery environment • Recruit candidates for training • Develop positions for CPS • Train CPS and Supervisors

18. Resources • www.mhrecovery.org (Institute for Recovery and Community Integration) • www.www.gacps.org (Georgia Information) • www.state.sc.us (South Carolina Information) • www.metaservices.com (Arizona Information) • www.peersupport.org (Peer-to-Peer Resource Center – DBSA) • PMHCA, 4105 Derry St., Harrisburg, PA 17111, 717-564-4930, 800-887-6422 • NAMI PA, 800-223-0500 • PP&A (Pennsylvania Protection & Advocacy), 717-236-8110 and 800-692-7443 • Social Security Administration, 800-772-1213, www.ssa.gov