Peers In the Workplace: Realizing the Potential Darby Penney The Community Consortium, Inc. Clark County Regional Support Network May 14, 2010

Peers in the Workforce Benefits Benefits Meaningful job opportunities for peersMeaningful job opportunities for peers Peers bring experiential knowledge of service system; healing and recoveryPeers bring experiential knowledge of service system; healing and recovery

Peers in the Workforce More benefits: Model recovery- oriented approach to interacting with service usersModel recovery- oriented approach to interacting with service users Teach non-peer staff how the system disempowers peopleTeach non-peer staff how the system disempowers people

Peers in the Workforce Peers can join the mental health workforce as… Peer support staff in mainstream programsPeer support staff in mainstream programs Advocates or peer support staff in independent, peer-run agenciesAdvocates or peer support staff in independent, peer-run agencies

What is a “Peer?” Someone who shares an important trait in common with another Someone who shares an important trait in common with another In this case, someone with a psychiatric history & peer support knowledge working with people receiving mental health services In this case, someone with a psychiatric history & peer support knowledge working with people receiving mental health services

Peer Support Staff Have a unique role: to provide peer support Have a unique role: to provide peer support Are in every other regard to be treated the same as any other worker Are in every other regard to be treated the same as any other worker

Peer Support Is a new discipline with its own code of values and principles

What is Peer Support? Those who’ve walked the same path are best able to understand, support and learn from one another Those who’ve walked the same path are best able to understand, support and learn from one another Sharing among a community of equals, rooted in compassion Sharing among a community of equals, rooted in compassion

Principles of Peer Support Peer support is voluntary Peer support is voluntary Cannot mandated - people enter into a peer support relationship because they’re interested in connectionCannot mandated - people enter into a peer support relationship because they’re interested in connection Peer support is for people who want it rather than people who “need” it.Peer support is for people who want it rather than people who “need” it.

Principles of Peer Support Being non-judgmental Being non-judgmental Importance of a non-assessing, non-professional approachImportance of a non-assessing, non-professional approach Awareness of own biases and privilegeAwareness of own biases and privilege Honest, direct, respectful communication- open to other viewsHonest, direct, respectful communication- open to other views

Principles of Peer Support Respecting one anothe r Respecting one anothe r Value differences & unique abilitiesValue differences & unique abilities Keep people’s confidencesKeep people’s confidences Respect people’s right to make their own decisions, even “wrong” onesRespect people’s right to make their own decisions, even “wrong” ones

Principles of Peer Support Reciprocity Reciprocity The importance of give and takeThe importance of give and take Re-claiming “help” as a natural process between two or more peopleRe-claiming “help” as a natural process between two or more people

Principles of Peer Support Mutual responsibility Each person must take responsibility for their actions Mutual responsibility Each person must take responsibility for their actions Negotiation of “responsibility”Negotiation of “responsibility” Shared powerShared power

Principles of Peer Support Integrity Integrity Believing in one anotherBelieving in one another Holding the hope/visionHolding the hope/vision Building relationships that focus on one another’s well-beingBuilding relationships that focus on one another’s well-being

Peers in the workforce are NOT: Junior case managersJunior case managers Medication enforcersMedication enforcers The “conscience” of an agencyThe “conscience” of an agency

Peers in the Workforce Administration and other staff must understand & support the roleAdministration and other staff must understand & support the role Don’t ask peers to do things that violate their values and principlesDon’t ask peers to do things that violate their values and principles Peers must be free to express their views without fear of retaliationPeers must be free to express their views without fear of retaliation

Comparison: Peer Specialist & Other Jobs Vocational Placements Peer Advocates Peer Support Program staff Case Managers, Therapy Aids, etc. Peer Specialists Current service users Current/former service users trained in advocacy & negotiation skills Current/former service users trained in self- help and peer support Service system jobs NOT requiring first- hand experience as service user Service system jobs requiring first-hand experience as service user Transitional, low- wage jobs. Usually menial work, not direct service Represent the expressed interests of service users Provide, teach & model peer support, self-help, empowerment Professional/ paraprofessional clinical jobs Focus on self- help, peer support within a mainstream agency Workers employed and supervised through a voc rehab program Employed by independent peer-run programs - NOT gov’t employees Employed by gov’t or contract agency Adapted from New York State Peer Specialist Training Materials

Peer Specialist Qualifications Knowledge/experience: Knowledge/experience: Self-help techniques, group processes, facilitationSelf-help techniques, group processes, facilitation Consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement goalsConsumer/survivor/ex-patient movement goals Mental health/human services systemsMental health/human services systems Rights of service usersRights of service users Adapted from New York State Peer Specialist Training Materials

Able to engage and empathize based on common experiences Able to engage and empathize based on common experiences Patient, encouraging, supportive Patient, encouraging, supportive Able to teach skills Able to teach skills Advocate/negotiate Advocate/negotiate Peer Specialist Qualifications

Experience as a service user Experience as a service user Two years’ active participation in self-help or advocacy Two years’ active participation in self-help or advocacy Interpersonal skills Interpersonal skills

Peer Specialist Job Duties Developing Personal Growth Skills Building trust, sharing common experiences Building trust, sharing common experiences Help users: Help users: explore their support needs explore their support needs identify specific, individual strategies for coping, healing, growth identify specific, individual strategies for coping, healing, growth Adapted from New York State Peer Specialist Training Materials

Peer Specialist Job Duties Teaching, modeling peer support skills Adapted from New York State Peer Specialist Training Materials Convene, facilitate self-help groups Teach self-help techniques and group process skills Help establish peer support networks, enhance natural supports

Peer Specialist Job Duties Teaching advocacy skills Negotiating bureaucraciesNegotiating bureaucracies Applying for benefitsApplying for benefits Identify, exercise rightsIdentify, exercise rights Advocate within systemsAdvocate within systems Educate providers on peer perspectivesEducate providers on peer perspectives Adapted from New York State Peer Specialist Training Materials

Peers in the Workforce Opening new doors: Empowerment, healing and growth for service users AND for the system Empowerment, healing and growth for service users AND for the system

Medicaid Rates for Peer Specialists November 2009 Source: Daniels, Grant, et al. Pillars of Peer Support. The Carter Center, January 2010