What Does Advocacy Got To Do With It? Advocating for change in the context of Peer Support Services

Advocacy Specialist At: Disability Rights Wisconsin 800 928-8778 Karen Lane, CPS Advocacy Specialist At: Disability Rights Wisconsin 800 928-8778

www.disabilityrights.org

What is Peer Advocacy? What is role does advocacy play in your work as a peer specialist? How comfortable are you with a peer in support requesting help that feels like advocacy? What do you spend most of your time doing when engaging a peer? How does your supervisor understand your advocacy role in your job responsibilities? What does advocacy look like in the context of providing peer support?

Advocate CPS What is happening to you? What outcome would you like to see happen? What are the barriers to achieving your advocacy goal? What are the rules? Rights? How can I support self-advocacy? Am I certain this is what the person wants and not what I think should be the outcome? What is happening to you? How may I assist you in determining how you want to be supported? What barriers are their to achieving a goal or service? How can I support the peer in self- determination? Am I certain this is what the peer in support wants?

Core Competencies of A CPS 4.18 Ability to foster the person’s self- advocacy and provide advocacy when requested by the person. ADVOCACY IS A CORE SKILL REQUIREMENT FOR A CPS Domain 4: Skills DHS Publication P-00972B(02/2015)

Ethical Collaborative Advocacy Peer Advocacy requires work collaboratively with the individual in support . What might be some of the ethical considerations when supporting a peer?

What is Advocacy? Gathering information Setting goals Identifying the desired outcome and a few compromises  Taking action Ending the conflict/Resolution/Evaluation

Simple Advocacy Plan Step 1: Describe the Issue Step 2: Identify Current Strengths and Challenges  Step 3: Identify Expected Allies and Opponents  Step 4: Be Clear About Goals and Objectives  Step 5: Develop and Implement Strategies  Step 6: Evaluation and Resolution

Scenario Nyalie has just learned that her art therapy services have been cut as the organization she receives her services through is not renwing their contract with the county.  For Nyalie, these are the most important services she receives and is the most helpful in her recovery.  You are her peer support specialist.  She asks you to help her get her services back.  How will you advocate for Nyalie in this scenario?

Thank you!