CPI Offers Webinar Series on Peer Specialists for NYS Behavorial Health Programs

PEER SPECIALISTS: 

A WEBINAR SERIES FOR NYS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER 2013

• Have you heard about the benefits of having peer specialists on your team?
• Do you have questions about hiring, supervising, and introducing peer specialists to your staff/staff structure?
• Are you a peer specialist looking to assume a leadership role on your team or in your organization? 

This webinar series is for you!

This fall, CPI offers a three part webinar series facilitated by  Luis O. Lopez and Forrest (Rusty) Foster. 

As an introduction to this series please view the new CPI ACT Team Peer Specialist Module prior to Session 1. This module reviews key issues in working with Peer Specialists.  You can access the module here.  

Session 1

“Peer Specialists: Benefits of Including Peers on Teams” 

        Friday, October 25, 2013 

        11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Session 2  

 “Peer Specialists: Hiring, Supervision, and Integration“

        Friday, November 15, 2013

        11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Session 3

“Peer Specialists: Leadership”

        Friday, December 20, 2013

        11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

You will earn a certificate for each webinar session that you attend! 

PLEASE HOLD THESE DATES IN YOUR CALENDAR. WE WILL SEND YOU A REMINDER TWO WEEKS BEFORE EACH WEBINAR AND THE MORNING OF EACH WEBINAR.

WHY PARTICIPATE IN THIS WEBINAR?

There is a great deal of evidence around the benefits of having Peer Specialists (also known as Peer Bridgers, Peer Counselors, Peer Coaches) in behavioral health programs. Peer Specialists provide insight, hope, compassion, and empathy, as well as many other qualities needed in our field today.

In this three part webinar you will learn about: 

• The benefits of having Peer Specialists in behavioral health care programs
• Supervising Peer Specialists including policies and practices
• How Peer Specialists can assume a leadership role 

This webinar series will be interactive. We value your input, questions, experiences and comments.  

We welcome supervisors, peer specialists, administrators, clinicians, wellness coaches, case managers, prescribers, family members, and care coordinators to attend. 

Please register for this 3 part series of Webinars through our learning community: https://rfmh.csod.com

Please view our online module prior to the first Webinar on October 25th, 2013, by clicking here. 

Please test your connection before attending:   http://researchfoundation-columbia.adobeconnect.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm   

Presenters’ Biography   

Luis O. Lopez, MS, HSBCP, is an Implementation Specialist for the Focus on Integrated Treatment (FIT) Initiative at the Center for Practice Innovations (CPI), Division of Mental Health Services and Policy Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute.

Luis joined the CPI team in February.  He has been involved in the implementation and application of Evidence Based Practices since 2003.  He has facilitated educational sessions on Ethics, Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Integrated Treatment, Family Psycho-Education, Cultural Competency, Stages of Change, Harm Reduction, WRAP and Wellness Self Management.  Luis has presented at 30+ conferences – including the NYS-OMH ACT Conference, the Annual NYAPRS Conference, ACTA Conference, ACLAIMH and the North American Housing and Special Needs Conference. Luis consulted for OMH / ACT Institute for three years (2008-2011).  Luis also participated in the NYS COD Training Module Initiative coordinated by NYSOMH, Center for Practice Innovations and Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center. 

Luis has worked in the behavioral health care field for over 25 years.  Prior to joining CPI, Luis worked for Services for the Underserved (SUS) for 10 years serving as the Director for Training. Prior to that, Luis was the team leader for the SUS ACT team.

Forrest “Rusty” Foster, MSW, is the Implementation Specialist for the Focus on Integrated Treatment (FIT) Initiative at the Center for Practice Innovations (CPI), Division of Mental Health Services and Policy Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute. In this position, he oversees implementation and training efforts for OMH-licensed and OASAS-certified programs interested in implementing integrated treatment for people with co-occurring disorders. 

Before joining CPI, Rusty worked for eight years for the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center as a trainer and consultant in the implementation of integrated treatment for people with co-occurring disorders. Rusty has provided training and consultation to programs and State Mental Health Authorities in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Minnesota, Oregon, New York, New Jersey and Virginia.

Before working with the Dartmouth Psychiatric Research Center, Rusty worked for 23 years at the University of Behavioral Health Care in New Jersey as an administrator in both outpatient and day treatment programs for people with severe mental illness. He received his MSW from Rutgers University and is also a Certified Professional Rehabilitation Counselor.