NYAPRS Note: NYAPRS’ Annual Conference, “Stand Together for Recovery,” is only 6 weeks away! Don’t miss the opportunity to take advantage of an Early Bird special that offers a free registration for every 5 and that ends on August 11.
This year’s program features an extraordinary range and depth of presentations from state and national experts that explore the current and emerging state of peer support and peer run services, from the essential principles and integrity of peer support, to how those are applied in a variety of settings, by whom and for whom and for a variety of payers. See below for details.
While the inclusion of peer services has become a systemic priority, it is essential that these services are provided and supervised correctly and appropriately and by peer run agencies, departments and programs. Come join us and find out more at this fall’s conference!
Take advantage of our special 1 for 5 package and register today at https://rms.nyaprs.org/event/?page=CiviCRM&q=civicrm/event/info&reset=1&id=24.
Introduction to Intentional Peer Support
Come explore Intentional Peer Support, a model for thinking about and intentionally inviting powerfully transformative relationships among peers. Participants learn to use relationships to see things from new angles, develop greater awareness of personal and relational patterns, and to support and challenge each other as we try new things.
Eva Dech, Intentional Peer Support, Peachtree Corners, G
Who Defines “Peer Support?” The Danger of Substituted Values and Voice
Peer support was originally a grassroots, non-hierarchical approach rooted in mutual aid and consciousness-raising groups. In recent years, state mental health authorities developed a “peer staff model,” exemplified by the rapid expansion of peer specialist positions within traditional mental health programs. This presentation will explore how peer support has morphed into paid staff positions within traditional mental health agencies over the past 20+ years, and how this process has changed the field’s understanding of peer support.It will explore the processes through which this happened and offer recommendations for redefining terminology to distinguish between these very different types of roles and safeguarding the future of genuine peer support. An ongoing federally funded study of Intentional Peer Support practiced in peer-run programs will be described and discussed.
Darby Penney, Advocates for Human Potential, Albany, NY
The Competitive Advantages of Behavior Health Peers and Community Health Workers
Paid peer support specialists and recovery coaches have grown up alongside the emergence of the community health worker (CHW) movement. Are they the same? Should peers become CHWs? Should CHWS be trained as peers? This session will look at the competitive advantages of each field and consider when each might best be deployed.
Sue Bergeson, Recovery, Resiliency, Engagement and Activation Partners, Geneva, Illinois
Digging in the Dirt: A Collective Model of Peer-Supported Healing
Self-sufficiency, a sense of belonging and contribution, access to healthy food, activating the central nervous system – community-supported agriculture is the synthesis of so much that peer support strives to achieve. This workshop will explore how nurturing the soil also nurtures the soul, reminding us that our mental and physical health are deeply rooted in the dirt.
David Bayne, STEP By STEP, Inc., Ogdensburg, NY
Amy Colesante, Mary Szacik, Mental Health Empowerment Project, Inc., Albany, NY
From Isolation to Connection: The Role of Authentic Peer Support in Fostering Community Inclusion
This workshop will discuss the social determinants to health and how these factors contribute to poor outcomes and under-service for many marginalized populations. Further it will describe the relationship between trauma and social determinants, reinforcing the ongoing need for trauma-informed care. The discussion will then focus on one key social determinant: social isolation, and discuss how to use authentic peer support to promote community inclusion and wellness
Todd French, Mental Health Empowerment Project, Albany, NY
Personal Wellness Strategies to Sustain our Connection and Empathy in Peer Support
This workshop will offer participants information, tools, and resources for supporting the wellness of peers in the workforce, focusing on the balance between work and self-care. The concept of peer wellness will be explored from both individual and organizational levels, with strategies offered for strengthening the health and well-being of peer supporters.
Cathy Cave, Inspired Vision, LLC, Delmar, NY
Terri Hay, Policy Research Associates, Inc., Delmar, NY
Crystal Brandow, Policy Research Associates, Inc., Delmar, NY
Trauma Informed Approaches for Peer Specialists
Trauma is a unique individual experience of being overwhelmed by a perceived threat to life, bodily integrity or safety. Trauma informed approaches acknowledge the high prevalence of traumatic experiences in persons who receive mental health services. This workshop will discuss concrete ways peer specialists can provide support in a trauma informed manner.
Bill Gamble, Mental Health Empowerment Project, Albany, NY
Making the Case for Peer Support to Payors and Influencers
Your work as a peer is amazing and effective. But how do you communicate that to people who could pay for or influence that work. This practical session will help you position peer support to those you want to influence and will provide data and other resources to help you be successful.
Sue Bergeson, Recovery, Resiliency, Engagement and Activation Partners, Geneva, Illinois
Keeping our Peerness: Opportunities and Challenges to Integrate Peers in Clinical Teams, ACT and Beyond
The critically important role that peer specialists can play across the healthcare spectrum is now commonly understood. But, how can we ensure that peers are hired, supervised and deployed in ways that protect and promote the key principles of peer support? The presenters will help you to identify strengths and challenges of peer specialists working in ACT team and across the range of clinical programs. People attending this workshop will also learn how to prepare non-peer staff to welcome peers to the teams.
Sascha DuBrul, ACT Institute/OnTrack at CPI, New York, NY
Luis Lopez, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
Helle Thorning, PhD, ACT Institute at CPI, New York, NY
Dennis Ranigan, Mental Health Association, Kingston NY
What’s New in Family and Youth Peer Support
This workshop will focus on Family Peer and Youth Peer support. The presenters will discuss the roles and service definitions for both services and how they fit into the new Medicaid Managed Care system that will serve children and their families. They will also outline the steps and requirements needed to become a Family Peer or Youth Peer Advocate
Susan Burger, Stephanie Orlando, Families Together in NYS, Albany, NY
From Movement to Profession: Parallels Between Social Work and Peer Services
We often focus on what divides us, but this workshop highlights the commonalities between social work and the peer movement in an effort to learn from and understand the strengths and pitfalls of social justice work in the age of accreditation, certification, and professionalization
Mary Szacik, Bill Gamble, Mental Health Empowerment Project, Inc., Albany, NY
