On this week's episode, we speak with Director of Peer Services Jim Ball and Administrator of Peer Services Kirsten Muth.
MHA has received a grant from OMH for a Youth and Family Peer Advocate workforce expansion initiative. The program is a training and certification series for individuals interested in becoming Youth or Family Peer Advocates. It will serve six counties across the region.
We can provide this opportunity to our own eligible staff as well. We are also encouraging you to share this opportunity with clients you may be working with who would be interested.
The grant provides up to three stipends to qualified/eligible candidates:
· Upon completion of the Level One training (proof required) - $250
· Upon obtaining Provisional Certification (copy of Certificate required) $500
· Upon securing employment as a Youth or Family Peer Advocate or having this work written into your current job description - $1500
For more information on the training requirements for Family Peer Advocates click here
For more information on the training requirements Youth Peer Advocate click here.
If you are interested, please contact Kirsten Muth in Peer Services at kmuth@mhadutchess or by replying to this email. She will provide the links to register you for this opportunity.
Additional Information: Definitions and experience required:
What is a Youth Peer Advocate (YPA)? What life experience is required?
YPAs are individuals between 18 and 30 years of age who have self-identified as a person who has first-hand experience with social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges. YPAs work with young people (primarily between ages 14-21) who are experiencing social, medical, emotional, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. These peer services provide the training and support necessary to ensure the active participation and engagement of young people in their own treatment planning process and in the development and reinforcement of skills.
What is a Family Peer Advocate (FPA)? What experience is required?
Family Peer Advocates (FPA) have ‘lived experience’ as the parent (biological, foster, adoptive) or primary caregiver of a child/youth with a social, emotional, behavioral, mental health, or developmental disability. Interested candidates can receive training to develop skills and strategies that can lead to employment and promote the practice of family-driven and youth-guided approaches. FPAs provide support services in a variety of settings including independent community-based family support programs, schools, clinics, residential programs, health homes, hospitals, and other community-based organizations. FPAs work in partnership with parents and service providers from all ‘systems’ including social services, education, mental health, developmental disabilities, juvenile justice, health, and substance abuse. This ‘cross-systems’ work comes naturally to FPAs because family needs cross all systems.
Hosted by Conor Walsh Produced by CMJW Entertainment Inc https://www.cmjwentertainment.com/
Brought to you by Mental Health America of Dutchess County https://mhadutchess.org/
Brought to you in part by the Northern & Souther Dutchess Community Coalitions https://capedc.org/ndcc/
https://capedc.org/sdcc/
Chapters - (00:00:00) - PeeCee Workforce Expansion Grant
- (00:00:40) - The Role of a Peer Services Administrator
- (00:01:10) - The Peer Advocate Workforce Expansion Grant
- (00:04:23) - Grant supports family and youth peer advocates
- (00:07:01) - What's Different Between a Youth Peer Advocate and a Family Peer Advocate
- (00:08:08) - The Peer Specialist Workforce Expansion
- (00:18:24) - An advocate for the peer services
- (00:20:46) - A Peer advocate's journey in recovery
- (00:25:49) - A Taste of the Program
28 mins