THE PEER SPECIALIST PROGRAM AT
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
(Please select a link
below to learn more about that section of the program)
Peer Specialist
Definition
Peer Specialists
(called “specialists” for liability reasons) are mental health consumers
who have completed a peer counseling training course, and have
demonstrated the skill, motivation, and desire to help their peers in a
counselor role. They are trained to help consumers set goals, make
decisions, solve problems, deal with conflicts, and deal with the stress
of everyday living. They are trained to listen, support, and encourage
consumers. They help consumers locate food, shelter, and other community
resources. Peer Specialists are not therapists, and are trained
to refer therapeutic issues to therapists.
Program History &
Description
The Peer
Specialist Program at Community Connections (A drop-in center in Aurora,
CO.) was instituted in 1997. At that time qualified graduates from the
training became employees of Behavioral Healthcare Inc. (BHI-The managed
care organization that funds Community Connections). Mental Health
consumers who were being helped by volunteer Peer Specialists at the
drop-in center wrote letters to BHI validating their work. BHI responded
by making Peer Specialists employees of their organization. This was
monumental because BHI had enough faith in the training and program to
risk liability (This occurred before the recent insurgence of
accrediting Peer Specialist programs; our program is not yet
accredited) .BHI is liable if a Peer Specialist causes harm or damage to
a mental health consumer seeking his help. There have been no incidences
of liability since the inception of the program.
The Peer
Specialist office is located at Community Connections, Peer Specialists
work in Drop-in Centers, Clubhouses, and Residential Facilities in the
Denver-metro area of Colorado. They are part-time employees of BHI. They
maintain their own identity; they have their own team. They work with
local mental health centers, but they are not part of any clinical
mental health team. They receive supervision from the Peer Specialist
Supervisor, (1/2- hour individual supervision weekly, and 1- hour team
supervision weekly). Peer Specialist Supervisors are Peer Specialists
who have received a promotion. There are currently 2 Peer Specialist
Supervisors and 10 Peer Specialists.
Becoming a Peer
Specialist
To become a Peer
Specialist, a consumer must complete the Peer Specialist training
course. The training is now offered as a 3- credit course at the
Community College of Denver as part of a Human Service Certificate
Program. Everyone who completes the course will be eligible to take a
4-credit internship at the college the following semester. BHI will
allow candidates to perform their internship at consumer-driven programs
within their organization which will eventually lead to employment.
Consumers who are not selected by BHI to perform their internship will
be able to choose an organization of their interest to complete their
internship, with a possibility of future employment.
Please contact Nate at (303)-839-8590 or info@peertraining.com
for further information.
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