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Peer Support

Peer Support means that someone who has experienced and survived many of life’s challenges, including mental illness, can provide support by relating to what you are going through with an open mind and an open heart.

Individual and Group Peer Support demonstrates the reality that someone who has experienced and survived many of life’s challenges, including mental illness, can provide support by relating to what someone else is going through with an open mind and an open heart. Our certified Peer Specialists are trained individuals who partner with clients to succeed in their own personal recovery. They’ve been there, and they know what you are going through and can relate to the bumps you might encounter on your journey to recovery.

Peer Support provides a role model for consumers to gain strength, support, and hope on their road to recovery. They have done what you are hoping to do.

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Is peer support an evidence-based practice?

Peer support is an evidence-based practice for individuals with mental health conditions or challenges. ... Peer support improves quality of life, increases and improves engagement with services, and increases whole health and self-management.

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What are benefits of peer support?

Peer workers can improve Focused Care, Inc. culture and enhance our recovery focus. Working with peer workers helps other mental health staff understand that the people they care for can and do recover; improving empathy and understanding towards the consumers and careers they support.

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Does peer support make a difference?

Peer support workers can help break down barriers of experience and understanding, as well as power dynamics that may get in the way of working with other members of the treatment team.

Our peer specialists are able to partner with you in a wide variety of ways.

  • Help you create a Wellness Recovery Action Plan. A WRAP helps you define your plan to keep you in Recovery.

  • Help you create a Psychiatric Advance Directives: YOU decide what happens when you get ill.

  • Listen/Relate/Provide Hope: Regarding Mental Health recovery and goals.

  • Help you complete important paperwork: Benefit forms, Financial Aid Paperwork, Employment

  • Applications, etc.

  • Attend appointments with you: Provide support and act as an advocate.

  • Attend team meetings with you: Be there as a support and advocate on decisions made as a team.

  • Temporarily help you obtain transportation to Mental Health appointments until community supports can be found.

  • Help you to learn how to use public transportation.

  • Assist you with visiting schools/colleges.

  • Assist you in finding housing (usually with the help from a case manager).

  • Help you find employment (i.e. creating a resume, filling out applications).

  • Help with budgeting skills.

  • Help finding desired community supports: i.e. gym, support groups, hobby classes, social

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FocusedCare Core Values

These values are meant to help ensure that the original intent of Focused Care, Inc. peer support is honored as the sector grows, standards are implemented, and programs evolve over time. In turn, they informed a set of principles of practice that characterize the nature of the relationship between our peer support workers and members, which include (among others) recognizing personal goals and members, co-creating and exploring options for next steps, focusing on:

 

  • Strengths

  • Self-determination

  • Choice instead of symptoms

  • Diagnosis

  • Practicing self-care

  • Collaborating with community partners, service providers and other stakeholders.

 

Indicators are developed that measure fidelity to the guiding principles and/or that operationalize the principles of practice. 

 

· Hope and recovery

· Self-determination

· Empathetic and equal relationships

· Dignity, respect and social inclusion

· Integrity, authenticity and trust

· Health and wellness

· Lifelong Learning and personal growth

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