Resources related to our PENTAC focus and more. 

Item Name		Posted By	Date Posted
Integrated Care Issue Brief Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Publication Date: November 2013 Peer Models and Usage in California Behavioral Health and Primary Care Settings. The purpose of this issue brief is to review how peers are used in agencies that provide behavioral health and/or primary care services and to describe the important role peers play in the recovery of others with mental health or substance use issues. peer support; consumer; lived experience; stigma; recovery
ADVOCATING AND PLANNING FOR A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PE Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Publication Date: November 2014 This guide lays the framework for employing lay persons (also known as peer supporters, peer specialists, community health workers, health coaches, or promotoras) in providing peer support to people with chronic mental and physical health conditions. It is intended for organizations that are interested in learning about or considering developing, a behavioral health peer support program to help clients with their chronic disease self-management and recovery.
Address Challenges Incorporating Peer Support  Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Publication Date: November 2020 The aim of this study was to investigate peer support specialists’ experiences regarding training, recruiting, hiring, management, work roles, and retention in the integrated mental health and substance use disorder workplace by partnering with peer support specialist experts using the Experience-based co-design methodology. Peer support specialists identified challenges with agency restrictions, achieving work-life balance, stigma, and low compensation mental health recovery; peer support; peer support specialist; health workforce; patient experience; patient satisfaction; integration
Reduce Negative Attitudes towards Peer Staff Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Tips to Reduce Negative Attitudes Faced by Peer Support Staff Peer support staff are individuals in recovery from a mental illness and/or substance use disorder who have leveraged their lived experience to assist others in recovery. One challenge peer support staff may face on the job is a lack of acceptance and underlying stigma from their colleagues. This document and accompanying video provides guidance for how to reduce these negative attitudes and effectively integrate peer support staff into your organization. stigma; peer support; behavioral health; clinical setting
Integrating Mental Health Peer Support  Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Integrating Mental Health Peer Support in Clinical Settings: Lessons from Canada and Norway Mental health peer support is an evidence-based approach called for by Canada’s mental health strategy that presents health leaders with an opportunity to transform mental health service experiences, improve health outcomes, and lower overall system costs. Originally offered in community settings, peer support has been expanding to clinical settings, but challenges to integration exist. This qualitative case study of peer support in clinical settings in Canada and Norway examines the perceived value of peer support and change management strategies that health leaders, managers, staff, and peer support providers can use to support integration of peer support in existing healthcare teams in clinical settings.
Peers in Integrated Settings Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Publication Date: April 2016 Implementation of Peer Providers in Integrated Mental Health and Primary Care Settings Peer providers are essential to the delivery of recovery-oriented mental health services, but little is known about their roles in delivering integrated mental health and primary care services. This study examines how peer-based services are implemented in newly integrated behavioral health care settings in Los Angeles County, California.
Evolvement of Peers in Psychiatric Hospitals Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Publication Date: December 2020 Evolvement of Peer Support Workers’ Roles in Psychiatric Hospitals Peer support workers (PSWs) use their experiential knowledge and specific skills to support patients in their recovery process. The aim of our study was to examine the integration and role-finding process of PSWs in adult psychiatric hospitals in Germany. Experienced involvement; Adult Psychiatry; Mental healthcare; Implementation; Qualitative empirical research
Peer Support in Behavioral Healthcare Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Publication Date: May 2016 Peer Support Services in the Behavioral Healthcare Workforce This article examines how the history and philosophy of peer support services have shaped current mental health and substance use service delivery systems. The growth of peer-run and recovery community organizations in the changing healthcare environment are discussed, including issues related to workforce development, funding, relevant policies, and opportunities for expansion integration; peer support specialist; recovery; mental health; clinical settings
Peer Support in Behavioral Healthcare Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Publication Date: May 2016 Peer Support Services in the Behavioral Healthcare Workforce This article examines how the history and philosophy of peer support services have shaped current mental health and substance use service delivery systems. The growth of peer-run and recovery community organizations in the changing healthcare environment are discussed, including issues related to workforce development, funding, relevant policies, and opportunities for expansion integration; peer support specialist; recovery; mental health; clinical settings
The Challenge of Peer Support Programs Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/18/2024
Publication Year: 2015 This article is about how to address challenges that arise when integrating Peer support specialists in clinical settings. Written from the point of view of a Social Worker. Challenges addressed include ethical challenges like privacy and confidentiality, boundaries and dual relationships, informed consent, competence and expertise, and continuity of service. ethics; integration; peer support; mental health
Peer Support Services: A Best-Practice Guide Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/12/2024
Publication Date: December 2013 Peer support services (PSS) are an expanding part of the continuum of care provided for behavioral health conditions. These services have been deemed an evidence-based reimbursable model of care by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. States, counties, employers, and health plans are increasingly covering PSS in benefit plans. Controlled and experimental studies are building the evidence base for these services. Medicaid and the states have not developed level-of-care or medical necessity criteria for PSS, even though these criteria are standards for determining coverage and reimbursement. This review of emerging level-of-care criteria for PSS provides a framework for the further development of these resources.
Integrated Peers:Opportunities & Future Direction Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/12/2024
Publication Year: 2018 Peer Workers in the Behavioral and Integrated Health Workforce: Opportunities and Future Directions This article describes the experiences that organizations and their workforce, including peer workers, encounter as they integrate peer support services into the array of behavioral health services. Specific attention is given to the similarities and differences of services provided by peers in mental health settings and substance use settings, and implications for future directions. The article also addresses the role of peer workers in integrated behavioral and physical healthcare services.
Philadelphia Peer Support Toolkit  Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/12/2024
Peer Support Toolkit DBHIDS’ new toolkit is designed to support behavioral health treatment agencies with the process of integrating peer providers into their service settings. The Peer Support Toolkit incorporates many of the promising practices and resources that have emerged during the last decade of Philadelphia’s recovery-focused system transformation effort. Tools in this kit are designed to help agencies to recruit, retain, and effectively deploy people in recovery in a variety of peer support roles. The resources and information provided is relevant for executive leadership along with supervisors and peer staff.
Peer Integration and the Stages of Change ToolKit Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/12/2024
Publication Date: May 2018 OASAS has put together a useful and comprehensive toolkit that establishes the currency of peers in the workforce. It’s “how-to” format underscores the value of lived experience in engagement and recovery activation, demonstrating how peer roles can emphasize recovery principles and values, transform organizational culture, and achieve recovery outcomes.
Integrating peer support in clinical settings Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/12/2024
Publication Date: February 2019 Mental health peer support is an evidence-based approach called for by Canada’s mental health strategy that presents health leaders with an opportunity to transform mental health service experiences, improve health outcomes, and lower overall system costs. Originally offered in community settings, peer support has been expanding to clinical settings, but challenges to integration exist.
Enhancing the Peer Provider Workforce Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/12/2024
Publication Date: September 2014 The toolkit is designed to be brief and guide community providers and state hospital administrators to integrate peer providers into their recovery-oriented services or to expand them. A wealth of material has been written on recruiting and hiring, but very little on supervision and retention. This toolkit will emphasize these two areas. The toolkit includes a list of resources.
Reducing Negative Attitudes Faced By Peer Staff Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/14/2022
Publication Date: March 2019 Peer support staff are individuals in recovery from a mental illness and/or substance use condition who have leveraged their lived experience to assist others in recovery. One challenge peer support staff may face on the job is a lack of acceptance and underlying stigma from their colleagues. This video and accompanying tip sheet provides guidance for how to reduce these negative attitudes and effectively integrate peer support staff into your organization. stigma; integration; acceptance; peer support specialist
Digital Peer Support Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	2/9/2022
Digital Peer Support - A Whole-of-Society Approach to Widespread Availability of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support This course provides information on the current landscape of digital peer support services across the globe and how to implement digital peer support within systems of care. The presenter of this webinar is Dr. Karen L. Fortuna, assistant professor of psychiatry in the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.
Supervising Peer Support Specialists  Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	2/9/2022
Supervising Peer Support Specialists in a Changing Landscape This course provides information and resources to effectively supervise peer support specialists. The presenter of this webinar is Dana Foglesong, MSW, NCPS, national director, recovery and resiliency services, Magellan Healthcare.

Item Name		Posted By	Date Posted
Peer support during COVID-19 Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/26/2024
Publication Date: May 2020 Peer support — A secret weapon in the fight against COVID‐19 Peer supporters are proving to be invaluable, providing connection and hope during this unprecedented time. As orders restricting movement challenged traditional service delivery practices, peer supporters kicked into high gear doing what they do: breaking isolation, engaging clients and modeling recovery.
Stigma & Recovery in the Narratives of Peers Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/26/2024
Publication Date: November 2015 Stigma and recovery in the narratives of peer support workers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Stigma attaching to mental illness has been considered a major challenge to public policies, to the provision of care and to the well-being of people who live with the experience of mental illness worldwide. Here we discuss narratives from peer support workers which we obtained during the assessment of a new psychosocial intervention program in Rio de Janeiro. We used a range of focus groups, in-depth interviews and clinical supervision notes to derive these narratives, which covered topics such as the peer support workers’ perceptions of family and social views, their sense of self and the experience of being stigmatized. We conclude that stigma appears to be a barrier to recovery.
Lessons from Peer Support: Literature Review Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/26/2024
Publication Date: April 2012 Lessons from Peer Support Among Individuals with Mental Health Difficulties: A Review of the Literature "We conducted a comprehensive narrative review and used a systematic search strategy to identify studies related to peer support among adults with mental health difficulties. The purposes of this review were to describe the principles, effects, and benefits of peer support documented in the published literature, to discuss challenging aspects of peer support, and to investigate lessons from peer support. Fifty-one studies, including 8 review articles and 19 qualitative studies, met the inclusion criteria for this review. Most of the challenges for peer support were related to “role” and “relationship” issues; that is, how peer support providers relate to people who receive peer support and how peer support providers are treated in the system."
Developing peer support in the community: Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	6/26/2024
"This toolkit is for people interested in mental health peer support happening in the community. This includes people who are: • supporting and being supported through peer support • setting up and running a peer support group or project • involved in commissioning peer support projects. It will be particularly useful for people who want to establish a new peer support project."
What do we Mean by Peer Integration Presentation Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/14/2022
Original presentation date: February 28, 2017 The purpose of this VLN is to help participating organizations effectively integrate, implement, and sustain peer support using a trauma-informed approach as part of a broader effort to become a trauma-informed organization.
Integrating Peer Support Presentation Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/14/2022
Original presentation date: January 31, 2017 -Explore SAMHSA’s principles of trauma-informed care and implementation domains; -Share best practices and practical perspectives on peer integration through diverse guest presentations; -Identify the opportunities and barriers to the meaningful involvement of peers throughout all levels of the organization or program; -Help participating organizations formulate action plans for increased peer integration; -Provide individualized technical assistance to help organizations implement their action plans and sustain changes over time.
Social inclusion and recovery Webinar Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/14/2022
Original Presentation Date: June 10, 2020 This course provides strategies and information to advance social inclusion and recovery for people living with psychiatric disAbilities and/or addictive disorders. The presenter of this webinar is Tom Lane, CRPS, national director, community and recovery services, Magellan Healthcare.
Integrating Peer Support into Your Organization Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/14/2022
Publication Year: 2017 Over the last 10 years, two overlapping developments in behavioral health services have seen exponential growth. First, peer support has increasingly been incorporated as an integral component of the behavioral health service delivery system to promote recovery, wellness, and resiliency.  Second, more and more community behavioral health and allied service and health agencies and organizations are seeking to develop trauma-informed approaches in the way they deliver services. Concurrently, state and local systems are looking at new ways to address adverse childhood experiences, child abuse and neglect, bullying, interpersonal violence, sexual and gender-based violence, community violence, and more. This resource has links to recordings of multiple webinars covering peer integration and related topics.
A Webinar on The Future of Integrated Care Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	3/29/2022
This webinar, The Time is NOW: Peer-Run Organizations and Integrated Care, was hosted by Cherene Caraco, peer leader, advocate, and CEO of North Carolina’s Promise Resource Network. She shared the strategy her organization has adopted in advocating for the integration of peer support in a variety of settings.

Item Name		Posted By	Date Posted
Coping with Depression as an Entrepreneur Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/15/2024
This article discusses ways to cope with depression while managing your own business.
Ask Jan: Peer Support and Self-Employment Success Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/15/2024
SELF-EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES: A NEW PROGRAM THAT PLACES LIVED EXPERIENCES AND PEER MENTORING AT ITS CENTER. "At JAN, we frequently receive inquiries from individuals with mental health conditions who are interested in becoming self-employed or starting a small business. Over the years, I’ve followed emerging research by Dr. Laysha Ostrow and colleagues exploring why self-employment can be a viable and important employment alternative for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. For this article, I discussed with Dr. Ostrow the approach she brings to this topic and an exciting new program at Live and Learn, Inc. that places peer support as a key component to self-employment success. She brings a unique perspective to this topic both personally and professionally."
A Guide for People with MHC Who Want to Work Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/15/2024
Publication Year: 2013 If you are a person in recovery without a job, you may be wondering whether working is a good idea for you. You might want to know whether you can find the help you need to prepare for work. You might be uncertain about how to get started or worried that you won’t succeed. You might be wondering how to find a job you enjoy and begin to build a long-term career for yourself. This Guide is designed to provide information that individuals may need to figure out whether working is right for them and to help them be successful if they do decide to work.
Building Your Program (Consumer-Operated Services) Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/15/2024
Publication Year: 2011 This Evidence-Based Practice KIT is intended to help mental health authorities and consumer leaders think through and develop consumer-operated initiatives.
Recorded Peer Entrepreneurship Sessions Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	2/2/2022
Have you ever thought about running your own business? Being your own boss? Are you nervous about the toll it would take on your mental health? Watch our inspiring pre-recorded webinar series where peers will share their stories of turning their career dreams into reality while balancing their wellness. If you like these, join us the first Thursday each month for new webinar livestreams!
Free Business Management Classes Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	2/9/2022
This site has multiple free trainings on money and business management. Good for individuals that are starting a business, or those wanting to improve their business' finances. Some course subjects include: Accounting & Finance, Business Strategy & Studies, Economics, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Leadership & Management, Marketing, People & Organization Matters, and Personal Finance.
Small Business Association  Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	11/29/2021
The Small Business Administration helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships, the Small Business Administration assists and protects the interests of small business concerns.
Lender Match Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	11/29/2021
A database that matches small businesses with loans. Small Business Association (SBA) works with lenders to provide loans to small businesses. The agency doesn’t lend money directly to small business owners. Instead, it sets guidelines for loans made by its partnering lenders, community development organizations, and micro-lending institutions. SBA reduces risk for lenders and makes it easier for them to access capital. That makes it easier for small businesses to get loans.
Writing a One-Page Business Plan Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/8/2021
A Step-by-Step Approach to Writing a One-Page Business Plan "If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else," said the great Yogi Berra. Writing a one-page plan is highly useful because it forces you to be very focused and clear in your statements. As a result, it enables you to see quickly in a glance what you need to know to keep moving your business forward in the right direction. In this hands-on workshop, led by expert business coach Jennifer Dawn, you will learn: How to create a one-page business plan to guide the direction and growth of your company Eliminate distraction and begin working with focus and purpose How to take a step back and understand the scope and the strategy behind your tactics
An Easier Way to Prepare Your Business Plan Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/8/2021
An Easier Way to Prepare Your Business Plan -The Business Model Canvas. Preparing a business plan may seem like an overwhelming task, but the Business Model Canvas (BMC) can make the process less stressful. The Business Model Canvas is a one-page business plan that allows you to test and validate the key parts of your business in a manageable format — and help get you on track to start your business. In this webinar, SCORE mentors Mark Lowenstein and Marc Goldberg will explain the BMC and how to use it to develop a full business plan, if needed in the future. In this session, you’ll learn: - Why to use the BMC versus a traditional business plan - The 9 main points of the BMC - Updated tips and strategies for creating a BMC - How to create value and build a new business
Find local assistance Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	11/29/2021
A searchable database for free business counseling by location. The Small Business Administration helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships, the Small Business Administration assists and protects the interests of small business concerns.
STATE SMALL BUSINESS AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT GUIDES Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	11/29/2021
This section features state-by-state small business and self-employment guides that include referrals to Small Business Administration (SBA) offices and affiliated programs, state economic development offices, small business and funding guides, vocational rehabilitation programs (VR) including self-employment guidelines, state assistive technology (AT) projects, state/local entrepreneurship initiatives for people with disabilities, health insurance programs, and much more.
About EARN Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	11/29/2021
"The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) is a free resource that helps employers tap the benefits of disability diversity by educating public- and private-sector organizations on ways to build inclusive workplace cultures..."
Entrepreneurship for Mental Health Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	11/24/2021
Entrepreneurship for Mental Health: Sean’s House and Alum’s Journey in Peer Support. This article is about a peer entrepreneur that started a mental health safe haven and community space in Newark for young people ages 14 to 24.
Why ADHD can be a valuable bonus for entrepreneurs Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	11/24/2021
"Entrepreneurship is about moving forwards. It involves branching out, a search for the new, starting a journey in which the destination is unknown. In a sense then, it is not an entirely rational process, in which actions are driven by considerations of consequences. Instead, entrepreneurship requires a certain impulsiveness and an ability to act without fear of consequence. Precisely the symptoms seen in people diagnosed with ADHD..."
Business Model Canvas Project Centered Course Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
"In this project-centered course*, you will use the Business Model Canvas innovation tool to approach either a personal or corporate challenge or opportunity. This project-centered course is designed for anyone who wants to understand innovation best practices and the intra-corporate entrepreneurial (intrapreneur) skills needed to lead innovation projects, teams, and strategies. Entry- and senior-level professionals in a variety of industries - including education, healthcare, business, and not-for-profit - will benefit from the course materials and project experience. The only prerequisite is a strong desire to understand best practices in innovation and to master the skills needed to transform a new idea into a profitable reality." There is an option to purchase the course and receive the certificate for $49 USD, or you can choose the free option in which you will have access to all course materials except graded items. This course is self paced.
Free Business Management Course Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
In this course you will learn, "Necessary accounting terminology and concepts The basics of the four financial statements The building blocks of financial accounting The different accounting cycles in a business break-even analysis, target profit analysis, and degree of operating leverage" This course is offered by Purdue University
SMALL BUSINESS CERTIFICATIONS FROM A TO Z Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
This resource contains a glossary of small business certifications that one may apply for to add credibility to their business and to help expand your business. There is also an informative video ongetting certified and winning bids for government contracts..
Entrepreneurship 101:Who is your customer?(Course) Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
This course teaches the value of the customer in business and how to increase it and use it in a successful business venture. It is self paced, and averages 10 weeks if you take 2-4 hours a week. There is an option to purchase the course and receive the certificate for $49 USD, or you can choose the free option in which you will have access to all course materials except graded items. This course is self paced.
Social Media Advertising Course Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
Social media platforms are driven by digital advertising. As a result, social media advertising is affordable and can be purchased at almost any budget. Targeting options in social media advertising are also sophisticated. It is possible to tailor ads around a user’s behaviors (e.g., likes, posts and clicks). This course unpacks small business use cases of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter advertising. From basic campaigns, to advanced techniques including lookalike modeling and audience retargeting, this course shows how to effectively advertise on three major social media platforms.
Startup Funding for Entrepreneurs Course Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
This course is for aspiring or active entrepreneurs who wants to understand how to secure funding for their company. This course will demystify key financing concepts to give entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs a guide to secure funding. Enrollment is free, and course materials are free if you select "audit course" after enrolling. Options are available to purchase full access.
Startup and Venture Capital terms you should know Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
The startup world operates on a lot of lingo. This guide will give you a better context to understand the language of startups, venture capitalists, angel investors, and incubators.
10 Terms You Must Know: Raising Startup Capital Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
"There are a lot of ways to get tripped up while building a company. Failing to understand financial jargon shouldn't be one of them. It's not that investors and venture capitalists are evil or anything. It's just that their interests don't perfectly align with those of entrepreneurs. You want to build a company, keep control and earn a fair share of any windfall. Investors want to profit from your company as much as possible, minimize their financial risk and, often, gain the operating control needed to do so. Balancing these interests is a delicate process that requires a clear-eyed understanding of the terms involved during negotiations."
Pros and Cons of Top Social Media Advertising Plan Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
"Whether you’re a small business looking for inexpensive options to add to your marketing mix, or a big brand trying to determine which platforms will give you the best return on your dollar, it’s important to be aware of the benefits and downsides to each of the major social media channels available today. While return on ad spend is generally high for social, your business should determine whether a platform is the right fit before making the decision to spend. To help with your consideration, I’ve compiled a list of the pros and cons for each of the top social platforms offering advertising services today."
Essentials of Entrepreneurship: Thinking & Action Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/15/2021
"""Upon completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Learn about the many faces of and contexts for entrepreneurship 2. Learn about the entrepreneurial process and how to manage it 3. Learn about what it takes to be an entrepreneur and your own potential to be one 4. Learn to recognize opportunities to generate and assess your own business idea 5. Explain the business planning process 6. Apply entrepreneurial approaches, concepts and methods to your own business idea 7. Learn about the operational issues in developing new business ventures." Enrollment is free, and course materials are free if you select ""audit course"" after enrolling. Options are available to purchase full access.

Item Name		Posted By	Date Posted
The Power of Language  Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
This essay discusses the power of language, and how to appropriately discuss the recovery movement.
Job Titles and Descriptions for Peer Specialists Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
The purpose of this report is to present the job titles and descriptions that were provided by 274 respondents who responded to a brief online survey of certified peer specialists (CPS) working in paid positions in the United States. The goal is to give peers and other stakeholders a sense of the wide variety of job titles that people have and the description of their jobs, in their own words.
Developing and Facilitating Self-Help Groups Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
This three-page guide, plus a resource list, contains practical information about planning and facilitating a peer-led self-help group meeting, with basic information on developing effective group meetings, a sample agenda, and facilitation tools that use active listening and conflict resolution to maintain a good meeting.
Tackling Mental Health Prejudice & Discrimination Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
Publication Date: March 2019 Prejudice toward and discrimination against people with mental health conditions are longstanding major environmental barriers to the genuine community inclusion of individuals with mental health conditions. This document is designed to provide information on the types of anti-prejudice and anti-discrimination initiatives that these individuals, particularly those involved in peer-run programs, have successfully implemented in the past. The goal is to provide useful guidance for new peer-based efforts to tackle prejudice and discrimination.
Treatment for Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, & More Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
Publication Year: 2020 Treatment for Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, and Suicide Attempts Among Youth The Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series is a comprehensive set of modules with resources to improve health outcomes for people at risk for, with, or recovering from mental and/or substance use disorders. It is designed for practitioners, administrators, community leaders, and others considering an intervention for their organization or community.
Peer Support Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
Information on what peer support is, and what peer support workers do.
What Are Peer Recovery Support Services? Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
Printed: 2009 The peer recovery support services developed by the RCSP projects help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Because they are designed and delivered by peers who have been successful in the recovery process, they embody a powerful message of hope, as well as a wealth of experiential knowledge. The services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking to achieve or sustain recovery.
Cultural Competency in Peer-run Programs Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
Cultural Competency in Mental Health Peer-run Programs and Self-help Groups: A Tool to Assess and Enhance Your Services "You may feel that your peer-run group or program already does a pretty good job of serving people from all walks of life. There's a widespread belief that sharing the experience of mental health recovery puts individuals on equal footing with each other despite any cultural differences. Also, many find that coping with serious emotional distress makes peers more empathetic toward each other. This common ground is why mutual support is such a critical component of recovery. Nonetheless, we all have more to learn about cultures and lifestyles that differ from our own. There’s a myth that being culturally sensitive means treating everyone “the same” or “as equals.” In fact, this is only half the battle. Certainly, shared experiences, respect and equal opportunity are essential when providing peer support. However, cultural competency involves embracing and acting on di
Revisiting The Evidence For Peer Support Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
Publication Date: June 2018 This article is a response to another article discrediting Peer Support. This article highlights the long history of peer supports and emphasizes the use of peer support in helping people that are trying to get through recovery.
Peer Support: Helping Others, Healing Yourself Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
Publication Date: August 2018 A peer support group is a regular gathering of men and women with the lived experience of mental illness. Usually once each month, these individuals come together, overseen by a trained peer support specialist or facilitator, to talk with one another about their experiences, struggles, and challenges. The support group becomes an anchor for them as they recover from their illnesses and develop skills to live more effectively in their communities. A peer support group is a freeing experience, as these individuals realize “I am not alone,” and hope and trust grow between them...
Effect of PADs Facilitated by Peer Workers Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
Online Publication Date: 06/06/22 This article derived from a clinical trial reveals how peer worker–facilitated PADs are effective in decreasing compulsory hospital admissions and increasing some mental health outcomes. Involving peer workers in the completion of PADs supports the current shift of mental health care from substitute decision-making to supported decision-making
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Peer Support Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/17/2024
Publication Date: November 10, 2015 Peer support services and mental health recovery concepts have largely been embraced in the hearing world. However, peer support and learning about mental health recovery concepts among the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities have just begun to emerge and are not widely known. People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and have mental health conditions should have the same opportunities to have peer support services as their hearing counterparts and learn about mental health recovery concepts. These peer support services should be Deaf to Deaf, which can build trust and a healing connection, reducing the pain of isolation so familiar in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.
FADAA: Patterns/Trends of Substance Use in Florida Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/15/2024
Publication Year: 2022 The 2022 Annual Report Update, Patterns of and Trends in Substance Use in Florida, provides an overview of substance use trends among youth and adults within and across regions of Florida. This report highlights new substance use data from a number of sources including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey (FYSAS), Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey, and an update from the Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons by the Florida Medical Examiners Interim Report for 2021.
Adapting EBP's for Under-Resourced Populations Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/15/2024
Publication Year: 2023 This guide describes various types of cultural adaptations of evidence-based practices (EBP's) for under-resourced populations and the multiple steps in the adaptation process. The guide also focuses on research supporting such adaptations. The guide does not focus on a sole behavioral health outcome or a specific under-resourced population. Instead, it details the adaptation process practitioners can tailor and implement for their individual programs. This guide is intended to be broad and provide information for practitioners across both the mental health and substance use disorder fields. On the care continuum, this guide focuses predominantly on adapting treatment EBPs. However, the adaptation process described in this guide applies to any EBP in behavioral health, including prevention, treatment, and recovery practices for substance use and mental health.
Ethics for Providing Quality Peer Support Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	2/14/2022
This course provides strategies and information to advance social inclusion and recovery for people living with psychiatric disAbilities and/or addictive disorders. The presenter of this webinar is Tom Lane, CRPS, national director, community and recovery services, Magellan Healthcare.
What Does a Peer Specialist Do? Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	7/14/2022
Published Online: Jan 28, 2020 A Certified Peer Support Specialist, or CPS, is someone who has had their own personal life experience with a mental health condition and is further along in their treatment journey. They have been trained to help other people cope and recover from their own personal experiences.
Wellness informed peer support Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	2/9/2022
Wellness informed peer support: impacting social determinants of health This video course provides an introduction and overview of how peer support services can be “wellness-informed,” with practical examples of how such peer-delivered services impact social determinants of health. The presenter of this webinar is Tom Lane, CRPS, national director, community and recovery services, Magellan Healthcare.

Item Name		Posted By	Date Posted
Supported Education Survey Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
With funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), a coalition of national technical assistance centers—the National Empowerment Center, Youth M.O.V.E National, Doors to Wellbeing, The CAFÉ TA Center, and the Peer Support Coalition of Florida’s Peer Experience National Technical Assistance Center--are developing a national database (program listing) of supported education programs. The coalition has developed a survey to collect program information and invites any mental health-focused supported education program, whether based in a university, mental health agency, state or county office, or other organization, to submit information about their program through the survey.
Training Frontline Staff Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
Printed 2011 This four-part workbook will help program leaders teach education specialists the principles, processes, and skills necessary to deliver effective Supported Education services. The workbook includes the following: Basic elements and practice principles of Supported Education; Knowledge and skills to help consumers make informed choices about returning to school; Skills and supports to help enrollment activities; and Follow-along activities to support educational goals. It also includes exercises and activities that education specialists can complete to master necessary skills. Use this workbook to train your Supported Education staff
Supported Education Toolkit Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
Publication Year: 2016 Tools and guidelines for organizations and professionals working with students with psychiatric disabilities

Item Name		Posted By	Date Posted
Encourage Employees to Use Mental Health Benefits Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/20/2024
Employers can do better when it comes to educating employees about using the mental health resources available to them—a message that is especially important given the increased stress employees are facing due to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, HR advisors say. As employees choose their benefits for the upcoming year during open enrollment season and take time to reflect on the year ahead during the holidays, they may be receptive to communication about underutilized mental health benefits.
Supported Employment: The Evidence-Based Practice Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/20/2024
SE/IPS is an evidence-based practice that helps people with mental illness and other disabilities identify and acquire part-time or full-time jobs of their choice in the community with rapid job-search and placement services. supportive employment; individual placement; work; recovery; evidence based practice; job search; mental health
5 Common Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/20/2024
You can't see mental health challenges, but they are happening all around you. Speaking during a session at the recent SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2021, Andrea Sides Herron, SHRM-CP, told the plight of her sister, who has struggled with mental health issues for nearly her entire life. Then COVID-19 made them worse. Herron's sister initially hid how she was feeling from friends and family, but eventually the warning signs became clearly visible and she asked for help. Mental health issues are afflicting people in your office, too, Herron said. Pre-pandemic, 1 in 5 people in the U.S. had some form of mental disorder; the numbers have skyrocketed since then.
Job Searching and Mental Illness Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/20/2024
When most people are searching for jobs, they tend to look for the one that has the best salary. This is important for most people because this creates opportunities to pay bills and relieve financial stressors. Job seekers who have mental illness tend to overlook the situations that offer the best support. When dealing with mental health issues, things can come up unexpectedly. You want to be in an environment that is suitable and supportive. Here are some questions and tips to keep in mind that can benefit your workplace mental health.
Work and Mental Illness Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/20/2024
Many people find work is important for their mental health and that work helps them feel good about themselves. You may have stopped working because of mental illness and now feel ready to go back. This factsheet explains your options for finding work. This factsheet is for people with mental illness who are looking for work and their careers.
ACCOMMODATING MENTAL DISABILITIES DURING COVID-19 Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused increased stress, anxiety, and depression for many people, but particularly those suffering from preexisting mental illness. A variety of factors may play into such individuals not obtaining the help they need to succeed at work, including their fear of disclosing their disabilities due to the stigma associated with mental illness and the inability of others to identify mental disabilities that lack the visibility of physical disabilities. This article describes the rights and obligations of all parties when mental illness affects the workplace, and discusses how the changes to work environments during the pandemic may affect disability accommodation obligations even after the pandemic ends.
People with Mental Illness Can Work Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
Publication Date: October 2019 People with mental illness can, should, and often need to work. The social costs of the unemployment and underemployment of people living with mental illness are incalculable: deteriorated health, additional health care costs, and financial struggle for families, among many others. Additionally, work gives a source of purpose and allows us to contribute to our families and society. Sustained employment is an incredibly important factor for recovery. And the majority of those with mental illness can succeed with appropriate support.
SELF-EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS FOR PEERS Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
SELF-EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISABILITIES: A NEW PROGRAM THAT PLACES LIVED EXPERIENCES AND PEER MENTORING AT ITS CENTER At JAN, we frequently receive inquiries from individuals with mental health conditions who are interested in becoming self-employed or starting a small business. Over the years, I’ve followed emerging research by Dr. Laysha Ostrow and colleagues exploring why self-employment can be a viable and important employment alternative for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. For this article, I discussed with Dr. Ostrow the approach she brings to this topic and an exciting new program at Live and Learn, Inc. that places peer support as a key component to self-employment success. She brings a unique perspective to this topic both personally and professionally.
Road to Recovery: Employment and Mental Illness Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
Individuals with mental illness are a diverse group of people, with a wide range of talents and abilities. They work in all sectors of the U.S. economy, from the boardroom to the factory floor, from academia to art. Employment not only provides a paycheck, but also a sense of purpose, opportunities to learn and a chance to work with others. Most importantly, work offers hope, which is vital to recovery from mental illness. Our nation must invest in vocational strategies that work. The good news is that there are a number of effective supported employment programs. However, despite approximately $4 billion annually in federal funding for supported employment, employment rates for people with mental illness—which were abysmal to begin with—have declined even more over the last decade. This distressing trend is attributable to a number of factors.
Mental Health Conditions in the Workplace Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
Publication Date: December 2016 Depression, PTSD, & Other Mental Health Conditions in the Workplace: Your Legal Rights If you have depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or another mental health condition, you are protected against discrimination and harassment at work because of your condition, you have workplace privacy rights, and you may have a legal right to get reasonable accommodations that can help you perform and keep your job. The following questions and answers briefly explain these rights, which are provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). You may also have additional rights under other laws not discussed here, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and various medical insurance laws.
Your Employment Rights Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
Publication Year: 1992 Your Employment Rights as an Individual with a Disability The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) makes it unlawful to discriminate in employment against a qualified individual with a disability. The ADA also outlaws discrimination against individuals with disabilities in State and local government services, public accommodations, transportation, and telecommunications. This booklet explains the part of the ADA that prohibits job discrimination. This part of the law is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and State and local civil rights enforcement agencies that work with the Commission.
Benefits of Employing People with Mental Illness Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/8/2024
The Benefits of Employing People with a Mental Health Disability Vocational rehabilitation counselors who present factual information to employers serve as advocates for job seekers with mental health disabilities. The employment of people with mental health experiences is low worldwide. Even as mental health has become a part of the national discussion in the United States, stigma and discrimination still remain. This study looks at the employment of people with a mental health disability and reveals the many benefits to the employers who hire them.
Webinar- Mental Health and Wellness at work Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	11/29/2021
On March 11, 2021, EARN, in partnership with the National Industry Liaison Group (NILG) and the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), hosted a webinar with pharmaceutical company Merck on effective employer practices for mental health and wellness in the workplace. Now more than ever, companies are prioritizing mental health and wellbeing. Creating a workplace culture that supports all employees is a good business practice, especially given the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen as EARN and Merck share strategies to “bring your A game” to cultivate a culture of resilience and wellness throughout your organization.
List of government supported employment programs  Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	3/29/2022
Supported Employment (SE) Services for Individuals with the Most Significant Disabilities Awards
Mental Health in the workplace Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	4/19/2022
Mental health in the workplace is top of mind for everyone these days. While a lot has changed about what we understand about mental health at work, and how widespread poor mental health is, it's worth taking a look at the basics.

Item Name		Posted By	Date Posted
New Resource: Evidence-based Guide: Suicide Preven Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	12/9/2024
This evidence-based guide provides strategies and insights specific to at-risk groups, to support interventions and help prevent suicides. The guide highlights existing research, discusses barriers that hinder youth’s access to prevention and intervention services, and offers guidance on selecting, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based prevention programs. It also highlights programs that are making strides in addressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people from underserved communities.
Youth-Informed Peer Support Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/4/2024
Many young people with mental health conditions do not receive mental health services that would benefit them. Further, disengagement from mental health services among young adults is a prevalent problem, with recent estimates between 20-40% . Research demonstrates that these young people tend to have poorer health outcomes as they age compared to those who continue to receive services .
Tools for Educators During a Public Health Crisis Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/4/2024
Educators have been asked to fill many roles during this public health crisis. They have had to adjust to new learning environments, provide emotional support to students, maintain communication with parents, take care of themselves and their families, among other responsibilities. At the same time, they are experiencing the anxiety and worry about the public health crisis along with the rest of the community. Here are some tools to help.
THE FOUNDATIONS OF YOUTH ENGAGEMENT Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/4/2024
An in-depth look at how to successfully engage youth in your programming. In recent years, youth engagement has become an essential strategy of supporting young adults with disabilities, behavioral health needs, and/or lived experience within child serving systems. This means that in recent years, professionals who support families have had to quickly adapt and learn to work with youth and young adults, and not for them. This shift is nuanced, difficult to make, and deeply important.
Youth Peer-Support: A Review of the Literature Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/3/2024
Publication Year: May 2013 Peer-to-peer support has been an essential component for successful recovery in the adult mental health and substance abuse systems. The same support is urgently needed for youth in transition. However, peer-to-peer support for youth must be developmentally appropriate and specific to the unique needs of youth in transition. This literature review will look at peer support history, programs, outcome studies, and resources with an emphasis on youth.
Operationalizing and Funding Youth Peer Support Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/3/2024
Operationalizing and Funding Youth and Parent Peer Support Roles in Residential Treatment Settings While many programs in both child and adult systems of care recognize the intrinsic value of including broadly defined peer support services (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28068538), there is often an on-going challenge to adequately fund and operationalize these non-traditional services in clinical settings. Full integration of peer voice and services at multiple levels in residential treatment settings requires commitment from leadership. In addition to top-down commitment to empowering youth and family engagement, it takes creative financing in order to turn an innovative concept into reality.
Entering Adulthood: Getting Help Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/3/2024
Entering Adulthood: Getting Help for Mental and Substance Use Disorders The big life changes that 18-to-25-year-olds experience when transitioning into adulthood come with a range of emotions. While it can sometimes feel like you’re the only one going through ups and downs, you’re not alone.
Florida Healthy Transitions’ Peer-to-Peer Service Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/3/2024
"Florida's Healthy Transitions team utilizes a peer-to-peer model to decrease program participants' mental health symptoms and increase their sense of community belonging. The article includes contributions from some of the young adults working in the program on the rewards and challenges of their work."
HELPING A STRUGGLING LOVED ONE Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/3/2024
HELPING A LOVED ONE DEALING WITH MENTAL AND/OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS This Info sheet lists ways to help a loved one with mental illness and/ or a substance use disorder.
Protecting Youth Mental Health Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/3/2024
Publication Year: 2021 A Message from the Surgeon General: "Every child’s path to adulthood—reaching developmental and emotional milestones, learning healthy social skills, and dealing with problems—is different and difficult. Many face added challenges along the way, often beyond their control. There’s no map, and the road is never straight. But the challenges today’s generation of young people face are unprecedented and uniquely hard to navigate. And the effect these challenges have had on their mental health is devastating. If we seize this moment, step up for our children and their families in their moment of need, and lead with inclusion, kindness, and respect, we can lay the foundation for a healthier, more resilient, and more fulfilled nation."
Recovery High Schools Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/3/2024
High schools for students in recovery have been available for 35 years, and touted as helpful recovery support services. Little is known, however, descriptively regarding what these entities are and do. This study outlined how these organizations describe their own strengths and needs using a qualitative investigation.
What Is Peer Support and What Is NOT Peer Support? Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	9/3/2024
A youth peer support specialist (YPSS) works with young people transitioning to adulthood, who are usually involved in a child-serving system (e.g., foster care, mental health) or experiencing a unique challenge. YPSSs are typically close in age with the young people they work with. YPSSs use their own lived experience with mental health and child-serving systems to relate and engage with the youth they serve. In their work together, YPSSs help youth to identify goals and advocate for themselves.
Workforce Development Guide for Youth  Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	8/20/2024
Publication Year: 2022 This guide weaves together the research and real-life experiences of current youth and leadership from workforce development programs. It provides an insight into what can strengthen a program and its impact on the youth they serve, which can then build stronger individuals, families, and communities and positively contribute to the labor market well into the future.
Peer Supports for Young Adults with SMI or SUD Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	3/31/2022
Presenters discuss developmentally and culturally relevant models of peer supports for young adults living with serious mental illness (SMI) or substance use disorders (SUD).
Where to Turn for Teens Link  [ more ] [ hide ]		Administration	1/24/2022
Where to Turn for Teens (WTTFTs) is a resource guide created especially for youth in King, Pierce, and Snohomish County, covering important topics like: Alcohol & Drugs Dating & Domestic Violence Eating Disorders LGBTQIA+ Homelessness & Running Away Suicide And many more! The agencies listed in WTTFTs can link youth to organizations providing a wide variety of services. The goal of WTTFTs is to make sure teens are aware of the many youth-friendly resources that exist and empower youth to seek help with the support of others.