In the Community. County Peer Liaison Program. Inside this issue: Special points of interest: Volume 1, Issue 1, June Peers Linking Peers

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1 Peers Linking Peers Your Bridge to Self Advocacy Volume 1, Issue 1, June 2009 Peers Linking Peers County Peer Liaison Program Inside this issue: System Transformation Flow Monthly Community Meetings MHSA Fund 4 Peer Liaison Program 5 Mental Health System of Care Council Meetings Meet the Peer Liaisons Special points of interest: System Transformation Flow Chart Community Meeting Schedule MHSA Fund Peer Liaisons have been working in and around the community with our mental health partners. We have provided educational training about recovery, wellness, the Recovery Pathways of hope, choice, empowerment, recovery culture, and spirituality/meaning and purpose, and information about services provided by Recovery Innovations of California. In the Community We have partnered with NAMI, Mental Health America, the PERT training, Tri-City Behavioral Community Connection Health, Mountain Wellness Fair in Campo, Friend to Friend, Safe Haven and Downtown Safe Haven, and the California Network of Mental Health Clients to name a few. We have provided many brief workshops to inspire hope in our service providers, people served by our San Diego Adult and Older Adult Mental Health System of Care, and their family members. As we provide information in an educational format, and then infuse it with real stories of recovery, a bit of laughter, and some serious discussion about the interaction between service providers and service recipients, we build deep and honest relationships with our community. As we attend the many County meetings we are inspired by our system s transparency, its willingness to accept feedback, and the leaders who call on us to contribute in ways that will bring as many voices to the table as possible. As we provide focus groups, area meetings, forums, and interest groups in many locations throughout the County, we gather input from people served by our system and their families. Their words call our attention to needs. As we accumulate information, we can often quantify the numbers of people who have similar issues so that we can trend concerns. We then bring this information back to the County so that each month they get a snapshot look at what people are saying, needs that are evident, and ideas for improving our mental health system. While we have undergone extensive training to develop our ability to use our lived experience of recovery in effective ways, we know that we must continuously improve our skills. Having completed Peer Employment Training is just the first step on our journey. We also have completed Transformational Advocacy to learn the skill and art of advocacy. We have also learned about teamwork, collaboration, advocacy, conflict management, and public speaking. As we go forward, we look to you for feedback, for information to carry forward, and for encouragement to do this great work. We ll be seeing you in the community. - Lisa St George, MSW, CPRP

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3 Volume 1, Issue 1, June 2009 Page 3 Monthly Community Meetings Community and County meetings are held once a month where interest group representatives are recruited to participate and bring forth their voices. Focus groups will be held concentrating on County and advocacy issues. Community concerns and advocacy issues gathered are presented to the County. Information gathered from County meetings will be disseminated into the community. The public is encouraged to attend for your ideas and suggestions are valuable. North Rural, Peer Liaison Ken Peters Meeting still in development North Coastal, Peer Liaisons Susan Gates & Ken Peters Last Wed. of Month, June 24, 2009 Second Thurs. of Month, July 9, :30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Oceanside Library, 330 North Coast Hwy, Oceanside No. Coastal Mental Health Center, 1701 Mission Ave Ste A, Oceanside North Inland, Peer Liaisons Mary Jo O Brien & Ken Peters First Monday of Month, June 1, 2009 & July 6, :00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Escondido Clubhouse, 474 W. Vermont Ave, Escondido, Central, Peer Liaisons Sandy Opsal (N. Central I 8 & I 15), David Jurgensen (Central Downtown to I 8 & I 15), and Maureen Swan (East Central I 15 to Division St) Fourth Thursday of Month, June 25, 2009 & July 23, :00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Mission Valley Library, 2123 Fenton Pkwy San Diego East County, Peer Liaisons Laura Wiseman & Michelle Wagner First Monday of Month, June 1, 2009 & July 6, 2009 El Cajon Library, 201 E. Douglas, El Cajon :30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. East Rural, Peer Liaison Michelle Wagner Fourth Friday of Month, June 26, 2009 & July 26, :00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. First Baptist Church of Willows, 3520 Alpine Blvd, Alpine South Bay, Peer Liaisons Dora Catalano (No. South Bay Division to J St) & Mia Alvarado (So. South Bay J St to Border) Third Thursday of Month, June 18, 2009 & July 16, :00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Chula Vista Library Civic Center, 365 F St., Chula Vista, County Wide Regional Meeting Third Monday of Month, July 20, :00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Health Service Complex (Coronado Room), 3851 Rosecrans St., San Diego 92110

4 Volume 1, Issue 1, June 2009 Page 4 Your Fund: The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Fund In 2004, California voters passed Prop 63 which became law in Prop 63 taxes 1% of California resident earning over $1 million. The tax money goes into MHSA fund to create, expand, and enhance or improve mental health services. MHSA has six components including a Housing Program to improve access and quality of mental health services to children, adults, and older adults. The components and its implementation process are detailed below: Community Program Planning: An Ongoing input process for stakeholders like us to give our voices on how mental health programs are developed and improved. Since 2005, each MHSA program phase of development has included participation from San Diego County Mental Health Board and System of Care Councils, as well as individuals, stakeholders, and organizations in the mental health community. This is all done through public forums, surveys, focus groups, and submission comments to the MHSA comment/ question line and via . MHSA/Prop 63 Comment/Question Line: or or MHSProp63.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov. Community Services & Support (CSS): CSS programs are designed with intention to access underserved and un-served people with mental health challenges throughout the County using integrated, recoverybased, and whatever it takes services to reach those most in need. There are currently 99 CSS programs in San Diego County including homeless services, supported housing, supported employment, SSI/Legal Aid, intensive case management, advocacy, mobile outreach, and peer-operated services such as our Peer Liaison Program. There is one administrative project in the works, the purchase of Management Information Systems (MIS). Prevention & Early Intervention (PEI): PEI programs provide education in mental health and wellness so that early detection and interventions are available and integrated into communities outside of the mental health settings. Some possible locations are physical health centers, schools, drug and alcohol, and other community organizations. There are 18 programs out for contract bids. Some examples include positive parenting, school-based, rural integrated behavioral health and primary care, first break of mental health challenges, community violence, and trauma exposed services. Workforce Education & Training (WET): WET s mission is to create a culturally competence workforce of peers and their family members to promote wellness recovery and resiliency in the mental health field of employment. These positions include peer support specialists, peer trainers, peer career pathway counselors, and peer nurses and psychiatrists. WET has five funding categories: Workforce Staffing Support, Training & Technical Assistance, Mental Health Career Pathway Programs, Residency & Internship Programs, and Financial Incentive Programs including scholarship and stipend. WET proposals were submitted to the State in May and are awaiting approval. Capital Facilities & Technological Needs (CF/TN): CF/TN is comprised of two parts. The first, Capital Facilities, provide facilities dedicated to MHSA services or administration of services. This does not include Housing or temporary facilities. The second, Technological Needs, is designed to provide culturally and linguistically accessible technology and tools to people receiving services and their families. This will allow them to securely and conveniently access and manage personal health care information. TN also focuses on modernizing and trans- forming clinical and administrative information systems to improve quality of care In May, the Peer Liaison Program held 10 focus groups in board & cares, clubhouses, and dual diagnosis centers throughout the County to gather community ideas and input for the County. Innovation (INN): INN is a component of MHSA to test novel ideas for mental health practices. It will run for a limited time to determine if their success warrants future funding. The 30-day public review period was extended until the end of July in order to gather more public input for proposed programs. Peer Liaisons will participate in gathering input through focus groups. Some proposed projects offer the following services: North County peer mobility management, physical and mental integration, and wellness and self-regulation for children and youth. If you are interested in having us hold focus groups in your neighborhood, please contact Karin Lettau, Peer Liaison Team Lead at or karin.lettau@recoveryinnovations.org. Enhancements for program improvements are possible when taxes collected are more than what was estimated. Proposals for Enhancement spending are open for 30-day public review and comment occurring monthly at Mental Health Board meetings. We will update you on Enhancement proposals and input process in future editions of the newsletter and at our Area Monthly Meetings. A great state and local resource with more information can be found in the San Diego County Network of Care Website/MHSA Page: CountyContent/San-Diego/Mental- Health-Services-Act-Information.cfm. - Karin Lettau, MS, CRC

5 Volume 1, Issue 1, June 2009 Page 5 The Peer Liaison Program The Peer Liaison Program is designed to serve as a two-way conduit or bridge between the Mental Health County Administration and our mental health community. Our goals are: 1. To increase the involvement, participation, and partnership of individuals receiving or requiring services in the County Mental Health System and their families. 2. To address the needs of people in the most meaningful way by engaging individuals to participate in system change by educating them on County issues that affect people s lives and providing an avenue for feedback from people within their communities to the County. Peer Liaisons are visiting interest groups at the following: clubhouses, board & cares, mental health clinics, homeless, and dual diagnosis centers among others. We briefly educate people on important issues, gather input, and invite people to attend monthly Area meetings we host in all communities of San Diego County: North Rural, North Coastal, North Inland, Central/ North Central, East County, East Rural, and South Bay. You may refer to the System Transformation Flow diagram on page two of this newsletter as an overview. A listing of Peer Liaison contacts for each Area is also included on the last page. In our Area meetings we cover County issues in depth, gather input from the community for the County, and provide a forum for discussion. People are also invited to attend our monthly Regional Meetings held on the third Monday from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. in the Coronado Room at the Health Service Complex, 3851 Rosecrans St. San Diego This meeting is located in the Central Region of San Diego and is easily accessible by trolley, bus and/or coaster from all regions of the County. The County-Wide Regional Meetings will feature speakers on important topics affecting people with mental health challenges. We are proud to have Brian Maienschein speak on homelessness at our next Regional Meeting taking place on July 20th. Mr. Maienschein is a former Councilman for San Diego City Council s Fifth District. He has signed on with United Way of San Diego County to spearhead their Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. According to United Way Online, Maienschein will work with local government elected officials, social service agencies, community groups, nonprofit organizations and the private sector to reduce chronic homelessness by coordinating housing and supportive services such as mental health treatment. (United Way Online). Peer Liaisons give community feedback to the County and gather information by attending up to 20 monthly meetings held by the County of San Diego Mental Health System of Care. Please join us for your monthly Area Meetings and the monthly Regional Meetings! Dates, times, and location for all is listed on page three. Your ideas, thoughts, and words matter. Come share them with your County Peer Liaisons! - Karin Lettau, MS, CRC

6 Recovery Innovations of California Mental Health System of Care Council Meetings 2047 El Cajon Blvd San Diego, CA Peer Liaisons attend Mental Health System of Care Council Meetings consisting of the following: Phone: Fax: Funding provided through the County of San Diego Behavioral Health and Human Services Agency Adult and Older Adult Mental Health Services Adult Council Older Adult Council Cultural Competency (CCRT) Family & Youth Roundtable Housing Council Residential Care Mental Health Coalition MHSA Planning Mental Health Board Transition Age Youth (TAY) North County Central/North Central East South Case Management Meet the Peer Liaisons The Peer Liaison Services program assists people to advocate for their needs and rights. We act as a two way conduit to gather and disseminate information between the Mental Health System of Care in San Diego and the people receiving services and their families. We provide hope, encouragement, information and connection to the community through county-wide neighborhood forums, focus groups, county meeting attendance, and our monthly newsletter. Your ideas, thoughts, and words matter, come share them with your County Peer Liaisons. Karin Lettau: karin.lettau@recoveryinnovations.org Ken Peters: ken.peters@recoveryinnovations.org Susan Gates: susan.gates@recoveryinnovations.org Mary Jo O Brien: maryjo.obrien@recoveryinnovations.org Sandy Opsal: sandra.opsal@recoveryinnovations.org David Jurgensen: david.jurgensen@recoveryinnovations.org Maureen Swan: maureen.swan@recoveryinnovations.org Laura Wiseman: laura.wiseman@recoveryinnovations.org Michelle Wagner: michelle.wagner@recoveryinnovations.org Dora Catalano: dora.catalano@recoveryinnovations.org Mia Alvarado: mia.alvardo@recoveryinnovations.org Two way conduit of information.