Montana s Peer Network is looking to contract with an LCSW or LCPC in the Bozeman/Livingston area to provide clinical supervision for a local mental health and substance abuse recovery pilot project. Visit www.mtpeernetwork.org for the full application package. Welcome and thank you for your interest in our ad. In this application package you will find a project outline, position description, self-evaluation, peer support education and instructions on how to apply. Project Outline Montana s Peer Network Recovery Coach Pilot Project Peer support is considered a key component to mental health and substance abuse recovery and is recognized as such worldwide. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration) considers peer support an evidence based practice. The use of peer supporters (recovery coaches) in Montana is sporadic due to limited funding it is also program based. Peer supporters may be available but only as part of a Drop in Center for example. Locally we have Open Arms Drop in Center in Bozeman and Peer Solutions Drop in Center in Livingston. This pilot project will allow for community based recovery coaches (peer supporters) to work with a variety of agencies and individuals. Montana s Peer Network believes this is a unique opportunity to achieve many long and short term goals extending far beyond the lifecycle of the grant period. In keeping with the mission and goals of the Montana Peer Support Task Force this pilot project will look to not only provide peer services to those in need but build template for future programs statewide. This pilot project is funded through the State of Montana Addictive and Mental Disorder Division with via made available by the Montana Mental Health Trust. Montana s Peer Network Recovery Coach Pilot Project will provide 2 community based recovery coaches to Gallatin and Park County. The recovery coaches will receive a series of trainings including 40 hour Peer Support 101, trauma informed care, wellness and recovery planning, and whole health education. There will also be ongoing training and education, clinical supervision, and the development of other supports as need throughout the lifespan of the project. This project is expected to be funded until June 30, 2015. Some of these activities provided by the pilot project will include: o Working in conjunction with the Mobile Crisis Response Team as an additional resource o Will respond as needed and when appropriate to those in crisis via the established triage system o On site will provide peer support as an alternative option to more intensive/costly services o Coordinate with community resources/stakeholders to reduce high cost impacts of crisis on community system
o Provide weekly recovery coaching as follow up to those who choose peer support as part of their own recovery from mental illness and or substance abuse o Community based peer support recovery group o One on one Recovery Coaching (peer support) o Support and assist with the development of self-directed wellness and recovery plans o Act as a role model for wellness and recovery o Provide whole health education and information o Act as a catalyst for systems change o Carry a message that Recovery is Possible o Cultural shift from medical model to recovery model o Community presentations on recovery and wellness o Integration of peer services and trauma informed care community wide o Development of peer services toolkit Job descriptions, evaluation tools, clinical supervision, education, ethics and standards, recovery models, best practices, sustainability, data, and a template for replicability o Montana s Peer Network will work to develop supports to the Recovery Coaches as needed to ensure staff is well trained, educated and able to maintain their own wellness o Development of a support for the supporters program o Mentoring o Pilot a program for clinical supervision Lastly this pilot project will also seek to collect data and evaluate the impacts of community based recovery coaches in a number of areas. Dr. Nathan Munn, Helena College is the contractor who will conduct the evaluation portion of the pilot project. Areas of evaluation will include but is not limited to: o reduction in reutilization of high cost crisis services o overall effectiveness of community based peer services o improved outcomes (wellness) of individuals being served o feasibility of statewide implementation o environmental conditions that allow for successful community based peer services o training and supports for Recovery Coaches o long term sustainability of peer services Programs of this nature in other states have been able to demonstrate effectiveness and substantial cost savings through the use of peer services in an existing system. We will look to replicate those results By utilizing the evaluation data collected during this project we will be able to create a cost benefit analysis which will be used for sustainability by the community if they choose and replication purposes statewide
Position Description Clinical Supervisor Expectations: LCSW or LCPC to contract with Montana s Peer Network provide clinical supervision for 2 Recovery Coaches (peer supporters) Available for consultation 3-5 hours a month as needed Compassionate holistic approach to wellness and recovery Compatible philosophical view to mental health Stable moral qualities of character Trauma informed approach Clinical supervisor should be able to: Understand peer support and recovery concepts Evaluate the practical application of those concepts as they relate to this pilot project Monitor the wellbeing of the recovery coaches over project period Make recommendations as necessary to enhance the program effectiveness Provide constructive professional feedback Complete consistent objective reports Development of support for supporter program with Montana s Peer Network Self Evaluation Provider Peer Support Readiness Self-Assessment This Provider Peer Support Readiness Self-Assessment tool was designed by the Montana Peer Support Task Force to assist organizations in the creation, development and or enhancement of peer services in their organization. In order to ensure success of peer services in an organization, vital components are needed to facilitate a recovery oriented culture. It has been adapted for our purposes. Please answer yes or no to the following questions.
Yes or No 1. I engage in regular community mental health education activities around wellness and recovery 2. I promotes the 10 components of recovery with every client 3. I believe peer support staff is an added benefit to the treatment team 4. I promote recovery and wellness to the best of my ability with all my clients 5. I routinely suggest peer support to my clients 6. I offer flexible hours for clients in recovery 7. I use recovery oriented language when interacting with my clients 8. Trauma informed care is an integral part of my delivery of services 9. I routinely explore learning opportunities around wellness and recovery for myself 10. Maintaining my wellness is of high importance to me Total number of Yes answers A score of 8 to 10 indicates you are more than likely ready to implement peer services in your organization. If you answered 5 to 7 indicates you may need to continue to work on some of the key components to peer services before starting but you are on your way. If you scored 0 to 4 you may not be ready to implement peer services in your organization. Peer Support Education The Gift of Peer Support by Larry Fricks, Deputy Director Center for Integrated Health Solutions A peer provider (e.g., certified peer specialist, peer support specialist, recovery coach) is a person who uses his or her lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or addiction, plus skills learned in formal training, to deliver services in behavioral health settings to promote mind-body recovery and resiliency. Peer providers are often hired because of their recovery experience, rather than their clinical education. This puts peer providers in the unique position of being service providers who have lived experience in successfully addressing the impact of the illness rather than just the symptoms of the illness. The perspective and unique abilities of peer support providers strengthen the integrated care team in many ways. There are six key gifts peer providers bring to the integrated care team:
1. The Gift of Insight. Internalized shame shatters a person s sense of self-worth. For many, the impact on their daily lives and interactions can be harder to overcome than the symptoms of their illness. Peer providers have insight on how internalized shame results from discrimination, social exclusion, poverty, homelessness, and hopelessness. 2. The Gift of Been There, Done That. Peer providers eliminate the you do not know what it s like excuse. Peer providers can make others living with mental illnesses or addictions feel comfort in the fact that they are not alone; they have a person on their side that has been through similar experiences and has gotten through them. 3. The Gift of Compassion. Because of their lived experience, peer support providers understand and are inherently grateful for the very services they are now providing to others. This gratitude often manifests itself in deep compassion for their peers. 4. The Gift of Hope. Working with someone who has moved from hopelessness to hope is extremely empowering. People can often see themselves in the peer providers, which gives them hope over their whole health. 5. The Gift of Trust. Peer providers are in a unique position to develop a relationship of trust. Peers are often more willing to share their real issues, concerns, hopes, and dreams with a peer provider rather than non-peer, clinical staff. 6. The Gift of Whole- Health Self-Management. Peer providers have developed the gift of selfmanaging their lives holistically, including both mind and body. This experience with selfmanaging their whole health is one of the most powerful gifts peer providers can give. They have learned to recognize triggers and early warning signs, counteract the negative impact of stress, and create plans for taking care of themselves. Link - Intentional Peer Support Link - International Practice Guidelines for Peer Support Instructions on how to apply We will accept submissions until February 2, 2014. Send resume and letter of inquiry including a brief description as to why you are interested in applying for this position to Jim Hajny Executive Director Montana s Peer Network - jim@mtpeernetwork.org If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact me either by email or phone at 551-1058 Sincerely, Montana s Peer Network