The Value of Peers as Part of the Interdisciplinary Care Team
Information
Recorded
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Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
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Explain the Peer Support Model.
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Describe 3 ways Peer Support contributes to effective outcomes for people served.
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Identify 3 or more benefits of Peer Support specialists being on the treatment team.
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Evaluate the potential for including peer support specialists in the care team.
Description
There is a growing body of knowledge showing the benefits of peer support in behavioral health settings, yet there is still confusion about their role and what expertise they bring to the table. As person-centered, recovery-based models of care are becoming the norm, including peer specialists as an integral part of the team can improve patient participation and significantly improve outcomes.
Target Audience
- Social Worker
- Psychologist
- Peer Support Specialist
- Marriage & Family Therapist
- Counselor
- Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Presenters
Anna H. Gray, M.Ed., is a Certified Mental Health Peer Specialist and Certified Peer Supervisor in the State of Texas. After dealing with life-interrupting mental health issues, she found meaning in mental health advocacy and recovery work. She has worked in the mental health field for 38 years as a houseparent, crisis intervention team captain, emergency room psychiatric assessor, psychotherapist, advocate, Peer Support Specialist, Peer Support Specialist trainer, Peer Support Specialist curriculum developer, and Peer Support Specialists Supervisor. Most importantly, she uses her ongoing recovery from lived experience of mental health concerns to impact service systems and policy.
Anna is the co-founder of Prosumers International and serves as Executive Director. Prosumers International is a peer-run, peer-driven service provider dedicated to supporting people in their recovery journey. Prosumers are proactive in their recovery and provide back to their community. She currently co-owns PRO International, a consulting organization that specializes in integrating mental health recovery and peer programs. PRO International also provides training, coaching, and professional development services for peers, especially with the flagship program Focus for Life. Anna currently serves as the Vice-chair for the Texas Behavioral Health Advisory Committee and several sub-committees. Additionally, she serves as the Vice-chair of the Texas Joint Committee on Access and Forensic Services. She also served on the Board of the World Federation for Mental Health and continues to advocate, locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally, for the rights of people with mental health concerns. When Texas began certifying mental health community centers as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) in 2016, Anna began advocating for the
involvement of certified peers in the implementation of the peer services requirements of CCBHC, as well as the implementation standards for representation on boards and advisory committees. This is an ongoing focus of her advocacy. Since Recovering, resilient, and thriving, Anna stands for all people to have full lives.