The Recovery INSPIRER
Welcome to
Peer Voice NC's
Monthly Newsletter!
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North Carolina has joined 26 other states that have received federal funding from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to build a unified, vocal, and influential statewide peer and "consumer" movement, Peer Voice NC (PVNC)! This monthly update, along with weekly updates on PVNC's facebook page, will share progress, challenges and opportunities as PVNC evolves.
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What is a Statewide Peer/"Consumer" Organization?
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A statewide mental health peer and "consumer" organization is designated in each state to impact policies, practices and systems to facilitate recovery from mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorders.
Nationally, other statewide peer and "consumer" organizations have lead their states in establishing:
- Operation of peer-run networks, programs, trainings, certifications, and initiatives.
In our neighboring state, the
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
was the first to successfully get peer support funded by Medicaid and operates the state's Peer Support, Wellness and Respite Centers and Warm-Lines and, among other things, facilitates their statewide peer training and certification process.
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Peer Voice NC Is....
A Grassroots
MOVEMENT
that is
by Us, for Us
to challenge illness based systems and services
and have a valued voice and leadership
to impact social justice issues
and advance recovery and peer support policy, standards and practices
Guided by the
WISDOM
that can
only
be gained from being directly impacted
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Goal 1:
Establish an independent, statewide mental health peer and "consumer" organization through coalition building and investing in peer leadership
Goal 2
: Develop and operate a NC Peer and Recovery Technical Assistance Center to incubate, launch and disseminate innovative recovery and peer support related tools, resources, models and training
Goal 3:
Enhance
NCCPSS skills, knowledge and competencies by providing peer and recovery related continuing education and advanced education
Goal 4:
Enhance peer support supervisor skills, knowledge and competencies by providing peer and recovery related continuing education
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Meet the Strategic
Planning
Council
Dana Cea
Toya Hooper
Damie Jackson-Diop
Karen Gross
Ed Rothstein
Faith Rhyne
Christen Miller
Melissa Lewis
Elliot Palmer Jr.
Through a rigorous evaluation process, 9 members of the PVNC Strategic Planning Council were selected, and represent diverse lived experience, race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation and geography of NC.
The Council has collective experience with leadership, peer support, policy, advocacy and grassroots movements.
Congratulations PVNC Council Members and thank you!
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Currently, PVNC is organizing through topic based coalitions. These coalitions are led by people directly impacted by the issue(s) being addressed and are
OPEN
to anyone with expressed interest, including allies and family members. If you are interested in joining a PVNC coalition, make a request on the PVNC facebook page. Be sure check in weekly for updates from each coalition at:
www.facebook.com/pvncprn/
Current PVNC Coalitions:
- Peer Justice Initiative (PJI)
- Peer Wellness Centers Pilot
- Recovery Alternatives to Forced Treatment (RAFT)
- Peer Support Standards
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Peer Wellness Center Pilot
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In its effort to create peer-run alternatives and enhancements to traditional treatments, the Peer Wellness Center
workgroup reviewed national standards for peer and "consumer"-operated organizations, fidelity tools, and examples of peer wellness centers and research. A written report and recommendation was submitted to NC DHHS to fund two (2) Peer Wellness Centers in a rural and urban area, networked and supported by an existing NC peer/"consumer"-run organization that can provide mentoring, training/TA, and administrative support to build capacity.
The vision is for both Peer Wellness Centers to expand to operate peer-run respites within their local community. Without capacity building,
Peer Operated Respite Services
are not a statewide option at this time. PVNC conducted a survey regarding PORS and made recommendations to NC DHHS:
Click Here for the PORS Report
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Recovery Alternatives to Forced Treatment (RAFT) Coalition
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PVNC's RAFT coalition is comprised of people impacted by involuntary hospitalization, family members, clinicians and lawyers that are gathering data and examining the use of involuntary commitment (IVC) in NC including:
- Volume of IVC across each region
- Reasons for IVC (policies, legal, beliefs, liability, community gaps)
- Alternatives to IVC (national and international models and policies)
- Impact of IVC (trauma, cost, service engagement, human rights, etc.)
- Strategies to expand community-based recovery alternatives
Did you know?
- The average cost of NC hospitalization is $2,098/day (Henry K. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2017)
- The average length of stay in NC psychiatric hospitals is 4-10 days (Henry K. Kaiser Family Foundation, 2017)
- Mecklenburg County alone has 15,000 IVC's/year
- Regional NC IVC data is not published
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Study Concludes
"...We have a VERY SERIOUS safety and trauma inducing issue..."
This study examined the suicide risk within one year of psychiatric hospitalization and whether perceived coercion during admission increased risk of post discharge suicide attempts.
"Of 905 participants, 67% endorsed perception of coercion into psychiatric hospitalization, and 168 (19%) made a post discharge suicide attempt.
Patients who perceived coercion during hospitalization admission were more likely to make a suicide attempt after discharge than those who did not, even after adjusting for established covariates.
67% experienced coercion and had increased suicide attempts post discharge. We have a very serious safety and trauma inducing issue"
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Involuntary Hospitalization Increases Risk of Suicide
A new study suggests that the common practice of forced hospitalization for mental health concerns may be doing more harm than good. People who felt they were coerced into being hospitalized against their will were more likely to attempt suicide...
Read more
www.madinamerica.com
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Peer Justice Initiative (PJI)
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PJI is comprised of NCCPSS with lived criminal justice experience that are organizing to 1) establish a NC "Forensic Peer Support" (FPS) credential, 2) utilize nationally recognized FPS training to build the NC FPS workforce, 3) impact criminal justice reform efforts, and 4) advocate for FPS integrated into diversion, re-entry, and jail/prison efforts.
*Save the Date:
the first NC FPS training will occur December 9-11, 2019 in Charlotte, NC. For more information including location, costs, and eligibility, click on the announcement below or go to
www.facebook.com/pvncprn
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SAVE THE DATE!
Forensic Peer Support Training
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From Prison to Purpose - Georgia DBHDD
The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Read more
www.youtube.com
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Peer Support Standards
Peer Support Standards are inclusive of statewide training and continuing education, specialty credentialing, certification and re-certification, supervision, rates, service definitions/clinical coverage policies, selection, training and oversight of providers, opportunities for peer-run programs and organizations, development of a PSS trade association, and salary, employment and equity issues for the NCCPSS workforce.
Due to the expansive nature of this area, several project based initiatives are occurring or being formed. The current one is being led by PVNC Strategic Planning Council members in conjunction with peer support providers, examining the recent Peer Support Service definition and clinical coverage policy, identifying strategic partnerships, recommendations and advocacy opportunities.
New PSS Service Definition
Questions and concerns regarding the new PSS service definition and Clinical Coverage Policy has resulted in PVNC doing the following:
- Convening 2 planning sessions with NCCPSS, peer support providers, family members and PVNC Strategic Planning Council
- Having a call with the DOJ Reviewer to discuss the recommendations from the Olmstead Settlement specific to peer support
- Successfully urging DHHS and DMA to host a webinar to clarify the proposed changes. Over 90 participants joined the call.
- Established a document of "talking points" that included questions about:
- calculations for the proposed rate
- inclusion of NCCPSS and other content experts in the development of the definition/policy
- clarification of authorizations and limited "units"
- clarification about CST serving as a "rule out" for standalone PSS given that peer support is an optional component of the CS team
- the urgent need to partner with statewide peer leaders to be successful with the settlement and ensure integrity of peer support in NC
- discuss other valuable role(s) for people with lived experience in NC
- share concerns that there is NO funding stream for standalone peer-run organizations to offer peer support
- the need for peer-operated alternatives and enhancements to traditional treatments
- the need to overtly include the role of NCCPSS in social determinants of health, expanding the definition to incorporate support in 8 Dimensions of Wellness
- questions about whether funding for peer support will be values based or continue as a fee for service
- concerns about salary inequities and higher productivity standards for peer support compared to QP, social worker and other team members
For future opportunities to be involved in the establishment of peer support standards, check in to the PVNC facebook page each week at
www.facebook.com/pvncprn/
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PVNC is currently working on the following:
- PVNC Website (coming soon!)
- NC Peer Support White Paper
- Development of formal recommendations for the future of peer support
- 2-Day Peer Leadership Forum for current and emerging leaders to learn about policy, legislative change, grassroots organizing and to develop a shared statewide agenda for peer support
- Training of trainers for forensic peer support
- Peer support and supervisor CEU's
- Housing First Trainer training for NCCPSS that have experienced homelessness or have lived in congregate care
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