Overcoming Barriers and Recognizing the Unique Value of Including Peer Support Specialists with Prior Justice Involvement in Recovery-Presentation Slides

Presentation Slides

Pdf Summary

This document appears to be a transcript or notes from a webinar titled "Overcoming Barriers & Recognizing the Unique Value of Peer Support Specialists with Prior Justice Involvement." The webinar is part of the Clinical Support System for Serious Mental Illness (CSS-SMI) initiative, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and implemented by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). The webinar focuses on the value of peer support specialists with prior justice involvement and strategies to overcome stigma and promote their integration into clinical services.<br /><br />The webinar features several speakers, including Amy Brinkley from the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), Tony Sanchez from Faces and Voices of Recovery, Justin Volpe, a Peer Support Specialist, and Dr. Debra A. Pinals from the University of Michigan Medical School and the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services. The speakers discuss the history of peer support and the current state of peer services for individuals with felony backgrounds.<br /><br />They also highlight the importance of peer certification and the availability of reimbursement for peer services through Medicaid, Medicare, and private managed behavioral health care entities. The speakers present case studies from Miami-Dade County and Georgia on the effectiveness of peer support in reducing recidivism rates and improving outcomes for individuals with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system.<br /><br />Overall, the webinar emphasizes the need to recognize the unique perspective and value that peer support specialists with prior justice involvement bring to the mental health field. It encourages clinicians to collaborate with peer support specialists, break down discriminatory practices, and promote policies that support the integration and professionalization of peer support in the healthcare system.<br /><br />Additional resources and references are provided for further exploration of the topics discussed in the webinar.

Keywords

Peer Support Specialists

Prior Justice Involvement

Clinical Support System

Stigma

Integration into Clinical Services

Reimbursement for Peer Services

Recidivism Rates

Mental Illness

Collaboration with Peer Support Specialists

Professionalization of Peer Support