Certified Missouri Peer Specialists

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Certified Missouri Peer Specialists

• Missouri Department of Mental Health
• Peer Specialist Initiative
• A Program of Recovery and Hope

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Overview of the Peer specialist initiative

• The Department of Mental Health, Division of
  Comprehensive Psychiatric Services State Advisory
  Council members researched and chose a Peer
  Specialist training and certification model.
  Based on the Council recommendations, the
  Division adopted the Appalachian Consulting Group
  Georgia Model for Peer Specialist training.
• The Division and the Office of Transformation are
  committed to following through on the Council
  recommendations to move the mental health system
  to a wellness model that empowers individuals to
  establish their personal mental health goals and
  manage both their mental health and plan of care
  through education and supports.

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Overview of the Peer specialist initiative (Cont.)

• One primary strategy in transforming the system
  is to recognize the power of consumer as
  providers. Recognizing consumers as providers is
  taking root in the mental health system.
  Emerging evidence strongly supports the need for
  peer support services as a cost-effective and
  complementary adjunct to professional mental
  health services and supports.
• Peer support services can move the system to
  focus less on illness and disability and more on
  wellness. To accomplish this goal, Missouri has
  provided equal weight to expertise gained through
  the lived experience as is done with other
  credentials or knowledge base.

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Overview of the Peer specialist initiative (Cont.)

• A Peer Specialist can share lived experiences of
  recovery, share and support the use of recovery
  tools and model successful recovery behaviors.
• Through this process, consumers can learn to
  identify their strengths and personal resources,
  learn to make independent choices, and take a
  proactive role in their treatment. Additionally,
  Peer Specialists can help consumers connect with
  other consumers and with their community at
  large.

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Overview of the Peer specialist initiative (Cont.)

• 2008-2010
• With the oversight of the State Advisory Council,
  six Peer Specialist Basic Trainings were
  conducted in 2008-2010. The trainings were
  conducted in Jefferson City, St. Louis, Kansas
  City and Columbia. The week-long trainings were
  conducted by trained individuals employed by the
  department and Mental Health America of the
  Heartland. Six Missouri Peer Specialist Trainers
  have been trained, two of which are Council
  members.

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Current Statistics on Missouri Peer Specialists

• 157 individuals have been trained and 90 have
  reached the goal of Certified Missouri Peer
  Specialist status.
• 20 community mental health centers have sent
  individuals to the training and 16 have certified
  peer specialists working in their agencies.
• 10 Consumer Operated Services Program Drop-In
  Centers and Warm Lines sent individuals to the
  training.
• 2 State-operated psychiatric hospitals have hired
  peer specialists
• Additionally, the Veterans Administration,
  residential providers, Services for Independent
  Living, and two substance abuse treatment agency
  have sent individuals to the training
• 3 Peer Specialist Supervisor Trainings have been
  conducted
• 1 presentation was given at the Missouri
  Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association conference
  in September 2009.

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First Stage of Recovery

• IMPACT OF ILLNESS
• There are times in a persons life when they are
  OVERWHELMED by the disabling power of a diagnosis
  or mental illness.
• Danger The Danger at this stage is that someone
  will redefine themselves as their Diagnosis and
  limit their Future.

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First Stage of Recovery

• The Role of the Peer Specialist
• It is the role of the Peer Specialist to help
  someone see that there is more to life then their
  diagnosis
• Peer Specialist Recovery Tool
• A Peer Specialist can use their own Recovery
  Story to help someone see that there is more to
  life than a diagnosis.
• A Recovery Story can help someone see that they
  are not alone and that there is Hope

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Second Stage of Recovery

• LIFE IS LIMITED
• There are times in a persons life when they have
  GIVEN INTO or IS LIMITED BY the disabling power
  of a diagnosis or mental illness
• Danger The Danger in this stage is that a person
  will not see any possibilities. A person is
  unable to see that they can make a difference in
  their life.

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Second Stage of Recovery

• The Role of the Peer Specialist
• It is the Role of the Peer Specialist to help
  someone see the possibilities in their life. A
  peer specialist can help to show someone Hope.
• Peer Specialist Recovery Tool
• During this stage, a Peer Specialist can use the
  Recovery Tool- Dissatisfaction As and Avenue of
  Change- to help someone see the possibilities in
  their life.
• This Tool helps a person identify where they are
  dissatisfied and help them see how to change it.

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Third Stage of Recovery

• CHANGE IS POSSIBLE
• There are times is a persons life when they are
  ACTIVELY QUESTIONING the disabling power of a
  diagnosis or mental illness.
• Danger The Danger of this stage is that someone
  might become afraid or discouraged from taking
  the necessary risks in their Recovery and they
  will stay in the Life is Limited stage.

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Third stage of recovery

• The Role of the Peer Specialist
• The Role of the Peer Specialist is to provide
  support and to show someone that their life is
  NOT Limited. A Peer Specialist can help someone
  face their fears.
• Peer Specialist Recovery Tool
• During this stage, a Peer Specialist can use the
  Recovery Tool- Facing Ones Fears- to help
  someone face their fears about making changes in
  their life.

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Fourth stage of Recovery

• COMMITTMENT TO CHANGE
• There are times in a persons life when they are
  CHALLENGING the disabling power of a diagnosis or
  mental illness.
• Danger The danger of this stage is that a person
  wont have support, resources, or skill necessary
  to make changes in their life.

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Fourth Stage of Recovery

• The Role of The Peer Specialist
• It is the Role of the Peer Specialist to help
  provide the necessary support, resources, and
  skills that someone will need to make changes in
  their life. A Peer Specialist can also share
  strategies bases on their own experiences.
• Peer Specialist Recovery Tool
• During this stage a Peer Specialist can use their
  own experience and resources to help someone find
  all of the support they need to make changes in
  their life.

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Fifth Stage of Recovery

• ACTIONS FOR CHANGE
• There are times in a persons life when they have
  MOVED BEYOND the disabling power of a diagnosis
  or mental illness.
• Danger The danger at this stage is that a
  person will begin to doubt their own ability to
  function on their own. They will not trust their
  own decision making process and revert back to
  life lived within the system.

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Fifth Stage of Recovery

• The Role of the Peer Specialist
• It is the Role of the Peer Specialist to help a
  person trust their own decision making ability
  and take responsibility.
• Peer Specialist Recovery Tool
• During this stage, a Peer Specialist can teach
  someone the Problem Solving Tool commonly
  referred to as PICBA. This tool gives someone
  the skills they need to face any problem and make
  good decisions.

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Recovery is a circle
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Future Trainings

• Additional Peer Specialist Basic Trainings and
  Supervisor trainings are being planned.
• Additionally, there are plans for a more cohesive
  network to be formed with regular conference
  calls of the trained individuals to provide
  ongoing support and consultation. Continuing
  education trainings are being planned to enhance
  Peer Specialist skills on trauma-informed care,
  ethics, employment and wellness.
• For more information go to the Peer Specialist
  Website at
• www.peerspecialist.org