The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) distributed applications for training in older adult peer support services. A cover letter, overview of the programs, and applications for the one-day and three-day training programs were sent to certified peer specialists, county mental health/mental retardation offices, and peer support service providers among others. Applications are also available on the Pennsylvania Recovery and Resiliency web site (www.parecovery.org/older_adult_news.shtml). All certified peer specialists are welcome to apply for either training program, but preference will be given to those aged 50 and older for the three-day, enhanced training. OMHSAS requests that providers and counties identify candidates for the three-day training program who are employed, or will be employed, as peer specialists working with older adults. The county mental health/mental retardation administrator’s office must complete a brief questionnaire as part of the application process for enhanced training that describes how it will ensure that the candidate utilizes the specialized skills and the county’s plans to expand peer support services for older adults. Applications must be postmarked by April 30 and sent to:
Carol Ward-Colasante
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
PO Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105
Contact Bill Boyer at OMHSAS (wboyer@state.pa.us or 717-705-8297) with questions.
The Pennsylvania Recovery and Resiliency web site includes additional information about peer support services. Links to questions and answers (Q&A) about peer support services and a topical index to the Q&As are available (www.parecovery.org/services_peer.shtml). The Medical Assistance bulletin, handbook pages, service description checklist, and other resources are also available through this page.
OMHSAS staff provided information about a recent National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, Office of Technical Assistance publication, Paving New Ground – Peers Working in In-Patient Settings (www.nasmhpd.org/consumernetworking.cfm). This guidebook is written by peers and presents a variety of peer support roles in institutional and hospital settings intended to enhance good practices and highlight how peers may contribute to reduction of violence and lessen the use of seclusion and restraint. The report identifies commonalities among various roles and settings, creative strategies, and things to avoid. Although the report addresses peer supports in inpatient settings, much of the information is applicable to these services in many venues.
