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Topic: Peer Support in Mental Health Recovery
Location: Cally’s
Convened: 1:00 pm
Attendees and Affiliations:
Mike Newcomb, Rachel Spitzer, Nancy Obaugh, Sam Nickels, John Otenesak, Lee Van Orden
Notes:
Using peer support in more aspects of mental health. Mental health consumers may open up to peer specialists (fellow consumers) more than a counselor,case manager, psychiatrist, etc. – this makes peer support specialists an essential part of the mental health treatment team. Peer specialists currently play little role in treatment plan of consumer. Using peer support as preventative care to help “revolving door” hospitalizations, prevent crisis, etc.
Virginia Comprehensive Services Act states: It is a 1993 Virginia Law that provided for the pooling of eight specific funding streams used to purchase services for high-risk youth. These funds are returned to the localities with a required state/ local match and are managed by local interagency teams. The purpose of the act is to provide high quality, child centered, family focused, cost effective, community-based services to high-risk youth and their families. This is not happening because of funding, politics and bureaucracy. Harrisonburgnews.com – online resource for nonprofits to share ideas.
Contacts for more information: rachelm1123 [at] hotmail.com and mikenewcomb74 [at] yahoo.com
