Information & DevelopmentS
Related to Peer Support & Culture2Culture
This page is dedicated to providing you with the most modern, promising and emerging Peer Support intelligence from around the globe as well as information about upcoming training's, events, conferences and everything else Peer Support related!
Cutlure-2-Culture Peer Support
"Exploring, Equipping and Empowering Recovery"
Welcome to Culture2Culture a Leader of Forensic Peer Support. We are a Schuylkill County and Northumberland County based provider of mental health and co-occurring peer support services, that has been engineered to transform cultures by authenticating lives, one community, and one person at a time. Our services are based on person-centered peer support, with a focus on community integration, inclusion, and involvement through personal empowerment.
"Advancing Recovery, Transforming Lives"
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What is Peer Support
Peer support is “a system of giving and receiving help founded on the key principles of respect, shared responsibility, and mutual agreement of what is helpful. ”
Mead, Hilton, and Curtis (2001)
......is to transform a Culture of Hopelessness into a Culture of Hopefulness one person and relationship at a time"
Schuylkill Reach
Schuylkill County REACH was formed in September 2017 to address the rise of opioid overdoses in Schuylkill County. During their most recent strategic planning session, Coalition members identified five priorities to guide their efforts over the first three years of coalition work:
Goal 1: Educate individuals and families about addiction and overdose to prevent initiation of substance use among Schuylkill County residents.
Goal 2: Ensure that all individuals have the opportunity for successful recovery and build supportive communities.
Goal 3: Eliminate barriers to increase access and utilization of Substance Use Disorder (SUD/Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment programs.
Goal 4: Eliminate stigma in Schuylkill County.
Goal 5: Coordinate efforts between law enforcement, the legal system, and treatment.
Click the link below to explore the Schuylkill Reach website
C2C... Shaping the Future of Recovery
Culture2Culture is founded on the principles of excellence, innovation, service and community and on these principles we will continue to advance and shape community-based recovery services in PA and beyond! Follow us on Facebook @c2cpeersupport
Informational Video Spotlight
What is Peer Support?
What does it mean?
Who can provide it?
How does it work?
...if you are asking yourself these questions, please check out this video.
A Look at the History of Peer Support Services in PA
Pennsylvania Peer Specialist Initiative - Click here ---> An Overview
Peer Support Services in Pennsylvania
In 2003, the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) committed to transforming the mental health system to include the development of services that facilitate and support recovery. Peer Specialist Services have been defined in Pennsylvania as one of these services.
In 2004, OMHSAS received a 3-year Mental Health Systems Transformation Grant award from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The grant provided for the development and refinement of a training curriculum and peer certification process known as the PA Peer Specialist Initiative (PSI).
On February 22, 2007, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved Pennsylvania’s Medicaid State Plan Amendment to include Peer Support Services as a component of rehabilitative services. This was accomplished through a broad partnership of individuals and organizations.
In 2008, OMHSAS partnered with The University pf Pennsylvania to develop a curriculum and training plan for Certified Peer Specialists to specialize in working with older adults.
Plans are in process for other peer specializations such as transitional age youth and forensics and further career development for peers.
Additional Resources Related to Peer Support
Regulatory and Funding Parameters for Peer Specialists in Supporting Employment
Peer Specialist Services by County, provided by the Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition
Pillars of Peer Support: Transforming Mental Health Systems of Care Through Peer Support Services, The Carter Center, November 2009.
Defining Peer Support, Shery Mead, March 2003
Peer Support: What Makes It Unique?, Shery Mead, December 2004
Training, Employment and Work Satisfaction Outcomes Associated With the Pennsylvania Certified Peer Specialist Initiative, August 23, 2007, Mark S. Salazar, PhD, and Jason Katz, University of Pennsylvania
Emerging New Practices in Organized Peer Support 2003: Report From NTAC's National Experts Meeting, March 2003
OMHSAS Peer Specialist Initiative Presentation
Certified Peer Specialist Outcomes in Pennsylvania, Mark Salzer, PhD, 2007
Peer Support/Peer Provided Services Underlying Processes, Benefits, and Critical Ingredients, Phyllis Solomon, 2005
Benefits of Working as a Certified Peer Specialist: Results From a Statewide Survey, Mark Salzer, PhD
Peer Support Best and Promising Practices, Presentation March 20, 2015
Interested in becoming a
Certified Peer Support Specialist
PA - OMHSAS Approved CPS Training and Certification Vendors
Recovery Innovations of Pennsylvania
Recovery Innovations of Pennsylvania is part of Recovery Innovations, Inc., a national company whose mission is“To create opportunities and environments that empower people to recover, to succeed in accomplishing their goals, and to connect to themselves, others, and meaning and purpose in life.” Recovery Innovations, Inc. achieves this mission by:
Demonstrating examples of recovery oriented systems of care in AZ, VA, CA and; NC.
Conducting workshops and seminars that offer service providers recovery oriented program and service alternatives
Conducting Peer Employment Training classes
Conducting WRAP classes
Offering a wide range of training opportunities such as Advanced Peer Training, Supervisory and Leadership Training and more.
Please visit web sites www.recoveryinnovations.org and www.recoveryopportunity.com to learn more about our work and service options.
The Institute for Recovery and Community Integration
The Institute for Recovery and Community Integration works to introduce and advance communities' understanding of recovery and community integration as the catalyst for transforming individual lives, communities, and all levels of behavioral health systems in a culturally competent manner. We do this through:
Workshops on recovery
On-site Recovery Education Groups
Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Groups
Training WRAP Facilitators
Operating a Peer Specialist Certificate Program and Online Forum for peer specialists
Providing technical assistance to agencies, service providers, and municipalities.
Please visit our web site at www.mhrecovery.org.
More Info about CPS Training and Updates
OVR and OMHSAS Memorandum of Understanding for CPS Training
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) are pleased to announce the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) stating the desire to work collaboratively to continue Certified Peer specialist (CPS) training in Pennsylvania. Under the terms of the MOU, funding may be provided in part by local OVR and in part by local mental health funding sources for OVR approved individuals/customers to participate in an OMHSAS approved 10-day, 75 hour CPS training program. The terms of the memorandum are available for review in entirety here. For any questions of further information please contact: OMHSAS, Bill Boyer (717-705-8297 or wboyer@state.pa.us) or OVR, Randy Loss, telephone (717-787-5136 or rloss@state.pa.us).
Pennsylvania Peer Support Coalition