1. Best Practices in Peer Support
November 16, 2017
Audio: (888) Participant Code #
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2. Today’s Panelists Shannon Carr Austin Area Mental Health Consumers
Anna Gray
Janet Paleo
Prosumers
Tommy Higgs
Depression Connection for Recovery
Robin Peyson
Communities for Recovery

3. The Via Hope Peer Run Organizations Project (PROP)
Peer Run Organizations play a vital role in a recovery-oriented behavioral health system. Since 2012, Via Hope has coordinated projects that support Consumer Operated Service Providers (COSPs) and related peer-run organizations.
The Peer Run Organizations Project is designed to help leaders of peer run organizations strengthen organizational capacities, engage in sustainability planning, and build alliances through training, technical assistance and intentional networking. PROP works with two types of peer run organizations.

4. Consumer Operated Service Providers
Independent—the entity is administratively controlled and operated by mental health consumers.
Autonomous—decisions about governance, fiscal, personnel, policy, and operational issues are made by the program.
Accountable—responsibility for decisions rests with the program.
Consumer controlled—the governance board is at least 51 percent mental health consumers.
Peer workers— staff and management are individuals who have received mental health services
Consumer Operated Service Providers

5. Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs)
RCO's respect and support ALL pathways of recovery.
The majority of their board, staff and volunteers are in recovery from alcohol and/or other drug addiction.
RCO's routinely engage people in recovery, their families, and other stakeholders in a PARTICIPATORY process of program decision-making and conducting activities.
RCO's are grassroots programs/organizations and are active in their communities.
The mission statement of an RCO focuses on addiction recovery.

6. Current Participating Organizations
Amarillo Area Mental Health Consumers
Austin Area Mental Health Consumers
Cherokee County Peer Support Group
Cornerstone Quarters
Depression Connection for Recovery
The Hope Center
MHA of Abilene
Prosumers
River City Advocacy
Association of Persons Affected by Addiction
Center for Wellness and Recovery Resources
Communities for Recovery
Joy Community Development Co.
JumpStart
One World Recovery Network
Ultimate Changes, Inc.
Voices to Be Heard Winners Circle Peer Support Network

7. Next Steps for Via Hope Continued support of PROP
Planning for peer leadership gathering in the next fiscal year to support Peer Voice Project and PROP participants and alumni as well as other peer leaders who want to start programs and organizations
Develop resources and as needed consultation for peer run organizations

8. Let’s meet our panelists!
Your name and role at your organization
Location of your organization
Services you provide, other fun facts!

9. Shannon Carr Austin Area Mental Health Consumers

10. Anna Gray and Janet Paleo Prosumers

11. Tommy Higgs Depression Connection for Recovery

12. Robin Peyson Communities for Recovery

13. Discussion Questions
How was your organization founded and how are you funded?

14. Discussion Questions
What do you think are the benefits of a peer run organizations to the people they serve? What do folks get out of participating in a peer run organization that's different than traditional clinical services? What makes peer run organizations unique?

15. Discussion Questions
Any words of wisdom of people who are interested in starting their own program or organization?

16. Q&A
Please feel free to ask any other questions or add any comments you might have

17. Resources
SAMHSA COSP Toolkit (The Evidence) SAMHSA COSP Toolkit (Building your program) SAMHSA COSP Toolkit (Evaluating your program-includes the FACIT) Faces and Voices of Recovery RCO Toolkit

18. Thank you for joining us!
Our next session will be on Thursday, January 18th 2018 (we take the month of December off for Best Practices in Peer Support)