Certified Family Peer Specialists and Parent Teaming Trainers - Putting LIFE Experience To Work

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1 Certified Family Peer Specialists and Parent Teaming Trainers - Putting LIFE Experience To Work Minnesota Department of Human Services Recognizing an Untapped Resource

2 Valuable Partners Years of experience working with our system of care Years of experience helping other families in formal and informal settings Interested in making the journey easier for others

3 Working with DHS Since 2007 parents have been training those who work with children with mental health disorders Deliver training on how to partner effectively with families Giving an inside view of life and it s impact on all members of the family

4 Seven Years of Success Evaluations have been excellent Attendees state: Their understanding of the impact on the family is greater They will be less judgmental of what they see and hear It will change how they work

5 Parents Advising DHS Trainers have helped DHS on grant proposal reviews Trainers are sitting on the State Advisory Council on Mental Health Trainers are helping DHS with the implementation of the Olmstead Act

6 Family Peer Specialists Across the country family members are working with other families to make their journey easier In response to this evolving direction the National Federation of Families for Children s Mental Health has created a certification process to ensure quality service to families DHS will soon be implementing Family Peer Specialists

7 Purpose of Moving This Direction Families have been doing this work on a mostly informal basis for many, many years It has proven to be useful to both caregivers and the children they re raising Caregivers have a better understanding of the system they must navigate and work more collaboratively with providers Caregivers receive the support only one who has traveled a similar journey can provide

8 Family Peer Specialists and Medial Assistance Here in Minnesota this will be a Medical Assistance reimbursable service This service will not be tied to any other service The work of the Family Peer Specialist will be tied to the child s treatment plan

9 Implementation Minnesota s chapter of the National Federation of Families for Children s Mental Health will work with MACMH to offer their certification to qualified family members Additional support, training and guidance to employers and Family Peer Specialists will also be available through MACMH 15 Minnesota parents are already certified

10 Hiring and Supporting Parents on Your Staff You will want to ensure your entire staff understands and values the work the Family Peer Specialists bring to the families you serve Current staff who also have children with mental health disorders have a job to do and it differs from that of the Family Peer Specialist MACMH will be available to support and assist employers

11 Get Onboard This is a service that is proving valuable around the country This service will make your work easier and lighter Your families will be grateful to have more help and support and will be in a better position to meet the needs of their children

12 FROM PARENT TO TRAINER TO CPSP My process of becoming a DHS Parent Teaming Trainer and now a Certified Parent Support Provider Partner with child and family serving systems to improve family outcomes and strive to eliminate stigma and discrimination Based on peer-to-peer interaction, not clinical consultation

13 Where I Began Become familiar with the Core Competencies found on the National Federation of Families website at Read the Candidate Handbook and Code of Ethics Establish contact with MACMH for help with the application process, to become involved in state level training, and ongoing support while in the field

14 PSP APPLICATION INFORMATION Agree to the terms and conditions noted in the Application, which includes agreement to the Code of Ethics and be able to articulate the benefits of lived experience. Applicants must document that in the five years prior to the application they have: A minimum of 1000 hours of employment or volunteer experience in line with the PSP job description A minimum of 88 contact hours of training involving core knowledge skills A minimum of 20 hours of supervision/consultation/mentoring by another parent support provider. MACMH can be a wonderful asset in helping applicants document and meet the above requirements

15 CERTIFICATION EXAM INFORMATION Applications received will be processed and an sent within 10 business days of receipt. Once approved, applicant will receive an eligibility status letter and will be able to make an appointment to take the test Exams are taken at Pearson VUE testing sites. Exams are 120 multiple choice questions and take approximately 120 minutes You will know immediately if you pass or fail the exam. The current passing score is 69 out of 100. Your certificate arrives in the mail. If you fail the exam you may be eligible to take the test two more times

16 FINAL THOUGHTS TO BECOMING A CERTIFIED FAMILY PEER SPECIALIST Take a self assessment of your readiness: Experience Ability to do the tasks of a Certified Family Peer Specialist Eligibility Take a practice test on the National Federation s website. Additional resources are included on the website Renew or re-certify every two years. MACMH can help with meeting some of these requirements

17 Parent Teaming Training Who I am - parent, foster care social worker & trainer - where I am from How I learned about being a trainer for DHS - case manager Why I choose to do this - opportunity

18 Parent Teaming Training What this training is - allows a glimpse into our lives Where we train - all over What this opportunity has done for me - provide networking, resources, and support

19 Parent Teaming Training What this opportunity has done for me - provide me with unconditional support from someone who knows and my family - allow the opportunity to educate My extended family - allow the opportunity to educate -

20 Parent Teaming Training How this has changed my life - offers support This opportunity and my children - very proud What would I change? - nothing

21 Miigwetch Any questions?