Professional Tools for Peer Specialists
The following organizations offer materials and information that may be helpful to people providing peer support. Learn more about statewide recovery initiatives, or order mental health advance directives, anti-stigma materials, or goal-planning sheets. Explore what these organizations offer that could be useful in direct peer support work.
Information
PA Recovery – The Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has created a Web site dedicated to mental health and recovery activities in Pennsylvania. The PA Recovery site offers information about current OMHSAS objectives, recovery, training opportunities, and statewide initiatives (including the Certified Peer Specialist Initiative). OMHSAS oversees the activities and funding of Pennsylvania's Behavioral Health Care System.
Materials
The Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania (MHAPA) works on behalf of the mental health of Pennsylvania's citizens to instill principles of recovery and resiliency. MHAPA offers materials to order, including Mental Health Advance Directive booklets. You can use Advance Directive booklets to support a person in writing their own Advance Directive plan.
The National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse, the United States' first national consumer technical assistance center, has played a major role in the development of the mental health consumer movement. Their Web site offers information about conferences, publications and resources that may be helpful to people providing peer support, and a directory of organizations that are run by people who have received mental health services.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA's mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities by promoting and sponsoring quality behavioral health services. SAMHSA's web site offers a rich selection of free resources on mental health services ranging from articles, videos, and resource guides that may be useful for peer support work. Order resources related to mental health and order resources related to substance abuse
Support the Journey was born out of inspiration to offer messages of support and hope with people recovering from mental illness and addiction. Support the Journey provides messages and products that help us to remember our potential for recovering from emotional darkness and offers an opportunity to show others that they can recover also. The I Am The Evidence campaign a partnership with the MHAPA and Support the Journey, has been especially meaningful for people involved with peer support in Pennsylvania and nationally.
