Michigan's Innovation Grant
Project Title: Peers to Advance Self-Determination
Organization/State Lead(s): Michigan Department of Community Health/Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Administration, The Arc Michigan, Michigan Partners for Freedom
Contact Person: Ellen Sugrue Hyman
Project Goals:
- Train and coach peer to provide one on one support to individuals interested in using arrangements that support self-determination
- Peers are paid to provide support within the Michigan public mental health system
Project Description:
This project will train and support self-directed peers (both individuals with developmental disabilities and individuals with serious mental illness) to provide peer support to individuals with arrangements that support self-determination. Specific supports will include:
- Developing and implementing an individual plan of plan of service and individual budget (through the person-centered planning process)
- Executing a Self-Determination Agreement
- Selecting and managing providers
- Problem-solving throughout the process
Self-directed peers will be individuals who have a unique background and skill level from their experience in utilizing services and supports to achieve their personal goals of community membership, independence and productivity.Project activities will be held in both local areas and at the state level. The local areas involved are Kalamazoo, Oakland, Alpena, Genesee and Kent Counties.
Milestone Goals Achieved (updated as the grant progresses):
- Project Advisory Team met on March 31, 2011
- Curriculum topics have been identified
- Curriculum (included multiple methods of teaching) under development
- Project Kick-Off will be in conjunction with The Arc Michigan Conference June 16-18, 2011
- In October, the project completed training for 13 peers in Oaland County and began training 11 in Wayne County
- Ten Certified Peer Support Specialists were trained in early November
- Additional trainings are scheduled in Genessee and Kent/Kalamazoo. As training are completed, the modules are refined to improve the sessions