Credentialing & Resources for Family Peer Advocates

Presenter: Susan Burger

Who We Are • NYCCD is a preschool education, early intervention and early

childhood mental health agency. NYCCD has been a leader in advancing mental health services to infants/young children and families in New York across all child serving systems. NYCCD is at the crossroads of academic/research, policy and best clinical practice in infant/early childhood mental health and services.

• The McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University Silver School of Social Work is committed to creating new knowledge about the root causes of poverty, developing evidence-based interventions to address its consequences, and rapidly translating research findings into action.

The TTAC Team New York Center for Child Development (NYCCD) • Evelyn Blanck, Director • Dr. Gilbert Foley, Co-Clinical Director • Dr. Susan Chinitz, Co-Clinical Director • Katie Lingras, Psychologist • Shruthi Deivasigamani, Program Assistant

McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research • Dr. Andrew Cleek, Executive Officer • Dan Ferris, Assistant Director, Policy and External Affairs • Dr. Mary Acri, Senior Research Scientist • Morgan McGuire, Policy Analyst

Technical Assistance and Training • The Training and Technical Assistance Center ( TTAC) is

a partnership of NYCCD and McSilver that builds on the respective strengths and capacities of our respective agencies; • NYCCD has a long history of lending its clinical, program, and

system-level expertise to informing policy and supporting the field of Early Childhood Mental Health.

• The McSilver Institute houses the Community and the Managed

Care Technical Assistance Centers (CTAC/MCTAC), which offer clinic, business, and system transformation supports statewide to all behavioral healthcare providers.

Early Childhood Mental Health Network

NYC DOHMH funded initiative through the Mayor’s Thrive Initiative established seven early childhood programs covering all five boroughs and one Training and Technical Assistance Center

• Expand the availability and accessibility of high-quality, specialized mental health services and supports for high-need children birth to 5 and their families

• Build the capacity and competencies of mental health and early care and education professionals to identify and address the social-emotional needs of young children

• Improve the mental health & functioning of children birth to 5

Family Peer Advocate Credential Overview

Agenda

• What is Family Peer Support • History of Family Peer Advocate Credential • Credential Criteria and Requirements • Parent Empowerment Training Program • FPA Application • Family Resource Centers • Questions

What is Family Peer Support?

Definition of Family Peer Support Services

Family Peer Support Services (FPSS) are an array of formal and informal services and supports provided to families raising a child who is experiencing challenges

FPSS are provided by a trained and credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA) who is uniquely qualified

to work with families based on personal or “lived” experience and the specialized training they receive.

6 Elements of Family Peer Support Services

• Outreach and Information • Engagement, Bridging and Transition Support • Self-Advocacy, Self-Efficacy and Empowerment • Community Connections and Natural Supports • Parent Skill Development • Promoting Effective Family-Driven Practice

Purpose: Support the

Parent for the benefit of their child

Natural Supports and Community Connections

Increase Self-Efficacy

System navigation

Hope

Engage in treatment

Partnership with

Providers

How Does Family Support Help?

History of The Family Peer Advocate Credential

The Road to the Family Peer Advocate Credential

• Need for training specific to the role and competencies of Family Peer Advocates

• Development of The Parent Empowerment Program Training

• Credential grew out of desire to further develop and professionalize the work and workforce of Family Peer Advocates

• OMH contracted with Families Together in NYS, the statewide family-run agency, to develop a credential for Family Peer Advocates

The Road to the Family Peer Advocate Credential

• Advisory Group in was formed in 2007 • Consulted other states across the county

doing similar work • Credential Requirements defined in 2010 • Credentialing began in 2011

Why is a Credential So Important?

Provides a well-defined program model and scope of practice

Promotes outcomes and quality improvement

Structure for leadership and program development

Expanding the reach of FPSS: Networks and marketing

Sustainable business model: Medicaid reimbursable

Assures a foundational level of training and other requirements

The Benefits of a Family Peer Advocate Credential:

Sustaining and growing Family Peer Support services

Eligibility and Requirements

Eligibility Criteria • Age 18 or older • Demonstrate ‘lived experience’ as

the parent or primary caregiver of a child with social, emotional, developmental, chronic healthcare, substance use and/or behavioral healthcare needs, up to age 21.

• High school diploma, high school equivalency or Comparable Skills Form

Credential Requirements • Complete the Parent

Empowerment Program Training (PEP)

• Document 1000 hours of FPA work experience

• Submit three letters of reference, one from a supervisor

• Write a statement of lived experience

• Agree to practice according to the FPA Code of Ethics.

• 20 hours of continuing education every two years for renewal

Lived Experience Circle of Support

Lived Experience

Builds Empathy and

Credibility

Focus on Experience

of Care

Reduces Blame and

Stigma

Understands feelings of powerless-

ness

Has insiders knowledge of formal

and informal services

Specialized Engagement

based on shared

experience

Models family voice and choice

Provisional vs. Professional

Provisional Credential • Valid for 18 months • PEP is not required • 1000 hours not required • Non renewable • Fee $300.00 • No charge for up grade to

Professional Credential

Professional Credential • Valid for two years • PEP required • !000 required • Renewable • Fee $300.00

• Developed by researchers, clinical partners and family advocates

• Mandatory training for all Family Peer Advocates

• Based on statewide core competencies • Evidence based • 40 hour In-Person and 12 Consultation Calls

• Lessons…practice…and group learning

Parent Empowerment Program

NYS Family Peer Advocate Training

PEP training Topics

• Introduction: Building a Framework for Working with Families

• Getting Ready: Communicating with Parents

• Engaging Parents: The Beginnings of a Collaborative Partnership

• Setting Priorities: A Plan that Works

• Children’s Mental Health

Services

• Meeting Children’s Needs within the School System

• Group Management

• Boundary Setting

2017 Family Peer Advocate Credential Application

The Family Peer Advocate Credential Application

Full Application Packet • Packet contains:

• Application • Information for

Applicants (FAQ) • Payment Form

Application Deconstructed • Instructions • Application checklist • Application(11 sections) • Code of Ethics • Appendix

Payment Options

Funding Voucher available to agencies who are currently receiving OMH funding

Funding available for non-OMH funded agencies

Looking Ahead

What’s New For PEP and Credentialing

Family Resource Centers

Family Resource Centers in NYC

• Family Resource Centers (FRCs) provide

support for families of with emotional and/or behavioral challenges.

• FRCs are staffed with family advocates • FRCs also employ youth advocates.

Family Resource Centers Offer:

• Individual and group support • Advocacy to help navigate child-serving systems • Information about mental health conditions,

services and family rights • Referrals to appropriate services and resources • Skill development through educational

workshops • Recreational activities • Respite

Family Resource Centers

For more information contact Salena Mullen at smullen@health.nyc.gov

Resources and Contacts Contacts: • CTAC

– Geraldine Burton: geraldine.burton@nyumc.org

• FTNYS – Susan Burger: sburger@ftnys.org

Resources: • Families Together in New York State: www.ftnys.org • 2017 FPA Application pages: http://www.ftnys.org/family-peer-

advocate/ • CTAC Website: www.ctacny.org • Family Resource Centers:

http://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/mh/fam-sup-dir.pdf

Questions

Questions? Thank you!

For more information regarding TTAC or Early Childhood Mental Health:

– General info/inquiries: ttac.info@nyu.edu

• www.nyccd.org • www.mcsilver.nyu.edu • www.ctacny.org