Parent Peer Support Training Updates


 NAMI OHIO – FAMILY PEER SUPPORT TRAINING 

What Is a Family Peer Support Specialist?

A Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) is a parent or primary caregiver of a child with an emotional, behavioral or mental health, intellectual/developmental disorder and/or substance use disorder. They have navigated one of the child caring systems in Ohio for at least one year. They work with caregivers, who also have children identified with a serious mental health and/or substance use disorder. The primary function of the Family Peer Support Specialist is to provide peer support and promote the well-being of families with whom they work. Using personal experience and knowledge, NAMI Ohio Certificate Trained Family Peer Support Specialist promote family driven, youth guided practices that focus on strengths as part of the solution and ensure families participate as partners in all aspects of their care.

Family Peer Support services include information and referral, support groups, parent education and training, system navigation, support during crisis, awareness-motivated social activities and events and individualized and specialized supports for families experiencing challenges and to foster understanding of child’s needs.

Families are their children’s most important resource. When parents are actively engaged in their children’s behavioral health service planning and treatment, their children have better outcomes. Parents of children with special needs face a unique set of stressors that other parents do not face. 

These often include:

  • Increased parenting challenges
  • Lack of understanding by other parents and school officials
  • Blame for their children’s problems
  • Stigma associated with mental health, intellectual/developmental and/or substance use disorders
  • Barriers to accessing appropriate supports in the community  

FPSS offer the family a unique source of support and understanding through shared experience. Parent Support Specialists are able to support the family’s engagement with child-serving systems. The Family Peer Support Specialist is a trusted ally who promotes family voice and choice and collaboration between families and community partners.

NAMI Ohio developed a Family Peer Support Curriculum aimed at providing training to parents who have lived experience in the Ohio Child Serving System of Care.  The training consists of 44 hours. 

  • Family Peer Support Basics
  • Ethics and Boundaries for Family Peer Supporters
  • Sharing your story
  • Engaging Families
  • Active Listening and Thoughtful Communication
  • Building the relationship
  • Clarifying family needs
  • Documentation
  • Collection of information
  • Crafting a plan
  • Problem solving and checking for progress
  • Parent-Professional Partnerships
  • Family Driven, Youth Guided System of Care
  • SED, I/DD, SUD….What is it?
  • System of Care
  • Navigating Systems and Using Community Resources
  • Wraparound
  • Cultural Competence
  • Confidentiality and HIPAA
  • The Education System and Special Education
  • Autism
  • Trauma
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
  • Advocacy across the system of care
  • Resiliency
  • Problem Sexual Behavior
  • Wellness and Self-care

For more information, please contact: Tamisha McKenzie, Family Peer Support Coordinator – NAMI Ohio

Tamisha@namiohio.org




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