Enhancing consumer network programs in illinois through peer support for black communities - depression and bipolar support alliance (dbsa) aims to increase the capacity in illinois to serve…

Enhancing consumer network programs in illinois through peer support for black communities - depression and bipolar support alliance (dbsa) aims to increase the capacity in illinois to serve individuals with serious mental illness through the evidence-based practice of peer support and peer support services in community-based settings by developing a replicable model for a peer support specialist apprenticeship program. Dbsa will pilot the apprenticeship program by serving black individuals in cook county, finalize the curriculum, and implement a dissemination plan across illinois. Through the program, enhancing consumer network programs, dbsa will develop a replicable 2.5 peer support apprenticeship curriculum that extends beyond training to include on-the-job experience and mentorship through certification and beyond. The curriculum will be designed to help apprentices complete the requirements for certification by the state of illinois. Goal: expand peer support specialist workforce in illinois by training and mentoring black individuals on a career path as illinois certified recovery support specialists (crss). -enroll up to 10 members of the black community in dbsa's peer support specialist course -during year the first two years of the program, two peer support apprentices who complete the course will receive 2000 hours of mentorship and support from a tenured peer support specialist to build skills -by the end of 2023, two apprentices will meet the requirements, take and pass crss exam goal: develop and execute a pilot program to broaden peer support and reduce stigma within black communities in cook county that is replicable and scalable to improve mental health outcomes for black individuals in illinois -by august 2021, partner with organizations in cook county to initiate a peer advisory council of 7-10 individuals with the lived experience of a mental health or substance use condition to advise on the needs of the community and cultural competent ways to provide peer support -by the end of grant period in 2023, 225 black individuals will have participated in peer support activities including participation in a weekly dbsa support group meeting, participating in OE on one peer coaching facilitated by dbsa's peer specialist apprentices -by june 2023, peer apprentices will deliver dbsa's evidence-based anti-stigma program: i'm here four times, reaching at least 90 people -by june 2023, develop leadership ability of peer apprentices to demonstrate competencies as mental health advocates in accordance with the need for certification as illinois recovery support specialists goal: increase capacity for organizations in illinois to provide peer specialist apprenticeships that support individuals from training through certification as peer support specialists -by the end of 2023, dbsa will develop a formal, replicable peer support specialist apprenticeship curriculum that includes instruction and experience in implementing peer support services including self-advocacy and community advocacy -by the end of 2023, dbsa will have visited 5-10 organizations to help guide implementation of the peer support specialist apprenticeship curriculum