Project Grant H79SM089765

MONTANA'S PEER NETWORK'S PEER ADVOCACY, CHANGE, AND EMPOWERMENT (PACE) PROJECT TO INCREASE VOICE, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS. - MONTANA'S PEER NETWORK'S PEER ADVOCACY, CHANGE, AND EMPOWERMENT (PACE) PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS TO INFLUENCE THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND RECOVERY SUPPORTS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MONTANA. MPN WILL ALSO BUILD ITS CAPACITY TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND PRESENTATIONS BY LEVERAGING THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF STAFF, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND STATEWIDE MEMBERSHIP. THE MAIN GOALS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE 1) INCREASING VOICE, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS; 2) EDUCATING MEMBERS, PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON PERSON-CENTERED, RECOVERY-ORIENTED SERVICES; 3) INCREASE MPN STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS KNOWLEDGE, VOICE, AND INFLUENCE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM; AND 4) INCREASE INTEGRATION OF RECOVERY AND WELLNESS PRINCIPLES FOR PEOPLE IN RECOVERY. TO MEET THESE GOALS, MPN WILL CREATE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, OUTREACH MATERIALS, AND PUBLICATIONS DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS OR CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS. MPN WILL ALSO EQUIP PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE IN ADVISORY AND ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. MPN WILL DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE APPROACHES THROUGH PRE AND POST TRAINING SURVEYS AND EVALUATIONS AND QUESTIONNAIRES ABOUT INVOLVEMENT IN ADVISORY AND ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES. MPN WILL ALSO COLLECT DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF MEMBERS, INFORM ADDITIONAL TRAINING TOPICS, AND FOCUS ON THE MOST PRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS.