Certified Older Adult Peer

Specialist Program (COAPS)

A Pennsylvania and New A Pennsylvania and New Jersey CollaborationJersey Collaboration

20122012

The goal of the joint New Jersey and Pennsylvania

initiative is to prepare a peer workforce to meet the health and wellness needs of older adults who encounter behavioral health disorders.  This project focuses on strengthening the capacity of the workforce to meet the health and wellness needs of people with serious mental illness who are aging, but whose health needs are often neglected.

1

Project Goal

What is a Certified Peer

Specialist (CPS)?

A Certified Peer Support Specialist is a person who has progressed in their own recovery from a behavioral health disorder and has graduated from an OMHSAS approved 75 hour CPS training.

2

2004 Three-year grant to implement Peer Specialist Initiative 2005 A Call for Change 2006 first class of OMHSAS Certified Peer Specialists graduates 2007 Medicaid funding for Peer Support Services

PA Peer Support Services Bulletin

PA Peer Support Coalition created

2008 CPS added as Civil Service classification 2009 Telephone added as a billable service

Development of Peer Support Services

3

A Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist is a CPS who has completed an OMHSAS approved three day training program on Working with older Adults with Behavioral Health Disorders.

What is a Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist (COAPS)?

4

Older adults are less likely to seek treatment

from mental health professionals due to stigma and isolation. (Byrne, 2000; Bratter & Freeman, 1990)

Services provided in non-traditional settings by peers is an effective alternative to engage older adults

Older Adult Advisory Committee recommendations 5

Why Develop An Older Adult Peer Initiative?

Certified Peer Specialists (CPS) provide hope,

empowerment, choices and opportunities that promote mental health recovery in a supportive environment through shared experiences.

Older Adult Certified Peer Specialists: How Can this Unique Service Benefit Older Adults?

6

COAPS support older adults with

behavioral health issues in various ways including: crisis support, development of community roles and natural supports, individual advocacy, self help, self improvement, as well as developing, maintaining and improving positive social supports and networks.

What do COAPS do?

7

COAPS services are reimbursed through Medicaid, county funding and civil service.

How are COAPS funded ?

8

COAPS work in a wide range of settings: peer

support services, state hospitals, psychiatric rehabilitation centers, case management, ACT teams, drop-in centers, consumer run organizations, residential settings and senior centers.

Where do COAPS work?

9

Transformation Transfer Initiative Grant Phase l-

2008 Partnered with University of Pennsylvania, PA

Department of Aging, PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Statewide stakeholder group

Developed three day COAPS Curriculum Developed application process Trained 20 COAPS Statewide

Development and Implementation of Peer Support Services for Older Adults

10

TTI Grant Phase ll-2011

OA Train the Trainer

10 individuals trained as trainers including two trainers from NJ

Two training vendors (MHASP, BH&AC)

Each vendor is contracted to deliver two COAPS trainings annually

Development and Implementation of Peer Support

Services for Older Adults

11

TTI Grant Phase lll-2012

Class of 20 COAPS will be trained in Wellness Curriculum developed by UMDNJ

Internships will be created in aging, mental health and community health programs

Development and Implementation of Peer Support Services for Older

Adults

12

Peer specialists will be trained in the wellness

coaching curriculum. Internships will be created that will serve

mental health, aging and community health programs.

Peers will complete internships in community programs.

A coaching/mentoring program will be developed for the cross-trained peers.

2012 COAPS PA Outcomes

13

Peer specialists will be trained in the aging and

mental health curriculum.

Internships will be created that will serve residential health care facilities and other congregate settings.

A coaching/mentoring program will be developed for the cross-trained peers.

A Conference/summit on aging and wellness coaching will be held.

2012 COAPS NJ Outcomes

14

Wellness coaching service will improve both a) social connectedness as measured by the OARS and b) health-related Quality of Life as measured by the standard 4-item set of Healthy Days core questions (CDC HRQOL– 4).

The peer provider workforce will be strengthened by creating and testing a new role for peer providers offering wellness support for older adults.

Individuals in community settings will receive training on older adults, mental health, and wellness.

2012 Shared Outcomes: NJ and PA

15

Expand COAPS workforce beyond

Medicaid Funded peer supports

Coordinate Peer Support Services with other health and social services

Survey CPS providers and recipients of service

Next Steps…

16

PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services University of Pennsylvania, Center for Mental Health Policy and

Services Research Mental Health Association of SouthEastern PA PA Behavioral Health and Aging Coalition Horizon House, Inc., Philadelphia NJ Division of Mental health and Addiction Services, Department

of Human Services Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling

Professions Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey

Collaborating Agencies

17

Byrne, 2000 Bratter and Feeman, 1990

References

18

WWW.parecovery.org

Click on State Initiatives, then peer specialist services

www.papeersupportcoalition.org www.mhrecovery.org www.olderpa.org

Resources

19

Cynthia Zubritsky, PhDcdz@mail.med.upenn.eduUniversity of Pennsylvania, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research

Ginny MastrineVMastrine@state.pa.usPA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Contact Information

20