Montana’s Peer Network offers consulting services for agencies, providers, peers, organizations and others who are looking to implement peer support services, both behavioral health and family support, in their workplace or community.
We have provided consultation across Montana and are recognized as national experts on the subject. Consultation services include:
- Employer/Provider toolkit with examples of job descriptions, interview questions, certification information and more for hiring peer supporters.
- Program Development all 3 phases (Planning, Implementation, Operational)
- Online and in person Peer Support Training such as:
- Provider/Employer of Peer Services
- Peer Support Program Essentials
- Family Peer Support Provider Training
- Readiness Assessments (Employer and Peer Supporter)
- Grant writing assistance to apply for funding to fund peer support programming
- Phone and email consultation
- Assistance with data collection, monitoring and evaluation
- 10+ years experience developing, managing and succeeding
- Consultation rates are $89/hour and do not include any travel expenses. Initial consultation is free.
Please contact Jim for more information.
Consulting Corner Blog
CBHPSS Workforce Development
At the time of this article there are 210 certified behavioral health peer support specialists in Montana. Since the first peer supporter was certified by the board of behavioral health in September of 2018, there have been a total of 400 peer supporters certified. Roughly half or 50% are still working today. The other way to look at it is 50% or half are not. Losing half of its workforce in just over 5 years is not a sign of a healthy workforce. Historically MPN trains around 100 peer supporters a year, half of those who complete Peer Support 101 will not go onto get certified. Which is a topic for another article. Half of those who do complete training and are certified will not be for long. The CBHPSS workforce in Montana needs additional support.
The Importance of Continuing Education
Whether you are a Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist, Family Peer Supporter, Recovery Coach or other peer support professional, continuing education is vital. Participating in professional development opportunities and skills trainings ensure that services remain effective, relevant, and capable of providing the highest quality support.
The Advantages of Mentoring: Fostering Growth and Development
Mentoring is a practice that has been an integral part of human development for centuries, dating back to the earliest civilizations. It involves an experienced individual providing guidance, support, and knowledge to a less experienced person, helping them navigate their personal and professional journeys. The advantages of mentoring are numerous and far-reaching, benefiting both the mentor and the mentee, as well as organizations and society as a whole. In this essay, we will delve into the many advantages of mentoring, exploring how this valuable practice promotes personal and professional growth, knowledge transfer, and the development of strong, lasting relationships.
Supporting the Supporter
Keeping your CBHPSS supported in their recovery is vital for retaining your employee long term. By the very definition, “Behavioral health peer support” means the use of a peer support specialist’s personal experience with a behavioral health disorder to provide support, mentoring, guidance, and advocacy and to offer hope to individuals with behavioral health disorders.” Your employee is a person who is in recovery. This means they are actively working on themselves, which may include peer support groups, medication, counseling, meditation, a regiment of diet and exercise, journaling and the list goes on and on. As their employer you may be thinking, “Where do I fit in?”
Hiring Peer Support Staff
Candidates often put on their best self, can embellish their credentials, and say what we want to hear. This provides us with false knowledge about a candidate and ultimately a decision which will cost the organization time, energy and dollars. Hiring the wrong person can lead to hours of retraining, coaching, and documenting an employee who will eventually be let go only to restart the process again. Then there is the shrinking workforce nationally. There simply are not as many people to fill healthcare related jobs. Getting it right the first time is important for any organization.