Exemplary Models of Peer Support to Incarcerated Persons with Mental Illness

EXEMPLARY MODELS OF PEER SUPPORT TO INCARCERATED PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

Wednesday, August 27, 2014 3:00–4:30 p.m., EDT

Welcome to the Webinar Please remember to dial-in to the

phone # listed below:

Dial In Information:

Attendee Dial-In (toll-free): 877-668-5013Attendee Conference ID: 848 69 039

Provide Conference ID 848 69 039

AGENDA

3:00 p.m.- 3:05 p.m. Welcome and Overview

3:05 p.m.- 3:10 p.m. Introductions

3:10 p.m.- 3:35 p.m. Iowa Department of Corrections

3:45 p.m.- 4:10 p.m. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

4:10 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. Questions and Answers

WELCOME

Larke Nahme Huang, Ph.D. Senior Advisor

Administrator’s Office of Policy Planning and Innovation

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Joseph Fenton Senior Associate

Association of State Correctional Administrators


ASCA Membership

• Fifty State Administrators of Correction• Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons

• Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York City, Los Angeles County

• U.S. Territories


11 ASCA Committees Oversee the Work of the Association

• Executive Committee• Program & Training Committee

• Racial Disparity Committee• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Committee• Reentry and Community Corrections Committee

• Policy: Resolutions, Legislation & Legal Issues Committee• PREA Committee

• Research and Best Practices Committee• Information Sharing Committee

• Past Presidents’ Committee• Nominating Committee


The ASCA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Committee Coordinates this Webinar with SAMHSA

• Committee Chair John Baldwin (Iowa) oversees the work of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Committee

• A special Sub-Committee was authorized by the ASCA Executive Committee earlier this month to develop guiding principles and explore best practices for dealing with the

mental health population in prisons


Survey of State Correctional Agencies Regarding Peer Support for Mentally

Diagnosed Offenders

• ASCA surveys

• Survey on Peer Support for Mentally Diagnosed Offenders


Survey of State Correctional Agencies Regarding Peer Support for Mentally Diagnosed Offenders

• 34 Agencies Responded to the Survey

• Thirteen responding agencies indicated they have a program in one or more of there institutions where

peer mentors or peer specialists work in mental health units

(AZ, IN, IA, KS, LS, MD, MA, MI, MO, NH, OH, SC, WI)



Diagnosed Offenders

• 2 – Mentor Co-Occurring Disorder Programs• 3 – Assist with Educational/Classroom Activities

• 3 – Assist with Recovery Plans• 1 – Mentor Anger Management Programs• 2 – Assist in Suicide Prevention Initiatives

• 8 – General Peer Mentor Support



Diagnosed Offenders

• Eight responding agencies said they have a program in one or more of their institutions where peer

mentors or peer specialists work to provide reentry services for offenders with mental health diagnoses

(AZ, IN, IA, KS, MA, OK, PA, WI)



Diagnosed Offenders

• 1 – Mentor Co-Occurring Disorders Programs• 1 – Assist with Employment Opportunities

• 1 – Assist with Financial Literacy• 1 – Assist with Recovery Plans

• 4 – General Peer Mentor Support• 2 – Offer Classes about Reintegration


Agency requests for information about establishing peer support programs for mentally diagnosed

offenders:

• Selection of peer supporters• Training of peer supporters

• Information about starting peer support programs• Program protocols, policies and procedures

• Pros and Cons of such programs• Identifying evidence based and best practices

• Use of peer supporters for suicide watch

Facilitators

David Morrissette, Ph.D., LCSW, CAPT, US Public Health Service,

Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA

Joseph Fenton Senior Associate,


PresentationsComments, Questions

and Answers

IOWA

John Baldwin, M.A. DirectorIowa Department of Corrections

Bo Pourahmadi, M.A. PsychologistIowa Department of Corrections

The State of Iowa Department of Corrections Mentoring Program

Presented by

Bo Pourahmadi, M.A.Iowa Medical and Classification Center

Iowa Department of Corrections

Mentor, defined…

The State of Iowa defines “Mentor” as: “An offender who is trained to work with inmates/patients (can be peer to peer) with their mental health care plans and in managing their serious mental illness (SMI).” Mentoring is supported by NAMI and we apply it to our prison setting.

Expectations of a Mentor

• Role model• Teach/lead by example• Share knowledge• Provide active listening• Builds confidence

Statistics of inmate A.B. since being assigned a mentor in January of 2013

Number of days on acute unit with goal of being in the least restrictive status

• From intake (May) of 2012 thru December of 2012==120 days

• From January 2013 thru June of 2013==94 days

• From July 2013 thru December 2013==40 days

• From January 2014 thru present==24 days

The Hiring Process

• On-site General Population (can use Peer to Peer mentors) background check

• Initially done by psychology and/or Treatment Services Director and Administrative Assistant

• It is then decided who needs a mentor based on compatibility

• Support Veterans—screen them and assist with re-entry including VA benefits

Positives of Mentoring for the Mentor

• Build relationships • Utilize/Discover own positive traits• Builds a trusting relationship• Builds effective communication skills

(communicating problems/symptoms)• Learn how to problem solve with assistance

and eventually on their own

Negatives of Mentoring for the Mentor

• Burnout

• Lack or mentee’s improvement/progression

• Subscription to an alternative style of learning

• Building rapport/trust can be difficult. Breaking rapport/trust can be easy

The Iowa Medical and Classification Center’s Component to Success

We had 3 mentors two years ago and now we have 18. Results are consistent with inmate AB:

• Fewer placements on acute unit

• Fewer days on acute unit

• Fewer hospital trips

Thank you very much!

Operational Questions: [email protected]

Systems Questions:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

PENNSYLVANIA

John E. Wetzel, B.A. Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Marirosa Lamas, M.S. Superintendent, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Robert J. Marsh, Jr., Psy.D. Psychologist, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

Certified Peer Support Specialist

Presented by

PennsylvaniaDepartment of Corrections

Overview

• Began in 2003 between the Pa. Dept. of Public Welfare Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

• Several years passed with several other regulatory and grant assuring steps in between

• In 2008 OMHSAS partnered with University of Pennsylvania to develop a curriculum and training for CPS to specialize in working with older adults.

• In 2010 PCCD, MHJAC began to address the utilization of CPS in the correctional systems.

Overview—contd.

• Two critical components of the DOC CPS project:1—existing work and activities established by OMHSAS2—a collaborative relationship between PCCD, DOC and OMHSAS.

• The DOC then secured monies specifically for training offenders in six pilot facilities.

• Buy in from the Superintendents was important and achieved.

Overview—contd.

Areas Where Peers are Utilized• SNU (Special Needs Unit)• SRTU (Secure Residential Treatment Unit)• MHU (Mental Health Unit)• IRC/Orientation (Inmate Reception Committee)• Standardized Groups• Education/Library• Activities• Infirmary/POC (Psychiatric Observation Cell)• Re-Entry

Criteria

• CL 2 or 3• No misconducts for 1 year• No assaultive behavior in the past 2 years• No suicide attempts/gestures in the past year• No self injurious behavior in the past year• Stable adjustment (with or without medication)• Behavior stability in the past 12 months• Diploma/GED• Stability Rating B or C• Within 3 years of minimum

Criteria- cont.

• May not be on AOD Therapeutic Community reserve list

• Recommended by LPM (License Program Manager)

• Administrative review required

Training

• Recovery Innovations, Arizona• DOC Facilitators• 80 Hour University Level Course• Certification• Continuing Education hours

Peer Support Approach

• Be fully present• Listen fully• Use reflective listening• Relate with empathy• Validate strengths• Ask permission and be

mutual• Ask open ended questions

• Honor Person as the Expert• Provide Choices• Use Recovery Language • Use Empowering Language• Use “I” Statements• Roll with Resistance

Certified Peer Specialist

PEERS DO NOT…• Replace Staff• Provide Clinical Services• Supervise Inmates• Give Advice• Assume the Role of

Expert• Model recovery only

when working• Make decisions for others

PEERS DO…• Augment Staff Service • Listen & Support• Promote mutual

relationships/treat as equals

• Live responsibly and in recovery

• Assist others in making their own decisions

Contact Information:

Secretary John E. Wetzel | [email protected]. Robert Marsh | [email protected] Marirosa Lamas, Supt. | [email protected]

Comments, Questions and Answers

Thank you!

For additional information please visit:

SAMSHA’S GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation

http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/


http://www.asca.net/

http://gainscenter.samhsa.gov/

http://www.asca.net/

Exemplary Models of Peer Support to Incarcerated Persons with Mental Illness

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