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> Other OMHSAS Initiatives |
Children's
Respite
Coming soon...
Compeer
Who are WE? Compeer matches caring, sensitive,
and trained volunteers in one–to-one friendships with children
and adults referred by mental health professionals. Compeer is
considered an adjunct to therapy and is based on the concept that
a volunteer’s friendship and support can offset the loneliness
and isolation that accompany mental illnesses. Volunteers visit
their Compeer friend for a minimum of four hours a month for a
year and share a variety of social, recreational, and educational
activities with their friends.
History: Compeer was established in 1973 in
Rochester, NY. In 1980 the NYS Office of Mental Health became
interested in replicating this innovative volunteer program and
sponsored two workshops for mental health professionals on “Compeer
– A Model Program.” Based on New York State’s
success, Compeer received a National Institute of Mental Health
grants, which provided funding to establish an international Compeer
office. The office of Compeer International provides consultation,
training, and support to affiliates as well as assisting in the
development of new affiliates.
Today: Compeer affiliates are sponsored by a
variety of mental health and volunteer non-profit agencies throughout
the nation. Today, there are 80 Compeer programs in 16 states
— Pennsylvania has the second largest Coalition which includes
14 Compeer affiliates throughout the state, Australia (11 programs),
and Canada (1 program). In 200, 3,471 volunteers provided 124,895
hours of advocacy and support to 4,432 children and adults diagnosed
with mental illnesses. Based on the estimated value of volunteer
time for 2006, of 18.77/hr (Independent Sector research; value
of volunteer time based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics), Compeer
volunteers’ time is valued at $2,428,030.80.
Cost Containment: Health care cost containment
continues to be an area of concern, particularly to the non-profit
sector. Compeer has provided a creative solution to deteriorating
support systems through the utilization of trained volunteers.
Psychiatric hospitalization cost can range as high as $200,000
annually. The cost of a Compeer friendship best practice is $1,500
per person or less. Cost per person averages between $375 - $1,100
depending upon area of the country. Compeer volunteer friendships
have been shown to save mental health dollars and favorably alter
utilization of other costly services.
Recognition: Compeer has been recognized as
a model mental health volunteer program and has been highlighted
in print and electronic media including CBS Morning News, NBC
Nightly News, Sally Jesse Raphael, Newsweek, Family
Circle, Psychology Today and recently in Self.
In addition, the program has received the Presidential Recognition
Award by the Department of Health and Human Service, the first
Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award, the Presidential Volunteer
Action Award, four Points of Light awards, and recognition from
the American Psychiatric Association.
How to Start a Compeer Program in Pennsylvania:
Mental health professionals, administrators, and community leaders
interested in beginning Compeer in their county should submit
a proposal to the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Services (OMHSAS) and Compeer Inc. Upon approval, OMHSAS will
help with start up fees and technical assistance. A Service Mark
Agreement is completed by Compeer Inc. Startup fees provide material
and forms on program procedures, recruitment, training, evaluation,
and staff development; technical assistance and on-site consultation;
and one registration at a Compeer Annual Conference. Written,
telephone, and on-site consultation, monthly newsletters, program
public relations, and media development are all part of the ongoing
support offered by Compeer International Office.
Further information is available from Compeer, Inc., 400 Andrews
St., Rochester, New York 14704, 800-836-0475 or www.compeer.org.
Pennsylvania Compeer Coalition
- The mission of the Pennsylvania Compeer Coalition is to provide
support to affiliate programs whose volunteers foster mental
health recovery through friendship.
- The vision of the Pennsylvania Compeer Coalition strives to
provide access to Compeer services for people in mental health
recovery.
- The
Friendship Express: Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Compeer
Association, Summer 2008
- The
Friendship Express: Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Compeer
Association, Spring 2008.
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Deaf
and Hard of Hearing
Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing
The PA Office for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing,
or ODHH, provides advocacy, information, and referrals for Pennsylvanians
who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or deaf blind, and their families
and caregivers.
Mental
Health/Mental Retardation Positive Practices Resource Team
The Positive Practices Resource Team (PPRT) is a joint initiative
between the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
(OMHSAS) and the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) to assist
individuals with a dual diagnosis of MH/MR. The purpose of the
PPRT is to identify and develop system capacity and resources
that will be dedicated to addressing issues pertaining to a person’s
behavioral support needs. This initiative addresses those issues
that, in the past, often resulted in state hospital/center admissions
or incarceration. The PPRT assists providers in continuing to
serve those individuals who are experiencing difficulties and
enhancing the provider’s ability to provide comprehensive
services in the future.
PPRT members include the following: State Hospital and State Center
Staff, ODP and OMHSAS field office staff, pharmacists from the
State Hospitals and State Centers, a sexual consultant from ODP,
the Bureau of Autism Services, Health Care Quality Unit staff,
and advocacy groups.
If you would like to request assistance from PPRT, please contact
your local county
MH/MR office who is responsible for making referral.
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Older
Adult Efforts
2008 Behavioral Health
and Aging Forums
The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS)
is working in partnership with the Department of Aging and the Behavioral
Health and Aging Coalition on the 2008/09 Behavioral Health and
Aging Forums. Drexel University is coordinating the project. It
has been identified that there is a continued need for educational
forums regarding aging and behavioral health issues. Some of the
topics that will be addressed in upcoming forums include managing
difficult behaviors; substance use, misuse, and abuse; as well as
depression and suicide.
The next Behavioral Health and Aging Forum is October
16, 2008 at Masonic Village in Elizabethtown. Details
are still being finalized, but please save the date—additional
information will follow.
Older Adult Peer
Specialist Initiative
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OpenMinds/OpenDoors
- Anti Stigma/Anti Discrimination
OpenMindsOpenDoors
is a Pennsylvania initiative aimed at ending discrimination against
people with mental illnesses. Approximately one in five people
in this country live with a mental illness. People who have needs
just like everyone else, and demand basic rights just like everyone
else.
Supported
Education
Coming soon...
Spiritual
Supports Facilitation
Spiritual Supports Facilitation is a new initiative developed
by the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Services to formally recognize the importance of Spiritual Supports
in the mental health recovery process. Spiritual Supports Facilitation
joins the broad-based recovery initiative by addressing issues
of spirituality in recovery and assisting consumers in connecting
with the spiritual supports of their choice. We do this by:
- Increasing awareness of the importance of spirituality. Spiritual
Supports Facilitation offers spirituality and recovery-based
education and presentations in treatment centers and in the
community. We present to consumers, providers, family, and community
supports in a variety of settings such as drop-in centers, churches,
conferences, tai chi centers, club houses, CSP groups, etc.
- Facilitating opportunities to dialog about spirituality in
treatment centers and in the community. Spiritual Supports Facilitators
attend many statewide conferences and events and frequently
facilitate workshops and presentations. Spiritual Supports Facilitators
complement and network with community-based spiritual supports
providers, local advocacy groups, peer support specialists,
local Community Support programs, and facility- based chaplaincy
to support consumers’ spiritual support choices in recovery.
- Developing resources to support spirituality perspectives.
Through discovering and sharing information and media we can
educate and support insights into the understanding of spirituality.
We share information in a variety of ways such as handouts and
Internet resources. We invite others to report and share whatever
spirituality resources they may know of or have available.
- Identifying the challenges and barriers to consumers receiving
desired spiritual supports services. Unfortunately, social stigma
continues to exist for mental health consumers in some spiritual
community settings. Many challenges exist, such as availability
of spiritual resources and supports in treatment settings and
disrespect or non-acceptance of various spiritual practices,
both traditional and non-traditional. It is important to address
these problems and enter into dialog and identify solutions
individuals may use to cope with and overcome the barriers.
For more information please contact the Spiritual Supports Facilitators:
Bob Manrodt
PO Box 300
State Route 422, Sportsman Road
Wernersville, PA 19565-0500
Phone: 610-678-3411, x362
Email: c-rmanrodt@state.pa.us
Rev. DeWayne White
DGS Annex Complex
PO Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2675
Phone: 717-772-7625
Email: c-wwhite@state.pa.us
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Trauma
Informed Care
Cross-Systems Collaboration Committee
Cross-systems Collaboration Committee was created in the summer
of 2004 with the primary goals of ending violence in the lives
of persons with disabilities and promoting full access to victims’
services, wellness, and recovery. The committee is chaired by
the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania (DRN) and the
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR). Other partners include
Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers’ Association (PMHCA),
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV), Pennsylvania
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS),
Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs (ODP), The Institute
on Disabilities at Temple University, Pennsylvania Commission
on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), The Arc of Pennsylvania, Sexual
Assault Resource and Counseling Center (SARCC), Lebanon County,
and Drexel University College of Medicine Behavioral Healthcare
Education.
The mission of the cross system collaboration is to foster,
encourage, support, and advocate for cross-systems communication,
training, and the provision of attitudinally and physically
accessible direct care services on all levels; promote a coordinated,
statewide, trauma-informed communication network between individual
victims, survivors, and service entities; and promote and enhance
trauma-informed training and services.
Project Illumination
Project
Illumination is a statewide collaboration to promote awareness
of sexual violence towards people with disabilities. It uses
a cross- system approach through partnerships to promote awareness
and understand the impact of sexual violence on people with
disabilities. The partners include The Arc of Pennsylvania,
Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, Pennsylvania
Coalition Against Rape, Disabilities Rights Network of PA, and
Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Traumatic/Acquired
Brain Injury
Coming soon...
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