Project PREPARE Peer Training Graduation 2011

Project PREPARE, in its third year, celebrated and honored the 2011 peer training graduating class at the Marcy Hart residence in Brooklyn on June 29th. Donna Colonna, SUS CEO; Marie Sabatino, Program Director of the SUS Psychosocial Clubhouse; Wanda Cruz-Lopez, VP of Mental Health Services at SUS; Luis Lopez, Director of Best Practices and Recovery Initiatives and Stephan Hall, SUS Peer Specialist offered words of congratulation and encouragement to the graduates. Class Valedictorian, Leslie Richardson, shared her thanks and heartfelt words of appreciation for her classmates and the SUS staff. Ed Powell from the New York State Assembly, Assistant Speaker, Rhoda S. Jacobs’ office presented Ms. Richardson with a Citation for her “commitment to providing outreach, advocacy and services to individuals with disabilities.” The program was followed by a luncheon reception for the graduates, their family and friends, and SUS staff, with music provided by DJ Al-Kareem.

The Project PREPARE program offers training to individuals in recovery from mental health conditions who wish to become peer providers of mental health services. Project PREPARE establishes the recovery power of giving back by demonstrating a multiplier-effect upon the lives of others still struggling to manage mental illness and achieve self-fulfillment. The curriculum rests upon a number of evidence-based and best practices including the central elements of Wellness Self-Management, Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment, and Motivational Interviewing. The 16-week curriculum operates January – June, two days per week, seven hours per day Trainees receive over 270 hours of education on topics including but not limited to recovery, counseling, group facilitation, health management, community resource utilization, communication skills, professional boundaries and work readiness. Concurrent with classroom training, trainees must complete an eight-week internship at one of SUS’ housing or rehabilitation programs in order to graduate. Of the 15 graduates from the 2011 class one will be completing an associate’s degree from CUNY’s Kingsboro Community College and is aiming for a bachelor’s degree in Mental Health and Human Services. A second graduate is completing a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from Walden University. Others will take their Project PREPARE training to the next level and become Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC).

Once enrolled in Project PREPARE, trainees are eligible to join SUS’ Brooklyn Psychosocial Clubhouse, a part of SUS’ Recovery Center. Co-locating Project PREPARE in the Recovery Center allows trainees access to SUS’ ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) Program, Clubhouse Programs, Employment Services, and the Wellness Works Mental Health Clinic. Trainees will utilize services offered by the Clubhouse and SUS Employment Services during the program and after graduation. Our graduates secure employment within SUS and outside agencies including: Institute for Community Living, Health and Hospitals Corporation, NYAPRS, and Project Renewal.

Congratulations to the 2011 Project PREPARE graduating class. The staff at SUS wishes you all the best in the future. A special thank you to our supporters and funders who make programs like this possible.

To learn more about Peer Training and Peer Providers please read:

http://www.mhanj.org/pdf/strategies_integratepeers.pdf

http://home2.nyc.gov/html/hhc/html/pressroom/press-release-20100714.shtml

http://nursing.advanceweb.com/Regional-Content/Articles/Peer-Counseling.aspx