MHA Peer Programs

At MHA, we know the power of peer support and believe it must not only be integrated into all aspects of healthcare but also continue to expand services and supports beyond "treatment as usual."

MHA National's Peer Programs:

• MHA's National Certified Peer Specialist Credential: To meet the growing demand for peers, MHA has developed the first national advanced peer specialist certification. The high standards let peers show their expertise and experience, which opens new career paths and more opportunities to transform lives and services. Click here to learn more.
• It's My Life: Social Self-Directed Care Program: MHA developed a highly innovative intervention called It’s My life: Social Self-Directed Care that combines the evidence-based practices of Peer Support and Psychiatric Rehabilitation and the emerging best practices of Self-Directed Care and Life Coaching into an integrated skill and support strategy to help people build networks of friends and intimate relationships. Learn more about implementing this program in your community.

MHA Affiliate Peer Programs:

Connecticut

• Independence Center, Mental Health Connecticut: MHC’s Independence Center (IC) promotes value, respect and meaningful relationships, which are integral to engaging in the community. The IC offers an environment for individuals with mental health conditions to gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to achieve their goals and realize recovery. Health and wellness play an integral role in all aspects of the IC, and daily workshops provide members with supports that can positively impact their recovery journey and showcase individual purpose. Contact: Trista Genova, tgenova@mhconn.org

Florida

• Peers Empowering Peers (PEP), Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County: The Peers Empowering Peers program (PEP) program trains and deploys Peer Specialists – people who have lived experience with mental illness themselves – to help their peers navigate the health care system reduce re-hospitalization rates, improve behavioral health, and improve quality of life. Our Peer Specialists work to help patients who are hospitalized with behavioral health diagnoses and then follows them into the community to assist them in their recovery. Contact: 561-832-3755
• Peer Place, Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County: Peer Place is our adult support center for adults with behavioral health concerns. We offer peer to peer counseling, support groups on various topics surrounding mental health, and at Peer Place get a free mental health screening, get connected to resources, network and meet others in different stages of recovery, participate in support groups and other activities, create an art project, and so much more!! Contact: 561-832-3755
• MHAIRC Drop-In Centers, Mental Health Association in Indian River County:  The Mental Health Association in IRC sponsors three peer-run Drop-in Centers which provide a safe haven for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. They are located in Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee Counties. Open 365 days a year the Centers are designed to empower members to enhance the quality of their lives. Recreational and social activities are offered to all members to promote a supportive, active and empowering atmosphere as members actively participate in their recovery.

Georgia

• Friendship Community Center Peer Support Program, Mental Health America of Greater Augusta: Friendship's Peer Support program is a self -directed recovery based program assisting adults living with chronic mental illnesses with re-establishing and developing essential skills needed to reintegrate into the community. The program is designed to assist these individuals in gaining skills and recovery modes that enable them to maintain their mental health recovery, eliminate mental health crises, minimize hospital visits, stay out of jail, and move into the community with sustainable employment.

Illinois

• Group Hope Depression Support Services, Mental Health Association of Rock River Valley: Group Hope offers two free Teenage support meetings weekly and five adult weekly support meetings for Depression & Bipolar in Rockford & Rochelle & Belvidere. Group Hope is affiliated with the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance. We offer this as an adjunct to provider-care.

Kansas

• Peer Support Services, MHA of South Central Kansas: Peer Support is available to individuals who are referred through MHA Case Management. Peer Support Services are peer-to-peer services designed to promote skills for coping with and managing mental health symptoms as well as developing a network of information and support from others who have been through similar experiences.
• Wellness and Support Advocates (WASA), Mental Health America of the Heartland: WASAs help and encourage others in recovery from mental illness, connecting them to valuable community resources and providing tools and wisdom for lasting recovery. The WASA program provides persons with mental illness an opportunity for paid employment where they, in turn, assist individuals accessing community resources, educating clients and/or staff. For more information about WASA or to join the program, contact April Jackson at ajackson@mhah.org or 913-222-5926.

Maryland

• The Consumer Quality Team of Maryland, Mental Health Association of Maryland: The Consumer Quality Team of Maryland is staffed by consumers of behavioral health services or family members of consumers. It was established to provide quality oversight and real-time feedback about behavioral health services through voluntary, consumer-led interviews in publicly funded facilities in Maryland. CQT interviewers do not investigate allegations or concerns-- they partner with the programs, funding agencies, and state officials as non-judgmental, neutral parties to ensure consumers' needs are being met. Contact: Kate Wyer, Director of the Consumer Quality Team, at kwyer@cqtmd.org or 443-901-1560 x 230. 

• PEERS: Seniors in Partnership, Mental Health Association of Maryland: The PEERS program operates in Baltimore County Maryland and matches older adults who are isolated and withdrawn with senior volunteers who are willing to make home visits or provide telephone support. In addition, PEERS program staff provide public and professional education regarding late-life behavioral health issues and caregiver stress. In the near future, MHAMD will be providing education on key issues of aging and behavioral health to peer support professionals so that appropriate support can be more available to older individuals with lived experience who are in long term care settings or otherwise unable to stay connected to their communities. Contact: Kim Burton, DIrector of Older Adult Programs, at kburton@mhamd.org or 443-901-1550 x 210.

Missouri

• BRIDGES, Mental Health America of Eastern Missouri: BRIDGES is a free peer-to-peer mental health recovery program and offers classes and support groups to help and encourage individuals with mental illness to find their best recovery.

Nebraska

• Keya House, Mental Health Association of Nebraska: Keya House is a hospital diversion peer-run respite.
• Honu Home, Mental Health Association of Nebraska: Honu House is a peer-operated respite for corrections-involved individuals.
• R.E.A.L., Mental Health Association of Nebraska: The R.E.A.L. program is a partnership between peers, law enforcement officials, community corrections officers, and other local human service providers to offer diversion from higher levels of care and to prove a recovery model form of community support with the help of trained Peer Specialists.
• H.O.P.E., Mental Health Associaton of Nebraska: The H.O.P.E. program is a Supported Employment program for corrections-involved individuals.
• C.A.B.H.I., Mental Health Association of Nebraska: The C.A.B.H.I. program is a Supported Employment program for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

New Jersey

• Peer Recovery Warmline, Mental Health Association in New Jersey: Peer Recovery WarmLine (PRW) is a peer-run service providing ongoing telephone support to mental health consumers as they work towards their recovery. All calls are answered by peers who are trained, supportive mental health consumers. Contact: 973-571-4100
• Journey to Wellness, Mental Health Association in New Jersey- Ocean County: A peer-run, community-based center that strives to provide support to individuals who are experiencing mental health and substance abuse issues. The mission of Journey to Wellness is to create a supportive, consumer-focused community that provides the resources, help, and advocacy necessary to attain and maintain wellness. Journey to Wellness offers groups throughout the weekday evenings. Contact: 732-240-0940
• Peer Outreach Support Team (POST), Mental Health Association in New Jersey- Ocean County: The (POST) program consists of peers, individuals in recovery from mental health and addiction issues, who can share lived experience and serve as role model. POST staff members provide emotional support, information, and assistance with referrals and linkage to community resources, such as mental health, housing, employment, and self-help services. POST also provides many educational and support groups in the community a variety of settings. Services provided to individuals 18 years and up. Contact: 732-240-0940
• Recovery Peer Outreach Support Team (RPOST), Mental Health Association in New Jersey- Ocean County: RPOST is funded through the Ocean County Health Department for Recovery Support Services to assist individuals in Ocean County who face the challenges of addiction. Offering non- clinical One to One Person Centered Peer Support for individuals 18 years of age and up. This program provides transportation to treatment providers, if needed, and includes non-clinical intensive case management-where a peer can meet with a consumer up to 3 times per week. Contact: 732-240-0940

New York

• MHA Peer Recovery Support Services, Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County: Certified Peer Specialist’s trained in recovery coaching, Mental Health First Aid, and ongoing training to provide empowerment towards individualized goals towards success. Contact: 716-661-9044
• Peer Support Services, Mental Health America of Dutchess County: MHA of Dutchess County has two peers who work daily to engage individuals in meaningful activities that may lead to educational, social, or work opportunities.

Ohio

• Compeer, Mental Health America of Licking County: The mission of Compeer is to reduce the isolation and stigma for individuals who experience mental illness, with a commitment to enhance mental health recovery and holistic wellness and increase their community reintegration and inclusion through friendship, meaningful involvement, and service. Contact: mhalc@alink.com
• Peer Recovery Supporter Certification Trainings, Mental Health America of Franklin County:  MHAFC coordinates forty-hour state certification trainings in Franklin County up to four times a year, assists applicants with the certification process and connects training participants with job openings in the community. For more information on MHAFC’s Peer Recovery Supporter programming, please contact Maureen Traverse at 614-221-1441 or mtraverse@mhafc.org.
• Peer Employer Learning Collaborative, Mental Health America of Franklin County: MHAFC has convened the Peer Employer Learning Collaborative, a group of providers and other organizations that currently employ or would like to employ Peer Recovery Supporters. Through the group, employers provide support and information to each other and explore ways to grow peer services and improve the experience of Peer Recovery Supporters working in Franklin County. For more information on MHAFC’s Peer Recovery Supporter programming, please contact Maureen Traverse at 614-221-1441 or mtraverse@mhafc.org.
• Peer Support Research, Mental Health America of Franklin County: MHAFC is conducting research, including surveys and focus groups, to better understand the landscape in which Peer Recovery Supporters work and what additional services and supports might benefit both Peers and their employers. Our research will inform future programming and guide our approach to growing peer services in Franklin County. For more information on MHAFC’s Peer Recovery Supporter programming, please contact Maureen Traverse at 614-221-1441 or mtraverse@mhafc.org.​​​​​​​

Pennsylvania

• GRMHA Peer Support Program, Greater Reading Mental Health Alliance: GRMHA's Peer Support Program is a community-based service for individuals who have a mental illness or a substance abuse disorder. Peer Support is provided by a Certified Peer Support Specialist who has self-identified as a person in recovery from mental illness or substance abuse issues and is committed to his or her own recovery. Peer Support Specialists provide structured, scheduled activities that promote recovery, self-determination, self-advocacy, and enhancement of community living skills. Our Peer Support Service is an individualized, recovery-focused service, based on a relationship of mutuality that allows the individual an opportunity to learn to manage his or her own recovery.

Texas

• Veterans Behavioral Health, Mental Health America of Greater Houston:  Since 2007, the Houston-Harris County Veterans Behavioral Health Program(VBH) at MHA of Greater Houston has employed strategic and collaborative community engagement and trainings in support of MHA of Greater Houston’s overall goal of shaping the mental health of people and communities. VBH impacts the community on numerous levels and strives to ensure that our veterans behavioral health needs are met. As the Greater Houston chapter of the State of Texas’ Military Veteran Peer Network (MVPN), our mission is to connect service members, veterans and their families to local, state and national resources. As the mentoring arm for Harris County Veterans Treatment Courts, we engage justice-involved veterans with peer to peer support, health and wellness, and activities and connect them to supportive services through our dedicated and highly trained volunteers. In addition to serving our local courts, the VBH program provides behavioral health education to volunteer veteran court mentors statewide through our Veterans Court Advocacy and Mentoring Program (VCAMP) in order to better serve Harris County veterans and increase capacity for veteran treatment courts across the state. We also offer peer support groups for incarcerated veterans, veterans in the criminal justice system and the general veteran population. Contact: tkiel@mhahouston.org.

Virginia

• Virginia Peer Recovery Specialist Network, Mental Health America of Virginia: Virginia's Peer Recovery Specialist Network provides professional development and networking for Virginia's Peer Recovery Specialists. Contact: info@mhav.org.
• Recovery Education Training, Mental Health America of Virginia: Mental Health America of Virginia recovery education, created to help individuals who have experienced challenges with trauma, mental health or addiction, incorporates recovery principles, encourages self-empowerment and models peer support practices. These educational programs, facilitated by trained peer recovery specialists, provide opportunities for self-reflection and positive social support. Participants have an opportunity to network with their peers, share their recovery experiences and learn from one another in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Contact: info@mhav.org.

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