Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist Program (COAPS)

1. Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist Program (COAPS) A Pennsylvania and New Jersey Collaboration 2012

2. Project Goal • The goal of the joint New Jersey and Pennsylvania initiative is to prepare a peer workforce to meet the health and wellness needs of older adults who encounter behavioral health disorders.  This project focuses on strengthening the capacity of the workforce to meet the health and wellness needs of people with serious mental illness who are aging, but whose health needs are often neglected.

3. What is a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS)? A Certified Peer Support Specialistis a person who has progressed in their own recoveryfrom a behavioral health disorder and has graduated from an OMHSAS approved 75 hour CPS training.

4. Development of Peer Support Services • 2004 Three-year grant to implement Peer Specialist Initiative • 2005A Call for Change • 2006 first class of OMHSAS Certified Peer Specialists graduates • 2007 Medicaid funding for Peer Support Services PA Peer Support Services Bulletin PA Peer Support Coalition created • 2008 CPS added as Civil Service classification • 2009 Telephone added as a billable service

5. What is a Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist (COAPS)? • A Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist is a CPS who has completed an OMHSAS approved three day training program on Working with older Adults with Behavioral Health Disorders.

6. Why Develop An Older Adult Peer Initiative? • Older adults are less likely to seek treatment from mental health professionals due to stigma and isolation. (Byrne, 2000; Bratter & Freeman, 1990) • Services provided in non-traditional settings by peers is an effective alternative to engage older adults • Older Adult Advisory Committee recommendations

7. Older Adult Certified Peer Specialists: How Can this Unique Service Benefit Older Adults? • Certified Peer Specialists (CPS) provide hope, empowerment, choices and opportunities that promote mental health recovery in a supportive environment through shared experiences.

8. What do COAPS do? • COAPS support older adults with behavioral health issues in various ways including: crisis support, development of community roles and natural supports, individual advocacy, self help, self improvement, as well as developing, maintaining and improving positive social supports and networks.

9. How are COAPS funded ? • COAPS services are reimbursed through Medicaid, county funding and civil service.

10. Where do COAPS work? • COAPS work in a wide range of settings: peer support services, state hospitals, psychiatric rehabilitation centers, case management, ACT teams, drop-in centers, consumer run organizations, residential settings and senior centers.

11. Development and Implementation of Peer Support Services for Older Adults • Transformation Transfer Initiative Grant Phase l-2008 • Partnered with University of Pennsylvania, PA Department of Aging, PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Statewide stakeholder group • Developed three day COAPS Curriculum • Developed application process • Trained 20 COAPS Statewide

12. Development and Implementation of Peer Support Services for Older Adults • TTI Grant Phase ll-2011 • OA Train the Trainer • 10 individuals trained as trainers including two trainers from NJ • Two training vendors (MHASP, BH&AC) • Each vendor is contracted to deliver two COAPS trainings annually

13. Development and Implementation of Peer Support Services for Older Adults • TTI Grant Phase lll-2012 • Class of 20 COAPS will be trained in Wellness Curriculum developed by UMDNJ • Internships will be created in aging, mental health and community health programs

14. 2012 COAPS PA Outcomes • Peer specialists will be trained in the wellness coaching curriculum. • Internships will be created that will serve mental health, aging and community health programs. • Peers will complete internships in community programs. • A coaching/mentoring program will be developed for the cross-trained peers.

15. 2012 COAPS NJ Outcomes • Peer specialists will be trained in the aging and mental health curriculum. • Internships will be created that will serve residential health care facilities and other congregate settings. • A coaching/mentoring program will be developed for the cross-trained peers. • A Conference/summit on aging and wellness coaching will be held.

16. 2012 Shared Outcomes: NJ and PA • Wellness coaching service will improve both a) social connectedness as measured by the OARS and b) health-related Quality of Life as measured by the standard 4-item set of Healthy Days core questions (CDC HRQOL– 4). • The peer provider workforce will be strengthened by creating and testing a new role for peer providers offering wellness support for older adults. • Individuals in community settings will receive training on older adults, mental health, and wellness.

17. Next Steps… • Expand COAPS workforce beyond Medicaid Funded peer supports • Coordinate Peer Support Services with other health and social services • Survey CPS providers and recipients of service

18. Collaborating Agencies • PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services • University of Pennsylvania, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research • Mental Health Association of SouthEastern PA • PA Behavioral Health and Aging Coalition • Horizon House, Inc., Philadelphia • NJ Division of Mental health and Addiction Services, Department of Human Services • Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions • Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey • Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey

19. References • Byrne, 2000 • Bratter and Feeman, 1990

20. Resources • WWW.parecovery.org • Click on State Initiatives, then peer specialist services • www.papeersupportcoalition.org • www.mhrecovery.org • www.olderpa.org

21. Contact Information Cynthia Zubritsky, PhD cdz@mail.med.upenn.edu University of Pennsylvania, Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research Ginny Mastrine VMastrine@state.pa.us PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse