The Latest News Digest is now available!
What’s New in the Academy of Peer Services?
We are now about half-way through first Term of the Academy of Peer Services. Six weeks remain. If you have not looked lately at the new and revised courses for Term 1, they include:
- Essential Communication Skills (revised Core course)
- Peer Support in Criminal Justice (new Elective course)
- The Historical Roots of the Peer Movement (revised Core course)
- Introduction to the Supervision of Peer Specialists (revised Forum)
We look forward to your continued participation and your involvement in our Virtual Community. Here are some of the highlights.
Deadlines and Upcoming Events
As always, the News Digest includes the latest calls for proposals, as well as upcoming workshops, webinars, live events and more.
A new contributor is the Institute for the Development of Human Arts, which is a network of mental health workers, clinicians, psychiatrists, current and prior users of mental health services, advocates, artists, and survivors of trauma and adversity, who are exploring the link between personal and societal transformation. Check out the Upcoming Events to learn more.
Announcements
The Office of Mental Health held the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) in Albany on January 29 and 30, which includes a time for reports from the regions. This issue includes some of the programs and innovations from the different regions. Remember – the Virtual Community and News Digest is a great place to share these regional announcements and reports.
Rutgers University is launching a 12-credit undergraduate Certificate Program in Peer Support. There is a Frequently Asked Questions included in this issue of News Digest.
This issue of News Digest also contains a link to For Like Minds, a discussion platform that is under development and will launch soon. Sign up for the newsletter so you can get involved early.
Research Studies and Findings
Help us Connect the Dots! The Sense of Community is a study by the Academy of Peer Services research team to learn more about the peer support workforce (all regions, all roles). Whether you are a peer specialist or play another role in the peer support workforce, take our online survey: Sense of Community in the Peer Support Workforce. It will take approximately 9 minutes to complete.
Share the Sense of Community survey with others! Anyone with a role in delivering peer support services are welcome and invited to take the survey.
Other research in this issue includes the findings of a recent survey by the New York City Peer and Community Health Workforce Consortium and a new survey the consortium is currently conducting of managers, program coordinators, and others at the organizational level. Two other surveys include perceptions of stress and short survey of supervisors of peer specialists.
For Supervisors – “Ask the Supervisor”
On Thursday, February 22, we will be holding the first in a monthly series of “Ask the Supervisor” dialogues using the WebEx (webinar) platform. Panelists for this first dialogue will be the subject matter experts from the Academy of Peer Services courses on supervision. Don’t miss it. Click here to sign up today!
Focus Groups for Supervisors
The Academy of Peer Services research team is conducting a series of focus groups with supervisors. The next focus groups will be held in Herkimer on March 26 and another in Batavia on March 29. Space is limited. If you are a supervisor of peer specialists, sign up using the Eventbrite links in this issue of News Digest or on the Virtual Community website.
Employment
There are some exciting new positions, including a statewide position with the Mental Health Empowerment Project (MHEP), new listings with Friendship Benches and several volunteer opportunities in this issue. If you are an employer or know of job openings for peer specialists and others in the peer support workforce, let us know so we can continue to add to our Job Bank!
Virtual Community News Digest is a project of the Academy of Peer Services
Please share this newsletter with anyone who might have an interest in announcements for the peer workforce. A PDF is attached or can be accessed online, click here.
Click “News” in the heading of the Virtual Community website for previous issues: https://aps-community.org
Warm wishes,
Rita Cronise / Virtual Community Coordinator