Youth Peer Support

Youth Peer Support Members Only Portal – If you are a Youth Peer Support Specialist or Supervisor you can log in here and enter your username and password. Once you are logged in – click here to enter the portal. If you have any trouble accessing the portal or do not remember your username or password send an email to [email protected].

May 2023 YPS Newsletter

YPS Training Calendars:

2023 YPS Calendar

Agencies interested in bringing the Youth Peer Support service to your community click here.

Michigan’s Youth Peer Support Model is a Statewide Initiative in partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services that provides Medicaid reimbursable Youth Peer Support to eligible youth as a part of Michigan’s Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment State Plan.

ACMH is the Statewide Coordinator & Training Partner for the project and provides initial training and ongoing coaching, supervision, support and technical assistance.

Youth Peer Support is a peer-delivered service for youth and young adults. It is designed to support youth and young adults with serious emotional disturbance/serious mental illness (SED/SMI) through shared activities and interventions in the form of Non-Judgmental Support, Connection through Lived Experience, and Supporting Self-Advocacy.

The goals of Youth Peer Support include supporting youth and young adults by building a strong relationship based on mutual respect and strategic self- disclosure to increase hope, confidence, self-advocacy skills, and decision-making abilities.

Youth Peer Support Services can be provided to youth and young adults up to 26 years of age, depending on the individual’s developmental and life stage needs.

Youth Peer Support Services are provided one-on-one by trained Youth Peer Support Specialists in a home or a community setting.

In accordance with the goals in the youth’s or young adult’s plan of service, Youth Peer Support Specialists promote hope and acceptance by sharing their story of lived experience to reduce stigma and increase youth voice and ownership in services. Youth Peer Support Services assist and prepare youth and young adults to successfully navigate challenges, support opportunities for youth/young adults to have a voice in planning and decision-making, empower youth/young adults to communicate wants and needs to those involved in their lives, and encourage participation in services and daily activities.

Youth Peer Support activities are identified as part of the assessment and the person-centered/family-driven, youth- guided planning process.

The goals of the Youth Peer Support included in the individualized plan of service will be mutually identified in active collaboration with the youth receiving services and must be delivered by a Youth Peer Support Specialist with lived experience.

The Youth Peer Support Specialist shall receive regular supervision by a child mental health professional and shall participate as an active member of the treatment team.

Youth Peer Support Supervisors and Administration Manual

Qualifications for the Youth Peer Support Specialist include:

Youth Peer Support Specialists must have lived experience navigating behavioral health systems and must actively participate in and complete the approved MDHHS core training and ongoing certification requirements and expectations. In addition, Youth Peer Support Specialists must be:

Young adults, ages 18 through 28, with lived experience who received mental health services as a youth or young adult.
Willing and able to self-identify as a person who has received or is receiving behavioral health services and is prepared to use that experience to help others.
Experienced in receiving services in a variety of systems (such as child welfare, education, the justice system, vocation, housing etc.) as a youth or young adult is preferred.
Employed by a PIHP/CMHSP or its contract providers.
Trained in the MDHHS approved curriculum and ongoing training model, specific to needs of the population served.

For more information about the Youth Peer Support or for information about how to bring Youth Peer Support to your community contact:

Kristina Dristy, Program Manager, YPS & PSP, [email protected] or 517-643-3314 or,

Sara Reynolds, Youth Peer Support Statewide Coordinator [email protected] or 517-643-3544.

Justin Tate, Manager of Programs for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance in the Division of Mental Health Services to Children and Families Michigan Department of Health and Human Services [email protected] or 517-241-1497.

Jane Shank, Director, ACMH: [email protected] or 231-383-1595.