Process to Hire and Train a Youth Peer Support Specialist (YPSS) in your Community

STEP ONE: Complete the Readiness Documents

Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans/Community Mental Health Agencies interested in bringing Youth Peer Support to their community can begin the process by completing & submitting the following documents:

YPS Readiness Plan

YPS Organizational Readiness Checklist

Hiring a Parent Support Partner or Youth Peer Support Specialist

Directions: Open, complete and save the above documents and forward the completed documents to Krissy Dristy, Youth Peer Support Project Manger at: [email protected]. Once Krissy has received and reviewed the documents she will contact you and then forward the training registration packet. For tips on hiring a Youth Peer Support Specialist, please refer to Hiring a Parent Support Partner or Youth Peer Support Specialist. 

STEP TWO: Complete the Registration Packet

The following registration packet must be completed and submitted to Mandy Gernand at [email protected] by the designated deadline in order to register a Youth Support Specialist to attend the initial training:

YPS Registration Packet

What is involved in the Youth Peer Support Specialist Certification Process?

YPSS Certification Requirements 

Youth Peer Support Supervisors and Administration Manual

Youth Peer Support Training Requirements:

The Youth Peer Support Specialist training model requires 100% attendance and participation in the full classroom-style training, 11 months of individual & group coaching, and Quarterly Professional Development/ Technical Assistance (PD/TA) meetings.

The YPSS Supervisor is also required to attend the final day of the initial training.

Professional Development & Technical Assistance Meetings are held quarterly and Youth Peer Support Specialists meet face to face for on-going learning. Quarterly meetings provide an opportunity for networking with other YPSS’s and technical assistance around barriers with implementation of the model.

Youth Peer Support Specialist Supervision Requirements:

Supervision of the Youth Peer Support Specialist is provided by a CMHSP Child Mental Health Provider who:

• Has direct knowledge and contact with youth receiving Youth Peer Support service.
• Provides clinical direction related to treatment goals.
• Supports clinical staff to integrate YPSS’s into treatment team, development of goals, etc.

Agency Expectations of the Youth Peer Support Project:

It is a requirement that:

• The YPSS be hired and employed by the CMH or contract agency before they attend the initial part one training. The initial training is intended only for YPSS who will be providing this Medicaid service.
• All pre-training paperwork be completed by the given deadlines (registration, supervisor contact information, media release and emergency contact).
• All MDHHS requirements for initial training and follow-up technical assistance and coaching for the YPSS and supervisors will be met (coaching calls, quarterly meetings, and joint supervision).
• YPSSs actively work directly with and provide YPS services to youth with SED who are authorized to receive services in the public mental health system during the certification process.
• The agency will assure that YPSS have equipment and all technology to perform their job.
• All supervisors will attend the designated portion of the YPSS training for each YPSS they send to training (which could include the CMHSP, contract and/or Youth Peer Supervisor). Supervisors will continue to participate in additional TA/training as required by the YPSS model or requested by the Statewide Coordinator. 
• Regular individual supervision will be provided by a qualified children’s mental health professional (CMHP) identified by the agency on a bi-weekly basis at a minimum. 
• If the YPSS is employed through a family or contract organization, a supervisor from that organization will be identified and will participate in a minimum of monthly supervision with the CMH and YPSS.
• The agency will ensure that the YPSS will be an active member of the treatment team and will participate in team and planning meetings.

It is strongly recommended that:

• A minimum of two YPSS be hired per agency as they will offer additional support to one another, which contributes to improved retention rates for the YPSS and offers choice by broadening the range of strengths, skills, and experiences from which to draw in providing support for youth.
• Employers establish a consistent work schedule that includes a minimum number of hours of work per week (i.e. 20 hours per week).
• The workload will be individualized to assure that youth receive a high quality YPS service.

Questions?

For more information about how to bring the Youth Peer Support service to your Prepaid Inpatient Health Plan/Community Mental Health or to learn more about the Youth Peer Support training process, contact Sara Reynolds, Youth Peer Support Statewide Coordinator at: [email protected] or 517-643-3544 or Kristina Dristy, YPS & PSP Program Manager at: [email protected] or 517-643-3314.

Youth Peer Support State Contacts:

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

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

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

Jane Shank, Executive Director, Association for Children’s Mental Health [email protected] or 231-383-1595.