Learning Opportunities

Wellness informed peer support: impacting social determinants of health

This course provides an introduction and overview of how peer support services can be “wellness-informed,” with practical examples of how such peer-delivered services impact social determinants of health. The presenter of this webinar is Tom Lane, CRPS, former national director, community and recovery services, Magellan Healthcare.

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Music, culture and health

This four-part series highlights how music can contribute to improved health outcomes. Our presenter is Ross Brillhart. Ross is pursuing his Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, and has done extensive research in this area.

Health promotion and disease prevention

This four-part series explores how we can all benefit from health promotion and disease prevention to realize improved personal wellness outcomes.

Partnering with people to build richer lives in their communities

This webinar series covers the values and practices that form the foundation of person-centered thinking, and how to apply person-centered/partnership thinking to the work you do. Part 1 highlights the principles of self-determination, examples of person-centered thinking effectively utilized in a self-directed long-term services and supports program, and how traditional service system practices can undermine person-centered practices. Part 2 highlights what it means to operationalize person-centered thinking by partnering with people and families, and the values and practices of person-centered thinking in real-life stories of people and their families. These webinars feature our national subject matter experts from TMG by Magellan Health.

Peer specialists 101: research, core competencies and ethics

The first e-course in this series provides an overview on the field of peer support. Peer specialists, also called consumer-providers, peer support specialists and peer mentors, are people recovering from mental illness that are trained and certified to help others with mental health challenges gain hope and move forward with their own recovery.

The peer specialist profession is growing more and more throughout the mental health care system. Recently, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services even recognized peer support on a national level as a billable service and an evidence-based practice.

The five stages in recovery and the role of peer specialists

The second e-course in this series describes the role of peer specialists in guiding their peers with mental illness. It explains how peer specialists support their peers during the five stages in recovery. These stages relate to the disabling power of an illness at different times in people’s lives. The non-linear experience of the recovery process is described. Additionally, cultural implications of recovery services are explained.

Using your recovery story

The third e-course in this series describes the power of personal recovery stories and how peer specialists can create and appropriately share their recovery stories to help others. It contains actual recovery stories, emphasizing the personal and unique nature of recovery for each person. This section of the course also discusses the similarities and differences in recovery stories.

Effective supervision of peer specialists

The final e-course in this series was developed for individuals who supervise peer specialists, although it is also very informative for anyone interested in the aspect of integrating peer specialists into a traditional provider or other healthcare setting. Creating an environment for success and recovery is presented, along with the 20 Pillars of Peer Support. The course also includes a power, conflict and integrity scenario.

Promoting resiliency through peer support whole health

This workshop reviews factors contributing to early death, examines the key domains of wellness and highlights ways in which peer support can build resiliency in those with psychiatric disabilities and co-morbid medical conditions. The presenter of this webinar is Tom Lane, CRPS, former national director, community and recovery services, Magellan Healthcare.

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Senior reach, a successful approach for serving older adults

This webinar describes three benefits of a collaborative management program and lists the keys to success to develop and maintain community partnerships and collaboration; the benefits of a community-based education and outreach program for older adults; as well as barriers older adults experience when accessing services. Presenters are Liz Smith, MHS, LCSW, director of senior services at Jefferson Center for Mental Health in Wheat Ridge, Colorado; and Teresa A. Lugault, BS, MPA, manager, senior reach, senior program services.

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An innovative approach to residential treatment: shorter stays and better outcomes

Youth in residential treatment face many challenges, particularly when transitioning back into the community. It is critical that gains made while in residential treatment are carried over after discharge. Family involvement in the treatment planning process, availability of aftercare supports for youth and their families, and building partnerships are key elements of success. Presenters are Pat Hunt, national director, child and family resiliency services, Magellan Healthcare; John Lees, LSW, child and adolescent care management supervisor, Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania.

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Paving new ground: peers working in inpatient settings  

This course provides information about developing peer roles in inpatient settings, including successful strategies, opportunities and ways to address challenges. The presenter is Gayle Bluebird, RN, peer services director, Delaware Psychiatric Center.

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Getting help for mental health challenges

Although one in four adults experiences mental health challenges, many people don’t receive the professional help that’s often needed to overcome them. In this video, Greg, who has personal experience living with mental health challenges, breaks down the myths and shares information and tips to help people feel more comfortable in getting the help and support they need and deserve.

Psychiatric advance directives concept to practice: a Virginia case study

Advance directives have evolved over the last several decades to become much more holistic tools that can contribute to wellness and recovery. In Virginia, changes were made to the advance directive laws to include mental health care among the domains of health covered in one’s advance directive. The legislative changes served as a springboard for a statewide effort to implement advance directives into routine mental health care practice. The project has led to many lessons in how to implement advance directives, which bridge communication gaps, coordinate care across providers, and strengthen health care recipients’ voices in their care. This course provides information about the Virginia context and experience in implementing advance directives, including advance directive basics and key components of implementation. The presenter of this webinar is Heather Zelle, J.D., Ph.D., post-doctoral research associate, University of Virginia’s Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy.

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