Peer Support Archives - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
New Research Article on Peer Support for Youth and Young Adults
February 4, 2024 | NWI
This free, full-text article on the Pathways website describes a research study focused on peer support for young people experiencing serious mental health conditions. The article details a new theory that shows how and why one-on-one peer support produces positive outcomes for young people receiving peer support. The article also outlines key skills that peer support specialists use to enhance the likelihood of positive outcomes.
Wellness Best Practices for Parent Peer Support Partners
January 8, 2024 | NWI
This brief document outlines best practices, strategies and considerations for supervising parent peer support partners and promoting their wellness and self-care.
Research Update: Peer Support for Youth and Young Adults
September 23, 2022 | NWI
This brief report summarizes recently-published research relevant to peer support for youth and young adults who experience serious mental health conditions.
New Research on Peer Support in Wraparound
May 13, 2022 | NWI
This new article, published in Psychiatric Services, reports on a study that investigated a skills enhancement and role clarification training intervention for young adult peer support specialists (YPSSs) in Wraparound. The results showed gains in YPSSs’ skills and confidence in providing person-centered planning to the young people they worked with as well as reduced job-related anxiety and high training satisfaction.
Young Men of Color Present Their Research on Mental Health
February 24, 2022 | NWI
A cohort of Black and brown men 21 years and younger, undertook research based on the premise that they are best equipped to research their own community’s experience with mental health and make recommendations for effective change. The researchers conducted surveys, interviews and focus groups with peers about mental health.
Increasing Engagement Of Fathers In Services Through Father-Specific Programming
February 8, 2021 | Maria Hermsen-Kritz
This webinar, from the Institute on Research and Poverty at University of Wisconsin, Madison, talks about how father-specific programming can enhance outcomes for children and families and highlights examples of such programming.
The Availability of Peer Support and Disparities in Outpatient Mental Health Service Use Among Minority Youth with Serious Mental Illness
August 3, 2020 | Maria Hermsen-Kritz
This study looked at whether the availability of peer support reduced disparities in use of outpatient mental health services among youth ages 16–24 with serious mental illness in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. Researchers found that peer support was generally associated with an increase in use of outpatient mental health services among Black and Latinx youth.
Read more here»
FosterStrong, Media Platform For and By Foster Youth, To Launch This Week
May 28, 2020 | Maria Hermsen-Kritz
A new nonprofit led by those with lived experience in the foster care system, designed to share stories of those currently in foster care as well as alums, launched this week.
Read more here»
Practice Brief: Supporting the Youth Peer Workforce
March 9, 2020 | Maria Hermsen-Kritz
This new practice brief, prepared in collaboration with MHTTC and Pathways RTC, addresses the existing research on how to best support youth peer support specialists and offers strategies and to address some of the common challenges they and their employers face.
New Resource: Assessing Readiness to Become a Parent Peer Support Provider
July 12, 2016 | Emily Taylor
A new TA Network tip sheet produced by FREDLA is designed to help determine when a parent is ready to become a parent peer support provider (PPSP). The practical resource includes a list of qualifications and skills, as well as interview questions and links to other information.
Access the Parent Peer Support Provider Readiness Tip Sheet»