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Peer Mentoring for People with I/DD: Third Cohort

Why is NCCDD funding this initiative?Goal 3 of the new Five Year Plan: Increase advocacy for individuals with I/DD.

  • Medicaid benefits covering peer support services for individuals with mental illness and/or addiction disorders are well established, and peer mentors have shown positive outcomes.
  • Peer support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are not well established.
  • This initiative aims to demonstrate that peer mentors with an I/DD can positively impact the lives of other individuals with I/DD and their families.

What are the major goals and objectives?

  • Further develop the peer mentor training curriculum to increase peer mentor programs for individuals with I/DD.
  • Train 10 – 15 additional NC Peer Mentors with IDD.
  • Promote the I/DD Peer Mentor job position for the NC Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD).
  • Further Promote the Community Health Worker job position as developed by Alliance Health Care Management.
  • Develop additional job description(s) for peer mentor with IDD.
  • This investment by the NCCDD is for up to six-months: January 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024.

What has taken place since the start of the program?

Coordinated by Community Bridges Consulting Group, this initiative has been a joint venture of Optum, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), and the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities and now includes the NC Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (NCDVRS).  The purpose of the Peer Mentoring Training for People with IDD: Third Cohort is to implement the peer mentoring training program for individuals who live independently with the use of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). Cohort members will learn key concepts to support peers with I/DD. All classes incorporate learning activities to be done as a group and individually, as well as knowledge checks. Participants will complete a pre-training and post-training evaluation to provide feedback which will be incorporated to improve the overall curriculum. Initiative activities include:

  • Recruiting and selecting peer mentor trainees.
  • Assessing and assisting with accommodation needs for peer mentors.
  • Implementing Peer Mentor Training for 10 - 15 participants.
  • Developing local connections and providing guidance to advance the initiative.
  • Developing/finalizing a job description in concert with project partners, including NC Division of EIPD.

What long-term changes are expected as a result of this initiative?

  • Implement the piloted curriculum to train 10 – 15 Peer Mentors with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including individuals recommended by NC Division of EIPD.
  • Conduct evaluation of Peer Mentor Training for People with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities curriculum.
  • Build and manage relationships with and among partners and other key stakeholders and serve as a resource for content, ideas, and thought partnership.
  • Create infrastructure for network connectivity, acting as a liaison to build deep, sustainable partnerships, prioritizing transformational change.
  • Analyze a diversity of data points to inform next steps and long-term goals.
  • Identify and respond to conflicts and misalignment, if any, between stakeholders.
  • Lead monthly stakeholder calls and other activities that deepen connections and relationships to and among stakeholders.
  • Gainful employment for graduates of the Peer Mentor training for people with I/DD.

Who can I contact for questions?

Coordinator Kelly Friedlander, Principal Consultant, Community Bridges Consulting Group, [email protected]

NCCDD: Melissa Swartz, Systems Change Manager, [email protected]

Additional Resources

Website: www.iddpeermentor.com

Download a one pager of this initiative: Peer Mentoring for People with I/DD: Third Cohort

Download the December 2020 i2i Conference presentation and watch the YouTube recording of the presentation: https://youtu.be/0NAaxv9bKzo

Watch some of the pilot training cohort talk about the program on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zAgMgdPoRMo and https://youtu.be/tlJU_JaHSlI

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North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities

Office Hours: 9AM-4PM Monday-Friday
3109 POPLARWOOD COURT, SUITE 105,
RALEIGH, NC 27604
 
1-800-357-6916 (Toll Free)
984-920-8200 (Office/TTY)
984-920-8201 (Fax)
 
This project was supported, in part by grant number 2001NCSCDD-02, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

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