April 2005

Our family organization has been contracted by our community's system of care to develop and implement a peer support and advocacy program. We have hired two family leaders from the community, and both of them have direct experience advocating for their own children and families and building positive relationships with service provider agencies. One of the family leaders has been facilitating a support group for families with children with ADHD in our community. We have recently developed job descriptions for these positions. The new staff members are adhering to our general office policies and procedures, but these policies do not specifically address the implementation of their roles and responsibilities. It is taking tremendous time and energy to build this program from scratch. What assistance and support is available to help us develop an effective peer support and advocacy program, and what advice would you offer?

There are currently many peer support and advocacy programs being developed and implemented by family-run organizations across the country in communities, states, Tribes, and territories. Most of these family-run organizations are working very hard to develop their organization's infrastructure and capacity, and at the same time provide specific services and coordinate system of care family and youth involvement activities through their contracts.

It is important for your organization to develop clear goals based on an understanding of the community's need and to ensure that the goals connect to the overall strategic plan for the organization. Using logic models to develop programs has been very successful. Once a community needs assessment has been completed and you have crafted goals and objectives to meet the need, your organization can develop creative peer support and advocacy services and products to meet that need. Examples of some services and products that family-run organizations have developed and implemented are:

• Toll-free phone support, including information and referral
• Emotional and crisis support
• Parent education
• Advocacy support at care planning meetings
• Educational advocacy
• Support groups
• Youth groups
• Family resource centers with available staff, clearing house information and products, and computer access
• Training and supporting family and youth participation in system of care policy and decision-making bodies and activities

To develop an effective program, there are several essential steps that an organization should follow, including the following:

1. Conduct an ongoing assessment of community need.
2. Develop and implement a program structural design.
3. Develop and implement clear job descriptions, policies, and procedures for program management and implementation.
4. Develop and implement a marketing plan.
5. Develop and implement an evaluation and quality assurance plan.

Successful family organizations market their services and products to the community and other partners to generate funding for and sustainability of their organization. If your organization is negotiating a contract to develop and implement a new program or service, it is important that resources are budgeted to support all key components needed for successful program implementation. Family organizations have learned that having staff deliver peer support and advocacy is not enough. Some additional suggestions include:

• Receive a consultation in program planning and management.
• Purchase program manuals and trainings from mature family-run organizations delivering these programs.
• Visit successful programs in operation.
• Hire program management staff or consultants that can focus specifically on the continued development, marketing, financing, implementation, and evaluation of the program.
• Receive a consultation from evaluation experts to develop strong internal evaluation and quality assurance of the program.

---

Next month we will share some additional resources on the topic of peer support and advocacy. If your family organization has any examples or products that you would like to share related to implementing peer support and advocacy programs, please forward them to lisaconlan2@aol.com . We are happy to share your information as new resources.

The Family Resource Specialists recognize the need for more access to resources in the area of program development and implementation, and we are beginning to research successful peer support and advocacy programs that can be shared by family-run organizations across the country. We are available by phone and e-mail at any time to support your organization with program development and implementation. Currently we are seeking family leaders and other system of care partners who would be willing to participate in a workgroup to develop additional program development, implementation, and evaluation resources and tools. If you are interested, please contact Lisa Conlan at 401-397-5489 or lisaconlan2@aol.com .

On June 16, 2005, there will be a Web-based learning opportunity on Family Driven Individualized Support and Advocacy Programs in Systems of Care. Please watch for the announcement and registration for this event.