Trauma Survivor Project
(TSP)
Peer-to-Peer Support

Creating a Recovery Environment

Consumer Care Partnerships (CCP) in Marion & Yamhill Counties

Creating a Recovery Environment
for you

~About TSP Page~

THE TRAUMA SURVIVOR PROJECT

PROJECT VALUES:
Hope
People who have experienced trauma have the ability within themselves to meet their own challenges, build and maintain their own support systems, and to express and impart hope to others. Trauma survivors can relate to other trauma survivors in order to “humanize” a de-humanizing experience.

Respect
Each trauma survivor is in charge of his /her own recovery and chooses recovery over and over again. Each survivor has her/his own process and may start/stop the service or makes use of it in a constant way over a period of time. Survivors determine what they need or what they want to try, even during times when it’s hard to articulate their needs. Every survivor has her/his best answers; and through peer support discovers those answers.

Self Determination
Volunteers believe survivors can control their own destiny. Through making their own choices, survivors learn to effectively solve problems, and take control and responsibility for their life.

Recovery
Volunteers impart hope to trauma survivors, which instills the belief that they can and do recover. Volunteers support each individual’s recovery and their ability to live a full and productive life in the community.

Learn From Each Other
Volunteers learn from the Survivor as much as the Survivor learns from her/his own experience.

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS
Volunteers for TSP have a variety of volunteer assignments and work individually or in pairs, with an average of 3 survivors per week. The Volunteer gets to know Survivors and be a support person while the Survivor gathers information and makes decisions about their treatment and other life goals, such as home, relationships, exercise, faith, etc.

Screening of volunteers includes an initial interview and a criminal background check. Volunteers also receive instruction in confidentiality, HIPPA guidelines, drug free workplace policies, and a code of ethics. All volunteers and staff are required to attend a 36 hour training prior to volunteering. The training includes modules on subjects such as: the impact of trauma, strengths assessment, identifying needs and goals, developing strengths based discovery/recovery plans, self care, confidentiality and policies and procedures. Volunteers also receive bi-monthly support and supervision group meetings.

Project ABLE implemented the TSP program in 2005 by developing relationships with providers, crisis services, hospitals and consumer organizations throughout the region.

Project ABLE currently contracts with the Mid-Valley Behavioral Care Network to develop and operate a volunteer program that delivers peer support to persons who are frequent users of crisis and/or psychiatric hospital services. This is called the Trauma Survivor Peer Support program. The volunteers are not behavioral health providers.

The primary role of the volunteers is to provide emotional support and companionship to consumers, and help them strengthen participation in the community, broaden support networks, and identify goals in their lives and find resources to help meet those goals.

Project ABLE has hired a staff member to coordinate this program. The coordinator recruits, screens and supervises approximately 45 volunteers. A contracted Psychologist provides ongoing volunteer support with biweekly group meetings.

Project ABLE maintains standards of quality through volunteer procedure manuals, job descriptions, clear vision and values statement and evaluation criteria. Screening of volunteers and employees includes a criminal background check, and training that includes units on confidentiality, HIPAA guidelines, and a code of ethics.

The Medication Empowerment program is designed to promote increased participation in informed consent and medication choice and adherence with physicians and nurse practitioners and to support the implementation of evidence-based medication practices in BCN region.

It provides the consumer education component that:
• Empowers consumers to take an active role in their medication regime
• Educates and inform consumers of their rights and responsibilities in the 
   prescribing process
• Equips consumers with the communication skills which that enables them to be
   active partners with their prescribers
• Trains consumers to make informed choices about medications

Peer Trainers:
• have current or past experience taking psychotropic medication
• have personal experience with recovery and an interest in teaching others
• are empathic and non-judgmental, with good basic communication skills
• wish to empower others to make their own choices and advocate for themselves
  (vs. having a personal agenda regarding the use of psychotropic medication)

This program is exemplary in its guiding principles which include:
• Peer expertise and partnerships
• Recovery-oriented hope and thought processes
• Education and support of both providers and consumers
• Shared decision-making based on mutual expertise and knowledge
• Evidence-based practices