Putting All Communities Together
Since the inception of Journey to Independence (JTI), a federally funded grant program, one-on-one peer support has always been a top priority of the implementation. Evidence shows that participants who receive peer-based services feel that their provider communicates in a more validating way and report more positive relationship qualities than participants who do not receive peer-based services (Sells et al., 2008).
Although Debbie Gerrety, a certified Family Peer Support Specialist, was already on board with the program, JTI was still looking for a Peer Support Specialist who would work directly with the youth. In early 2022, 19-year-old Kisha Malecek joined the program as a Peer Support Specialist and later trained to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist. This article uncovers the story of Debbie and Kisha and their role in Peer Support.
Debbie Gerrety
I had worked as a Family Liaison since 2002 in various jobs, even before the Department of Human Services (DHS) came out with the Peer Support program. Working with families means building a trusted relationship with the community and sharing my own experiences in raising kids with mental health issues. Parents, grandparents, or family, in general, are scared and vulnerable when they do not find supporting resources and feel that they must go through this journey by themselves. That is where I come in!
In 2016 when the opportunity came to be formally trained in the Family Peer Support program, I quickly jumped on the bandwagon. I was accepted into the first cohort through Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH) to be formally trained as a Certified Family Peer Support Specialist (CFPS). Then in 2018, I was chosen to be a part of the pilot program through DHS to develop a Minnesota-based curriculum for Peer Support. Being certified has given me legitimacy but has also helped me create a streamlined approach to my work.
Today, I work as a Family Liaison in the Journey to Independence (JTI) program in the five counties that PACT for Families serves: Kandiyohi, Meeker, McLeod, Renville, and Yellow Medicine. As a Family Liaison, I support parents and caregivers, find resources, and help them navigate systems such as Schools, Children’s Mental Health Services, Social Services, and the Justice System. Working in this field for 20 years gives me so much sense of pride - to see the families whose children were at preschools when I first served who are now high school graduates. Nothing gives me more satisfaction than to see that every kid in our community gets an opportunity to reach their full potential and thrive!? ?
Kisha Malecek
My name is Kisha Malecek. I am a 19-year-old Peer Support Specialist with the JTI program. I found out about the position in my Psychology class at Ridgewater College. I was instantly interested because this position was looking for someone with lived experience with mental health. I felt like, could my past mental health experience positively impact someone in their journey? I took a chance to apply and thankfully got the job. I did not have much knowledge of the role of Peer Support, but I was grateful to have such supportive coworkers and supervisors who helped me navigate this role.
I was excited when the opportunity came to be certified as a Peer Support Specialist. This was a chance to learn and grow in my role as a Peer Support to assist the youth better. In the beginning, the training was tough, and it was long hours of daily online classes for two weeks and daily take-home assignments. On top of this, I was still a part-time staff with the JTI program and a full-time social work student.
Nevertheless, I was very motivated, which kept me wanting to learn more and pushed me to complete the training. In addition, I was not only the youngest in the class, but also the youngest statewide to complete the training.
What I gained from this training is ‘friends’ - yes, but also a greater sense of self. This session taught me many skills and ways to embrace who I am and that age isn’t a factor when something is your calling. It has made me compassionate and cultivated me to connect on a deeper level. Having gone through similar experiences, I honestly feel the phrase?“I understand how you feel”?is made for me. Hopefully, in the future, I will be able to apply my knowledge to help others to move forward positively. This certification and my degree in Social Work will allow me to better serve people who really need support.
A sheer joy to be a peer
In mental health,?“peer”?means exactly what it is for the rest of the world. It is not meant to wear it as a badge but rather how you relate to one another based on your common experience. Many of those common experiences sometimes go beyond a diagnosis and emotional or social distress. Peer support helps individuals have a sense of hope about recovery and are more likely to have employment (Repper & Carter, 2011). Individuals receiving peer support report overall increases in their quality of life (SAMHSA, 2016). Having someone walk alongside us in our journey not only makes the journey manageable, but we gain confidence and a sense of belonging in our ever-changing world.
For more information on Journey to Independence (JTI) program, contact: rochelle.peterson@pactforfamilies.org
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