Gratiot Integrated Health Network
Program Links
Program Description
Peer Support/ Recovery Coach
Service Codes: H0038 (HF), T1012
Program Philosophy: Gratiot Integrated Health Network provides services to build resilience, and to support the recovery or well-being of individuals and the integration of individuals served into the community. Through service provision, symptoms or needs will be reduced and individuals will experience an improvement in level of functioning in their environment. The program strives to continually improve service provision in order that individuals served experience an enhanced quality of life.
Program Goals: The goal of Peer Support services is to provide individuals with opportunities to support, mentor and assist persons served to achieve community inclusion, participation, independence, recovery, resiliency and/or productivity. Peer Support Specialists are individuals who have a unique background and skill level from their own experience in utilizing services and supports to achieve their personal goals of community membership, independence and productivity. Peers have a special ability to gain trust and respect of other beneficiaries based on shared experience and perspectives with disabilities, and with planning and negotiating human service systems. Peer Recovery coaches are specifically trained to provide advanced peer recovery support services.
Services/Scope of Services: Peer Support services include:
- Vocational assistance for persons served seeking education and/or training opportunities in finding a job, achieving successful employment activities, and developing self employment opportunities.
- Housing assistance that provides support for locating and acquiring appropriate housing to achieve independent living; finding and choosing roommates; utilizing short-term, interim or one time-only financial assistance in order to transition from restrictive settings into independent integrated living arrangements; making applications for Section 8 Housing vouchers; managing costs or room and board utilizing an individual budget; purchasing a home; etc.
- Services and supports planning, and utilization assistance that provides assistance and partnership in:
- The person-centered planning process
- Developing and applying arrangements that support self-determination
- Directly selecting, employing or guiding support staff
- Sharing stories of recovery and/or advocacy involvement and initiative for the purpose of assisting recovery and/or self advocacy
- Assessing entitlements
- Developing wellness plans
- Developing advance directives
- Learning about and pursuing alternatives to guardianship
- Providing supportive services during crises
- Developing, implementing and providing ongoing guidance for advocacy and support groups
- Recovery planning during the persons recovery from alcohol or drug problems.
Activities provided by Peer Support Specialists are completed in partnership with persons served for the specific purpose of achieving increased community inclusion and participation, independence and productivity. Individuals providing Peer Support services must be able to demonstrate their experience in relationship to the types of guidance, support and mentoring activities they will provide. Individuals providing these services should be those generally recognized and accepted by peers. Persons served utilizing Peer Support services must freely choose the individual who is providing services. Peer Support Specialists serving persons with mental illness must meet MDCH specialized training and certification requirements.
Populations served include individuals with SUD/co-occurring disorders, intellectual developmental disabilities, adults with serious mental illness, and children with serious emotional disturbance. Services are provided in the location that best meets the need of the service being provided (i.e., at the agency, individual’s home, community) based on the choices of the person served.
Services are provided according to the choices and needs of the person served and may be at anytime seven days a week/24 hours a day. The frequency of the service provided is determined by the choices and needs of the person served.
Services will not be denied based on an individual’s inability to pay for services.
Admission/Re-Admission Criteria: The Access Coordinator, in conjunction with the program supervisor, is responsible for prioritizing the admission/readmission of eligible individuals based on the severity of needs. Amount, scope, and duration of service provision is determined based upon evaluation of medical necessity and will be specified in the individual plan of service. Medical necessity is determined based upon a thorough psychosocial assessment, standardized functional assessment tools (i.e. SIS, CAFAS, LOCUS, etc.), and the clinical judgment of trained professionals. Based upon the aforementioned evaluation, individuals will be assigned a level of care benefit plan, specifying a minimum and maximum range of service units. Exceptions to level of care benefit plans will be reviewed by the Utilization Management department.
It is the policy of Gratiot Integrated Health Network Service Program to provide services to all eligible consumers in a manner that is sensitive to the cultural and socio-economic needs of the individual in a nondiscriminatory and/or non-threatening manner. Services are provided to eligible individuals without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual preference, handicap, juvenile justice status or any other protected status as required by law. The agency endeavors to accommodate individuals with special needs, or refers to providers equipped to meet their needs.
When individuals are found to be ineligible for services, they are given the reason(s) and are directed to alternative or more appropriate services. In addition, when applicable, the family/support system and/or the referral source are informed as to the reason for ineligibility.
Transition/Discharge Criteria: An individual may be transitioned or discharged from Peer Support services when one or more of the following occur:
- Individual or guardian request
- Completion of treatment goals
- Lack of individual participation
- Individual requires level or type of service not currently available
When an individual is discharged or removed from the program for aggressive and/or assaultive behavior, follow-up will occur within 72 hours to insure linkage to appropriate care.
Regardless of discharge status, any individual may reapply for services by contacting GIHN.