How Peerstar LLC Responds to Clients Needs During Pandemic
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the recent COVID-19 pandemic has behavioral health workers transitioning to new ways of helping their clients.
Peerstar LLC, a behavioral health company providing services locally in Jefferson, Clearfield and Indiana counties, is the largest provider by geographic area of certified peer support services in Pennsylvania that covers 27 counties.
Certified Peer Specialists (CPS) offer guidance, support and hope to individual recovering from mental illnesses and or co-occurring and dual diagnosis disorders with a self-directed recovery approach.
Peerstar also provides specialized forensic peer support in prisons and communities to individuals involved with the criminal justice system who suffer from mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders and work closely with law enforcement, corrections, probation and parole.
Staff members at Peerstar have responded to the pandemic crisis by providing various tele-health services that has resulted in many surprising benefits for their peers (clients) and workforce.
“We knew this was going to be a big challenge,” said Elise Harmon, assistance regional director for Clearfield/Jefferson counties. “But our CPSs and staff have stepped up to the task.”
One reason peer support is successful, she said, is that peer specialists go where they are most needed: into homes and communities.
Social isolation is a common concern and the coronavirus threatened to make it an even larger barrier, according to Harmon.
While some CPSs continue to work together in the peers’ home environment while following the CDC guidelines, others are finding tele-health that includes both telephone and video sessions are working very well.
“Once we had approval to offer tele-sessions, the staff and CPSs really got creative to make sure the sessions continue to help the peer work on their established goals,” said Harmon.
Instead of longer in-home or community sessions, she said CPSs are engaging with peers via phone or video conference several times a week for shorter sessions.
“Julie,” a current peer in the area, shared her thoughts on how several phone sessions have helped.
“My CPS helps me think things through about the possible outcomes of decisions I make,” Julie said. “She gives me hope and helps me remember that ‘this too shall pass’ and helps me to see that there is a silver lining at the end of the dark clouds. ”
Colleen Schott, a supervisor for Peerstar, said that her peers are responding well to the new way of having sessions.
“I do several calls per week to those that I work with and they appreciate the continual support because it gives them much-needed hope,” said Schott.
For information on Peerstar, visit www.peerstarllc.com.
