Common use of Family and Peer Supports Clause in Contracts

Family and Peer Supports. 1. The State will have an effective family support program to meet the needs of families of individuals throughout the State. The family support program will teach families skills and strategies for better supporting their family members’ treatment and recovery in the community. The family support program will include training on identifying a crisis and connecting individuals in crisis to services and supports, as well as education about mental illness and available ongoing community-based services and supports. Family supports can be provided in individual and group settings. 2. The State will have an effective peer support program to help individuals develop skills in managing and coping with symptoms of illness, in self-advocacy, and in identifying and using natural supports. The peer support program will train peers who have personal experience with mental illness and recovery to deliver the peer services and supports. Peer supports can be provided in individual and group settings, in person, or by phone. 3. Implementation of Family and Peer Supports (a) By June 30, 2014, the State will maintain family support services statewide consistent with the provisions set forth in Section V.G.1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the State’s current contract with its vendor for the provision of family support services (or a substantially similar agreement with another entity offering similar services) satisfies the requirements of this subsection. (b) By June 30, 2014, the State will have a system of peer support services, which are offered through peer support centers, open a minimum of eight hours per day, five-and-a-half days per week, or the hourly equivalent thereof, in each Mental Health Region in the State, consistent with the provisions set forth above in Section V.G.2.