Family Support Providers
As of September 1, 2024, the Family Support Provider program will be integrated within the Peer Recovery Support program, and current Family Support Providers (FSPs) will now be named “Family Peers” (F-PRSS). This change will expand access to recovery support services to children and their families and allow Family Peers to be reimbursed at the level of current youth and adult PRSS providers. For additional information about the Chapter 53 rule change, please click here.
What is a Family Peer?
A Family Peer is an individual who has lived experience as a caregiver of a child, youth or young adult who has mental health or behavioral health challenges and is certified by ODMHSAS to offer family peer support services. Family Peers use their lived experience to ensure engagement and active participation of the family throughout the treatment process and assist family members in developing knowledge and skills to promote their family member's recovery.
The Benefits of Utilizing a Family Peer
Creating a sense of belonging and family connectedness: The inclusion of kin and extended family members in case planning expands placement and permanency options for children when in-home care is not feasible and can nurture children's sense of belonging during what is oftentimes a tumultuous, unsettling time. Some people who play an important role may be "fictive kin"—those who may not be related, but who have an emotionally significant relationship with the family or child. Improved quality of caseworker visits. The engagement of families through empathy, genuineness, and respect leads to quality, purposeful interactions between families and caseworkers. In turn, quality contacts provide opportunities for caseworkers to make an improved assessment of the child's safety, risk, and needs so they can better support the family (Capacity Building Center for States, 2017b). Youth empowerment. There are also tangible benefits to engaging youth. These include supporting adolescent brain development, encouraging development of leadership skills, improving self-esteem, and helping form critical social connections (Children's Bureau, 2019).
Family preservation: Involving family members early in the casework process may eliminate the need for a child to be placed outside of the home (Children's Bureau, 2019). Improved interpersonal relationships. A family's belief that all its members are respected—and that its strengths, challenges, concerns, and cultural differences are recognized and accepted— strengthens the relationship with the caseworker. This creates confidence in the process that increases the chances for a successful intervention (Horwitz & Marshall, 2015). Increased family buy-in. Families are more likely to commit to achieving goals when they help make decisions about a plan that will affect them and their children (Horwitz & Marshall, 2015).
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Family Support Providers positively impact their communities by:
- Reducing parental stress, insecurity, and helplessness.
- Improving motivational levels, patience, and tolerance.
- Increasing sense of empowerment.
- Decreasing isolation.
- Decreasing (internalized) blame and increasing realization of importance of self-care for parents.
- Increasing ability to take action (through gaining knowledge and learning how to take action).
Chapter 53 Rule Changes
Beginning September 1st, 2024, the Family Support Provider program will be integrated within the Peer Recovery Support program. We anticipate there will be questions regarding the rule change. Here are some answers to a few:
