N.H. Admin. Code § He-M 402.06

Current through Register No. 50, December 12, 2024

Section He-M 402.06 - Peer Support Services

(a) PSAs shall provide the following supports and services:

(1) Peer support, consisting of supportive interactions among members, participants, staff and volunteers, are based on shared experience which are:

a. Face-to-face or by telephone;

b. Intended to assist people to understand their potential and ability to move towards wellness; and

c. Based on acceptance, trust, respect, and mutual support;

(2) Outreach, consisting of any community-based activity, face-to-face or by telephone, that:

a. Is designed to contact peers; and

b. Includes, at a minimum, the following:

1. Providing support to members and participants and other peers who are unable to attend activities of the peer support agency;

2. Visiting peers, at their request, who are psychiatrically hospitalized; and

3. Reaching out to people who meet membership criteria and are homeless;

(3) Telephone peer support, consisting of peer support provided to members and participants of a PSA or to others who contact the agency during business hours;

(4) A monthly newsletter published and distributed by the PSA that describes:

a. Agency services and activities;

b. Social and recreational opportunities;

c. Other community services that might be of interest to members and participants; and

d. Other relevant topics;

(5) Wellness training, consisting of training provided by or sponsored by a PSA intended to enhance members' and participants' ability to attain and maintain their wellness;

(6) Monthly educational events, which over the course of a year shall include:

a. Rights protection;

b. Peer advocacy;

c. Wellness management; and

d. Community resources; and

(7) Individual peer assistance provided to peers to:

a. Locate, obtain and maintain services and supports through referral, consumer education and self-empowerment;

b. Provide support for individuals who are identifying problems to be addressed or resolving grievances; and

c. Promote self-advocacy.

(b) PSAs may provide additional services not identified in (a) above including the following:

(1) Peer respite, which shall:

a. Consist of a 24-hour, short-term, non-medical program designed as an alternative to hospitalization; and

b. Be operated by PSA staff trained in methods designed to address the needs of peers experiencing psychiatric crises;

(2) Residential services, which shall consist of support and assistance provided by a PSA to a member or participant;

(3) Vocational support, which shall consist of the provision of peer support intended to promote a member's or participant's competitive employment;

(4) Warmline, which shall:

a. Be a separate program within the PSA;

b. Offer on-call telephone peer support services;

c. Be available to members, participants, and others who want or need support;

d. Have staff trained to provide warmline services; and

e. Be provided in the specific scheduled hours during which the PSA is closed; and

(5) Transportation.

(c) A PSA shall conduct community education activities, including the provision of education and consultation to members of the community at large, with the goal of increasing the acceptance of persons recovering from mental illness. Activities shall include working with the media, public speaking, and information dissemination.

(d) A PSA shall collaborate with other local human service providers that serve consumers in order to:

(1) Facilitate referrals; and

(2) Share information about services and other local resources.

(e) A PSA shall offer training and technical assistance to help peers advocate on their own behalf regarding health care.

(f) A PSA shall ensure through the monthly newsletter that peers are informed and provided with the opportunity for involvement in local and system-wide service planning, program evaluation, education, wellness, and training activities as described in (a) above.

(g) Guests may be invited to participate in peer support activities.

N.H. Admin. Code § He-M 402.06

#2038, eff 7-1-82; ss by #2711, eff 5-16-84; ss by #5130, eff 5-1-91, EXPIRED: 5-1-97

New. #8445, eff 10-6-05

Amended by Volume XXXVII Number 23, Filed June 8, 2017, Proposed by #12193, Effective 5/26/2017, Expires 5/26/2027.