Forensic Peer Specialists: Partners for Effective Re-entry and Recovery-View Presentation Slides

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The 2023 webinar hosted by the American Psychiatric Association in collaboration with the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network (GMHCN) highlights the role of Forensic Peer Specialists (FPMs) in supporting individuals re-entering society post-incarceration. The program focuses on enhancing effective re-entry and recovery, emphasizing the importance of community safety and health.<br /><br />The FPM program, founded as part of GMHCN’s initiatives, pairs trained peer specialists with lived experience in the criminal justice system to aid others with similar backgrounds. Key training content includes crime desistance theory, reentry planning, motivational interviewing, and fostering cultural competency, among others. The initiative is structured to support individuals in establishing community connections, accessing behavioral health treatments, housing, and employment resources, while also assisting in reducing recidivism and psychiatric hospital readmissions.<br /><br />A crucial aspect of this program is the collaboration among various state departments, including the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Department of Community Supervision, and Department of Corrections. The program is sustained through grants, such as the SAMHSA grant obtained in 2018, which aids in developing a peer-based forensic mentoring training framework. Program outcomes show a marked reduction in re-arrests, hospital re-admissions, and other metrics indicating improved community safety and individual recovery.<br /><br />Overall, the initiative underscores the potential of peer support systems to drive sustainable recovery paths for former inmates, reinforcing social reintegration through shared lived experiences and targeted support processes. This approach embodies the social model of recovery, further emphasizing the value of community in facilitating change and growth for justice-involved individuals.

Keywords

Forensic Peer Specialists

re-entry support

American Psychiatric Association

Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network

crime desistance theory

motivational interviewing

cultural competency

SAMHSA grant

peer support systems

social reintegration