Health care is a complex and constantly shifting environment that requires organizations to think beyond traditional care models. Community-based, integrated care models utilizing peer support professionals can lead to a reduction in inpatient services, an increase in outpatient treatment visits, and a reduction of involuntary hospitalizations.
While Peer Support Specialists have faced stigmatization and barriers to inclusion in the traditional healthcare workforce, they are uniquely positioned in their role on a care team due to their lived experience that allows them to better understand, relate to, and ultimately support individuals they serve with similar lived experience and/or life challenges.
In this CIN webinar, led by Painted Brain – a peer-led community-based behavioral health organization in Los Angeles County – we learned how their integrated community approach and training center powered by peers with lived experiences of mental health challenges, substance abuse, and the justice system, provides compassionate support and behavioral health care to their communities. Painted Brain shared how they are enhancing their current service provisions to partner with managed care plans as a new Medi-Cal benefit service provider through an integrated model that can collectively benefit health plans, hospitals, community-based organizations, peers and the community members. Participants heard directly from a Peer Support Specialist who have supported this work on the ground and heard challenges many Peer Support Specialists navigate in this work.
This webinar was intended for all leaders, support and administrative staff, medical and allied health care providers, and individuals seeking to better understand alternative care models in California’s current health ecosystem.
At the end of the workshop participants:
- Understood an integrated, community centered approach to addressing mental health challenges.
- Understood the importance and need for certified peer support specialist networks across the state.
The speakers were:
- Rayshell Chambers, MPA, executive director, Painted Brain
- Bella Prizkat, peer workforce development coordinator, Painted Brain
See recordings of recent past CIN events. This event was offered free of charge.
For questions about this event, contact the CIN Program Office Team.
See the recording
Learn more about the California Improvement Network, a project of the California Health Care Foundation that is managed by Healthforce Center at UCSF, and sign up for the CIN newsletter.
