SAC MIN 1994-05-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The functions of the peer counseling partnership include: 1.) Supervision-required to be done weekly; all peer counselors must attend weekly meetings with a trained, skilled supervisor. 2.) Assessment of participants. 3.) Extensive training provided to peer counselors. Ms. Moonrider explained that San Mateo County will continue to provide two extensive training programs per year and the private sector will provide two hours of supervision per week for a group of peer counselors. She has been working with several hospitals to try and develop this program for quite some time and has recently heard that Kaiser-Redwood City, Seton, and San Mateo County General Hospitals have each agreed to supervise one support group. She is currently working 8-10 hours per week on this project to try and keep it going because she feels it is such a valuable program. Ms. Moonrider noted that if Redwood City took on a supervision role, we would get an ongoing flow of trained volunteer peer counselors and stated there are 35 active volunteers at this time. She confirmed the County is now making an ongoing commitment to provide program training. The supervision role would include: 1.) Recruiting for new volunteers. 2.) Providing a funded professional to supervise a group of peer counselors; this person takes responsibility for 2 hours of supervision per week and must be a licensed psychologist, family counselor or retired clinician. 3.) Attending a 12 week peer counseling training program. Ms. Moonrider stated that hourly fees for a licensed counselor range from $40.00-$70.00 per hour and this person would probably work an average of 3 hours per week supervising the peer counselors. The sponsoring group would have to recruit the professional and Ms. Moonrider said she would be happy to assist with the recruitment. She noted that we would want someone already in private practice who carries their own professional liability. She said the program is primarily a prevention program which prevents situations from getting to the crisis level. She stressed that the program is not a clinical or treatment program. The Commissioners discussed the important need for this support service for Redwood City seniors and what possible actions could be taken to move this matter forward. M/S Jordan/Lloyd: To direct staff to prepare a proposal looking at costs for supervision and program operation in Redwood City and to bring back the information to the Commission. Motion passed.