The Peer Mentor Training Program Curriculum is a product of Optum, Inc. All rights reserved. Any use, alteration, copying, or further dissemination without express written permission from Optum is prohibited.
About the Curriculum:
The curriculum consists of sixteen lessons. It is recommended that at least one hour be allocated for each lesson to allow group activities and discussions. All lessons have activities that can be conducted in person or over Zoom.
The Peer Mentor Training Curriculum contains:
A Student Guide PDF
A Trainer Guide PDF
Slide Decks (PPT) for Lessons
Curriculum Content:
Unit 1: Introduction to Peer Mentoring for People with I/DD
Lesson 1: The Role of the Peer Mentor
Lesson 2: Ethics and Etiquette
Lesson 3: Self-Determination
Lesson 4: Self-Advocacy
Unit 2: Personal Boundaries
Lesson 5: Supporting People’s Choices
Lesson 6: Identifying Feelings and Emotions
Lesson 7: Conflict Resolution
Unit 3: Legal Boundaries
Lesson 8: Legal Protections and the ADA
Lesson 9: The ADA and Disclosure
Unit 4: Peer Mentoring in Action
Lesson 10: Abuse, Neglect, and Bullying
Lesson 11: Mental Health and Substance Use
Lesson 12: Detecting Scams and Fraud
Unit 5: Common Topics
Lesson 14: Leisure Activities
Lesson 15: Volunteering and Employment
Lesson 16: Residential Options / Living in the Community
In addition, through the revision process, content specific to MH Peer Recovery Certification Requirements was added to curriculum. This content includes:
Positive & Negative Self-Talk and How Positive Self-Talk supports Self-Determination
Understanding Learned Helplessness and how Self-Advocacy combats it
Motivational Interviewing and OARS
Sympathy v. Empathy
Trauma-informed care
HIPAA and Mandatory Reporting
Mental Illness and Understanding Recovery
Neurodiversity
Stigma
Peer Support in Mental Health
How It Was Developed:
Optum acquired the base content from the non-profit provider, InReach. Community Bridges worked with the original author to consolidate, revise, and augment the content. The curriculum is designed to be instructor-led and includes learning activities to be done as a group or individually, knowledge checks, and a comprehensive competency test.
How it was Tested:
Optum acquired the base content from the non-profit provider, InReach. Community Bridges worked with the original author to consolidate, revise, and augment the content. The curriculum is designed to be instructor-led and includes learning activities to be done as a group or individually, knowledge checks, and a comprehensive competency test.
Who:
Community Bridges served as Project Director for two cohorts of students in North Carolina in 2021 and 2022. Community Bridges utilized feedback from these cohorts to further refine and strengthen the curriculum before public release.
Contacts:
nformation on how to access/utilize the curriculum:
Tracy Sanders, M. Ed.
Sr. Director, Product Development
Optum Behavioral Health
[email protected]
Information on pilot cohorts, program deployment and/or outcomes.
Kelly Friedlander, MSW, MPA
CEO & Principal Consultant
Community Bridges
[email protected]
This curriculum was based on the InReach peer advocates leadership training curriculum authored by Patricia K. Keul in collaboration with a group of peer mentors with intellectual/ developmental disabilities (I/DD). Peer mentors included: L. Newell, F. Davis, C. Brantley, and M. Cannady. Optum expresses our gratitude to these individuals for their willingness to share their insights and lived experiences to help others with I/DD to live, work, and contribute to their communities as full citizens.
