PEER MENTORS
African American Recovery Maintenance & Support Project (AARMS)
Mission
RRC peer support services engage the community of African American men and women in recovery from substance abuse problems to develop and provide culturally competent peer support services in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the surrounding metro area. The peer support services are designed to help clients in early stages of recovery prevent relapse, become actively engaged in the community, and promote a high-level of wellness.
Program Sites
RRC peer support services are provided at two sites. These sites include RRC, located at 1900 Chicago Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55404, and My Home, Inc. located at 1010 University Ave. Ste. 1, St. Paul, MN 55104.
About RRC Peer Mentors
Peer support services are not treatment or continuing care services provided by professionals, but rather supportive services provided by people who share the experiences of addiction and recovery.
RRC staff will train peer mentors to identify defenses that clients use to maintain dysfunctional behaviors, to recognize warning signs of relapse and substance abuse in clients, and be familiar with ways to offer support that are likely to be accepted. Staff will provide ongoing support and supervision of all peer mentors and encourage their continued involvement in community based self help groups.
The AARMS program at RRC and My Home utilizes peer mentoring in both group and individual sessions.
· Peer Mentors for Life Skill Support Group
Staff will invite program alumni with 12 or more months of sobriety that are making adequate progress and exhibit a healthy lifestyle to be Peer Mentors that co-facilitate Life Skills Support Groups with staff. We will offer a stipend for this involvement
· Peer Mentors Facilitate Self Help Support Groups
Staff will recruit adult men and women with at least 3 years of sobriety and clean time who are stable, employed and demonstrating effective social skills, problem solving skills, and work ethic to be Peer Mentors that lead self-help support groups for clients and provide one-to-one mentoring as needed. We will offer a stipend for this involvement
Orientation & Training
Staff will provide Peer Mentors with an initial 4 hours of training and orientation followed by quarterly education and consultation sessions. Training and consultation include but is not limited to the following topics:
1. Confidentiality
2. Wisdom from African American culture
3. Anger management and domestic violence
4. Relapse prevention
5. Group facilitating
6. Crisis procedures
7. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
8. Boundaries
9. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Contact Sherman Lightfoot (612.752.8098 / slightfoot@resource-mn.org) ofor more information and/or to request an application.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer www.resource-mn.org
