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Holiday Greetings! Wasn’t I just remarking on the crazy heat, and now I can’t find enough layers for my cold walk to work in the mornings?! I try not to complain about either extreme too much. I like seasons and with seasons come some extremes. Seasons remind me that the world keeps turning regardless of whether I am ready for that, or am making the most of my time. They remind me to stay mindful and live intentionally – and for whatever reason, the changing of seasons always brings me a feeling of gratitude for the natural world. It’s a constant reminder that there is beauty surrounding me even when I feel a bit dark inside. I am grateful that nature is still rather awe-inspiring to me. I hope you have things in your life that inspire you - even on your dark days.
Another recent inspiration was the National Federation of Families Annual Conference! It always feels good to be around people from across our nation committed to supporting families and youth along the journey of mental illness. The good and the bad news is how much families are a vital part of healing youth mental illness. That feels hard and heavy at times, and it is only a part of the healing process, but it is the part we can offer and control. That is important amidst so much we cannot control. The conference drilled down on family peer support and how we can help other parents on this familiar journey we have walked and are continuing to walk in many cases.
Idaho needs a vision for family peer support and how it can be implemented to improve outcomes. We have not had this. We have a piecemeal approach that includes a small number of very well-meaning people without appropriate funding or authority to establish family peer support as a statewide offering that is based on best practices that have been established nationally, and that is consistently and successfully integrated into the mental health care of families and youth. This cannot be done piecemeal. This requires a multidisciplinary commitment to the established positive outcomes of peer support. All providers and our mental health system of care should want this fully integrated into family and patient care as it makes the provider and patient journey more successful.
At FYIdaho we have been increasing our own skillset in these areas (our peer support staff attended the Chicago conference for further training and education) not only to offer you the best experience and support available, but to bring training curriculums, standards and practices to our state that are needed to replace our piecemeal approach in Idaho. FYIdaho will move forward very intentionally to be a voice and an organization that lifts family peer support to a new level of acceptance and practice in Idaho. We welcome you to join us! Do you have an interest in becoming a family peer support professional? What questions do you have about this work? What concerns do you have about family peer support? I know most of you doing this are not financially compensated at a reasonable rate. Let’s work on that together.
Stay tuned for a series of invitations in early 2024 that will look at what family peer support can be in Idaho and what vision we can establish together for this profession. FYIdaho wants this to be a multidisciplinary effort across Idaho. All voices encouraged and welcomed. It will take all of us working in partnership towards a common vision, and isn’t that just the perfect approach for peer support? 😊
Gratefully,
Ruth York
Ruth York, MPH
Executive Director, FYIdaho
Lived Experiences are as valid as any academic and/or scientific research.
They are as authentic as any educational degree and/or professional title.
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