Peer Voices of Orange County
PROGRAMS
Community Engagement Meetings
Our community engagement meetings are designed to formally gather the feedback, opinions, ideas, values, and beliefs of peers, family members of individuals with mental health conditions, and mental health professionals. These meetings are ongoing and are a collaborative effort to obtain honest feedback and information regarding topics such as: challenges and concerns individuals have about our behavioral health care system, positive experiences with the system, and whether or not expressed concerns are addressed and resolved. We see our community engagement meetings as a platform for the community to express their concerns and compliments in a formal, organized manner. This information is shared with our behavioral health care system. This assists providers in improving their process for collecting and implementing feedback from the mental health community.
1. We interviewed thirty-three peers for our Peer Community Engagement Meeting.
2. We interviewed twelve family members for our Family Member Community Engagement Meeting.
3. Seven providers were interviewed for our Mental Health Provider Community Engagement Meeting.
4. The feedback and results obtained from the participants were analyzed and reviewed.
5. We reported the feedback and results to Mind-OC and the County of Orange, Health Care Agency, Behavioral Health Services.
"Wellness at Work" Employment Support Group
Our "Wellness at Work" Employment Support Group is designed for individuals with mental health conditions who are employed or unemployed. These individuals, or peers, are in need of support and encouragement to manage the challenges of their employment settings or the challenges of being unemployed. With the collaboration of the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance-Orange County Inc., we have been hosting this group since September of 2021. The Facilitators have completed a training course, are employed, and live with mental health conditions.
The group began in September of 2021. Here are our outcomes:
1. The group was composed of 20 peers.
2. Groups are held every two weeks, on a Tuesday night from
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
3. A pre-survey was administered in September 2021, prior to the beginning of the group.
4. A post-survey was administered at the end of the second quarter. We found that 83% of participants learned new coping skills to manage the stress of working or being unemployed.
5. Our post-survey found that 80% of the participants maintained employment after participating in our support group.
Community Voices
Community Voices meets once a week. The mission of PVOC Community Voices is to provide peers in Orange County with the most up-to-date information on mental and behavioral services, referrals, and current events. Each week, a provider from a local healthcare or organization delivers a presentation describing the services they offer to the community. Peers will also be able to discuss their struggles and triumphs during their recovery and meet their fellow peers in a safe and nurturing environment. Community Voices will work to equip peers with the skills necessary to advocate for themselves and their needs. Community Voices raises the awareness of local community resources and familiarizes peers with programs and services that can help them. The Elder Law and Disability Rights Center, Telecare Corporation, and Mind OC are some of the organizations that have presented for us. Challenges and successes are shared.
1. We have conducted thirty-one presentations since 12-16-2021.
2. Our average number of participants is twelve.
3. As a result of a presentation by a local organization, two participants learned of job opportunities and were hired at that organization.
Support Groups
Currently, eleven support groups are offered. These include Wellness at Work, Peer Empowerment, Emotions Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Mental Wellness Peer Support Group, Wellness at work for Peers and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance-Orange County Support Group, Peer Empowerment is a group designed to help peers/members gain confidence, self-worth, and positive feelings and emotions. The purpose of the group is to build resilience, hope, wisdom, knowledge, courage, and perseverance. Some topics include how to empower ourselves, how to create our own meaning and purpose, and how to improve spiritually and emotionally. This group, which started on 3-7-2022, is an open discussion group. To meet the needs of our members/peers who are concerned about Covid, we offer a hybrid group, which is both in person and virtual. Emotions Anonymous is designed to help peers/members come together for the purpose of working toward recovery from emotional difficulties. We conduct Emotions Anonymous readings, which include the Emotions Anonymous Concepts, the Twelve Steps of Emotions Anonymous, and the Twelve "Just for Todays." This group started on 3-9-2022 and is an in-person group. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Support Group is composed of peers that assist, encourage and enable each other to help themselves in their mood disorders while sharing personal feelings and strategies for living successfully with these conditions. The mission of DBSA is to improve the lives of individuals living with mood disorders. Their tag line is "We've been there. We can help." The group is structured so that members/peers can openly share what is going on in their lives with their illness. If desired, positive, supportive feedback is offered by group members. This group started in March of 2022.
1. Attendance at all groups ranges from 3-13 peers/members.
2. Groups are offered on a consistent basis, both weekly and twice a month.
CONTACT
Peer Voices of Orange County
1560 Brookhollow Drive
Suite # 214
Santa Ana, California 92705
Kristen Marie Pankratz, MSW
Phone: (657) 272-7040