10/22/06
Of the myriad disciplines in the medical profession there is one thing all have in common: prior to treatment it is vital the patient have confidence that the treatment will be successful. Without this trust, the odds of positive outcomes lessen. Being on the front line so to speak, Peer Supporters can help provide consumers the trust in the system necessary for good outcomes. The important thing is that we are not running errands, parking cars, or doing janitorial tasks. Peer Supporters are there to welcome the new consumers into this complicated system and provide them the optimism needed for the healing process to begin. And working side by side with Case Managers, we can assure a healthy start on the road to recovery. .
A friend asked me to attend the Breast Cancer Survivors walk the other day and being a male I felt out of place going. First of all I was pleasantly surprised by how very warmly I was welcomed, and second I was caught off guard when I noticed the similarities between breast cancer survivors and Peer Supporters. Of course we could go all day discussing differences but the likeness' are: 1) We have suffered through some dark times in our lives and through them we have become stronger, 2) we want to provide hope of a future to those currently going through what we have gone through. I had my own preconceived notions that were quickly proven wrong, and why I advocate inviting the community at large to every event we have. As long as we stay separated from the community, stigma will continue to exist. By not knowing us, folks have no other choice but to assume the image of us they get from television is true.
The mother and daughter team of Shirley Cockrel & LeAnn Norris run the Go-Getters Drop In Center and both received their Peer Support Specialist Certificates recently. Along with Deb Parker and her daughter Fawn that makes two such teams in the Peer movement that I know of. Shirley is 64 years old and due to budget concerns she took an early retirement, yet she continues to put in the same amount of hours and dedication at Go-Getters.
I asked her why?
We work with the chronic homeless, the people no one, not even some family members, knows of or cares whether they are alive. Having been there myself, I know just what they are feeling and I also know just what they need. They need Hope, Compassion, and Support.
How many people who are classified as chronically homeless would you say you have helped get back on their feet and into housing?
Our paper work says we have helped over 500 consumers get back on their feet. In reality it is many more and the reason is this: being homeless for years these folk have lost everything, including their identification, without which we cannot get them into the system. But I feel that by the time someone knocks on our door, there is no one else who will help him or her. So we open our doors and our hearts to anyone asking for our help.
You once said that you no longer gauge the value of Go-Getters paper reports only, but by the amount of folks that are truly helped. What did you mean by that?
This cuts to the core value of the Peer Support Movement, the concept of peers welcoming peers into the system really works, something we consumers have known and practiced for years. Now it has been made official by the Peer Support There is just something natural about Peer Support and the best way I can explain it is that you just had to have been there. All I know for sure is that it works. It is really encouraging now that ‘Peer Support’ is Medicaid reimbursable.
This coming Friday Go-Getters will be holding a Silent Auction, SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! HELP SPREAD HOPE. Go-Getters provides with the very basic needs such as toothpaste, deodorant, a change of clothing, warm clothing and those kinds of things. So they hold the Silent Auction around this time every year as we know winter is upon us and people are going to need coats, blankets, warm socks and such. The problem is that as funding has been reduced statewide more individuals who are homeless, are coming in for support. Go-Getters need your help to help others. Please attend the Silent Auction with voices loud and strong of support and hope. The drop in centers needs people to donate and/or bid on items. To learn more about the Silent Auction scheduled for this coming Friday the 19th contact the Go-Getters Clubhouse at 
313-842-4046
.
In my previous newsletter I mentioned that Andria Jackson has joined the Recovery Band as a singer. On the 1st of November Andria will be making her debut when the band plays at the Charles H Wright Museum. She will be telling a story and singing a gospel standard made famous by Mahalia Jackson called 'How I got Over'. Andria has also taken on another interesting, worthwhile, project when she is not at work. The Matrix Theatre (Oct. 14th, Det. Free Press, page 2 G) production of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest' is generating interest around the Nation. The cast consists of professional actors and consumers. According to the Free Press you'll be hard pressed to tell the difference. "Of course it's possible for a person with mental illness to be a professional actor, and vice versa" If we can come up with enough folks to make it worthwhile, Matrix will put on a special showing at reduced pricing. During her off hours, Andria is contacting Clubhouses, Drop In Centers, and Providers, hoping to be able to provide our brothers and sisters in recovery a treat by getting them to this super production.
As system transformation moves forward, we are witnessing more and more consumers actively participating not only in our own recovery process, but also the recovery of others, and the recovery of the Community. We are dealing with stigma on a daily basis by demonstrating to everyone how capable we are. We are working side by side with professionals who believe in us helping to implement change in the system of treatment and recovery. We look forward to the day when upon entering the system, everyone will be able to take recovery for granted.
Gerald Butler
CPSS
Peer Advocate
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