Folk-Time Inc

TO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SHARED EXPERIENCE OF LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH PEER SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY BASED ACTIVITIES.

SOCIAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING FTBM AND OREGON CITY : SOCIALIZING WITH OTHERS HELPS PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH DIAGNOSES PREVENT RELAPSE AND HAVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF LIFE SATISFACTION. PARTICIPANTS ARE KNOWN AS MEMBERS AND MAKE FRIENDS, LEARN NEW SKILLS, SHARE TALENTS AND INTERESTS WITH OTHERS, AND MORE. THE SOCIALIZATION PROGRAMS ARE CREATED BY AND FOR MEMBERS. IN A MONTHLY MEETING, MEMBERS DECIDE ON ACTIVITIES FOR THE COMING MONTH. NUMEROUS RESEARCH STUDIES CONFIRM THAT PARTICIPATION IN A SOCIALIZATION PROGRAM RESULTS IN FEWER MENTAL HEALTH CRISES AND FEWER HOSPITALIZATIONS. NUTRITIOUS LUNCHES ARE PROVIDED, AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ART, A CHORUS, WRITING GROUPS, GAMES, FIELD TRIPS, INTERENT ACCESS, BOWLING, SING-A-LONG AND KARAOKE, TAI CHI AND YOGA, AND MONTHLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. THIS PROGRAM WAS SEVERELY IMPACTED BY COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS. WE MOVED TO ON-LINE ZOOM MEETINGS AND OTHER MEANS OF TRYING TO STAY CONNECTED WITH THE POPULATION WE SERVE. AS COVID RESTRICITIONS WERE LIFTED, MORE IN-PERSON EVENTS AND GATHERINGS OCCURED.

FOLK-TIME TRAINING PROGRAM BRINGING INTERNATIONAL PEER SERVICES TRAINING IN-HOUSE WAS ABLE TO OVER MORE TRAININGS AS PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS WERE EASED. WE CONTINUE TO OFFER THESE COURSES OREGON WIDE. DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS FOLK-TIME ALSO ADDED ON-LINE OPTIONS FOR THE TRAININGS.

SPECIALISTS HAVE CREATED A COMFORT ROOM FOR DE-ESCALATION AND MEET ONE ON ONE WITH CLIENTS WHO ARE IN SEVERE DISTRESS. PEERS PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY VISITS AND CONDUCT OUTREACH EFFORTS FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS WITH CHRONIC HOSPITALIZATIONS. THE CRISIS CLINIC AND PEERS PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TO EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND TRADITIONAL CRISIS CARE THAT MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS. IN THE FIRST COLLABORATION OF THIS KIND IN OREGON, FOLK-TIME HAS PEERS IN TWO OUTPATIENT CLINICS OPERATED BY CLACKAMAS COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS ARE ADULTS WHO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN INTENTIONAL PEER SUPPORT AND MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID. THEY ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THEIR SHARED EXPERIENCES WITH CLIENTS TO FOSTER TRUST, DECREASE STIGMA, AND CREATE A FORUM FOR SEEKING HELP AND SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT SUPPORT RESOURCES. WHETHER ON SITE, AT CLINICS, IN A PEER LOUNGE, OR OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS ARE MEMBERS OF THE TREATMENT TEAM. THEY WORK WITH CASE WORKERS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN PLANNING CLIENT CARE. BENEFITS OF PEER SUPPORT INCLUDE: OFFERS NONJUDGMENTAL SUPPORT AND VALIDATION, PROVIDES ADVOCATES/SUPPORTS IN THE COMMUNITY, FOSTERS SOCIAL NETWORKING, HELPS IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE, PROMOTES WELLNESS, BUILDS COPING SKILLS, SUPPORTS ACCEPTANCE OF ILLNESS, REDUCES CONCERNS, AND INCREASES SATISFACTION WITH HEALTH STATUS. POST COVID ALL OF 21-22 THESE PROGRAMS WERE ALTERED BY CLACKAMAS COUNTY TO REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH STATE FOR IN-PERSON MEETINGS.

UNITY: FOLK-TIME PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS ARE AVAILABLE IN UNITY HOSPITAL PSYCIATIRIC EMERGENCY SERVRICES (PES) AND IN THE UNTIY PEER BRIDGERS PROGRAM CONNECTING INDIVIDUALS TRANSITIONING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL SETTING. PEER SUPPORT PROVIDERS: DEMONSTRATE SKILLS FOR MANAGING RECOVERY ACQUIRED THROUGH THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND/ OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND/OR AS CONSUMERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. INSTILL HOPE BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONSUMERS/CLIENTS TO OBSERVE OTHERS IN RECOVERY. EDUCATE CONSUMERS BY ROLE MODELING SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS SYMPTOMS AND THE ABILITY TO INTERACT SUCCESSFULLY WITHIN THEIR ENVIRONMENT. PROVIDE RECOVERY-ORIENTED SERVICES THAT DO NOT DUPLICATE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL TREATMENTS PROVIDED BY OTHER STAFF BUT PROVIDE VALUE-ADDED SERVICES BY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCCESS WITH THEIR OWN RECOVERY. TEACH CONSUMERS SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS TO OBTAIN NEEDED RESOURCES AND ELIMINATE STIGMA AS A BARRIER TO ACQUIRING NECESSARY GOODS AND SERVICES. CONTINUING IN 2021 "CARING CONTACT" WAS ADDED TO ENSURE FOLLOW UP WITH-IN A 48 HOUR DISCHARGE TIME PERIOD TO FURTHER SUPPORT PEERS AS THEY CONTINUED POST HOSPITALIZATION WELLNESS. POST COVID ALL OF 21-22 THIS PROGRAM WAS ALTERED BY UNITY TO REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH STATE IN-PERSON MEETINGS.