Navigating the recovery process with a family member dealing with mental illness or substance use disorders can feel daunting. With Monarch’s Family Peer Support (FPS) Program, we help families advocate for their children (ages 3 to 21), navigate multiple systems and build confidence through one-to-one, strength-based support. The service allows caregivers of loved ones with emotional and behavioral challenges to receive support from caregivers with lived expertise gained from navigating similar situations.
Key features include:
- Parent Mentoring: Parents will be matched with a peer supporter, who will share their experience and help navigate the challenges in a one-on-one environment
- Recovery Resources: Family peers provide necessary resources to help families learn about recovery, wellness skills and self-care
- Skill Development: Family peer supporters often share coping strategies, tools and best practices that have worked for them, which can help others develop their own skills for navigating mental health and substance use crises with their loved one.
- Community Building: The presence of peer supporters helps reduce the isolation that families experience when their children are facing emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges.
- Education: Peers can provide information about mental health conditions and resources, helping families make informed choices.
- Advocacy: Family Peer Supporters can help families navigate mental health systems and advocate for the needs and rights of their child.
Overall, family peer support programs promote wellness, trust and hope while focusing on the road to recovery with families of those dealing with mental illness or substance use disorders.