PEER SUPPORT
ONE-ON-ONE PEER SUPPORT
One-on-one peer support provides young adults with help, advice, guidance, and support from someone who has been where they are. Our Youth Peer Support Specialists (YPSS) have lived experience in youth-serving systems (Mental Health, Foster Care, Juvenile Justice, etc.) and have been trained to support transition-aged young adults. This model is different from the traditional youth and young adult-service model in that it uses support via lived experience rather than impersonal, clinical expertise. YPSS listen, help identify strengths and needs, identify supports, suggest resources, and help formulate next steps.
We encourage youth and young adults who are looking for effective support to come into one of our drop-in centers and meet with a Youth Peer Support Specialist.
Our Youth Peer Support Specialists have received Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). ASIST is a caregiving practice developed to help providers recognize risk, intervene to prevent the immediate risk of suicide, identify resources, and formulate next steps. The ASIST model is the most widely used and effective suicide intervention method in the world.
FAQ
HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM "TRANSITION-AGED"?
“Transition-aged” refers to youth and young adults who are in the process of transitioning to adulthood. Youth Era considers this age bracket to be between the ages of 14 and 25.
WHAT IS A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST?
A Youth Peer Support Specialist (YPSS) is a young person between the ages of 14-25 who has lived experience in mental health, addiction/recovery, incarceration/juvenile justice, foster care, education, LGBTQQI2S, etc. YPSS provide support services to youth and young adults in community-based settings. They deliver a wide range of services to help young people gain control over their lives and create change in their communities. They role model competency in recovery (in mental health, addictions, etc.) and ongoing coping skills.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO RECEIVE ONE-ON-ONE PEER SUPPORT?
All Youth Era support services are provided free of cost to youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 25.
WHERE CAN I RECEIVE PEER SUPPORT?
Our Youth Peer Support Specialists deliver peer support at all of our drop-in centers. Youth and young adults can also receive one-on-one support in the community (at locations agreed upon by them and their YPSS), via text, over Facebook, and/or using other online platforms.
WHO SHOULD I CONTACT IF I AM INTERESTED IN RECEIVING PEER SUPPORT?
You can stop by your local drop, contact your regional director, or contact us at Youth Era Headquarters, located in Eugene, Oregon to get connected with a YPSS.