Peer Support - STRONG

Hawaii - Shining the light on the genius of lived experience. The 3-year Peer Support Kōkua Project has the goal of producing: 24 Native Hawaiian (NH) Hawaii Certified Peer Specialists (HCPS) & 6 NH HCPS trainers.

Administration for Native Americans funded project focusing on Peer Support

Project highlights:

Year 1 (9/30/21 to 9/29/22) -

• 20 Native Hawaiians (NH) trained as peer support specialists;

• 15 NH completed internships;

• 15 NH certified

• 12 NH employed

• 1 NH completed advanced training & train-the-trainers requirements

• Held first Community Learning Collaborative

Year 2 (9/30/22 to 9/29/23)

• 12 Native Hawaiians (NH) trained as peer support specialists;

• 5 NH completed internships;

• 5 NH certified

• 4 NH employed

• 2 NH completed advanced training & train-the-trainers requirements

• Community Learning Collaborative - Mana Wahine ʻEkolu (Nov. 2022)

Year 3 (9/30/23 to 9/29/24)

• May, June & July 2024 - peer support specialists trainings scheduled

• In progress - NHs completing internships;

• In progress - NHs completing certification process

• May training scheduled for train-the-trainers

• Community Learning Collaborative - Mana Wahine ʻEha (Jan. 2024)

THE NEXT STEP TO CARRYING ON THE WORK IS TO ESTABLISH A PEER-LED ORGANIZATION.

CREATING A PEER-LED ORGANIZATION - Looking forward to growing the capacity for Peer Support services. Pacific Peer Connection is a Hawaii domestic non-profit applying for 501c3 recognition.