Created in September 2006, the Peer Support Volunteer Network (PSVN) offers peer-to-peer support with practical day-to-day living skills, assistance with making connections to community resources such as accessing other health care providers, using public transportation, applying for social security benefits, providing information on how to find clean, safe, and affordable housing, etc.  The Network also provides a listening ear about concerns and challenges surrounding stigma, and offers suggestions on staying focused on the path to wellness and recovery.

So many of our clients say their experiences at El Hogar have helped them learn about their mental illnesses and how to better care for themselves and their families.  The gratitude in discovering ones personal path to wellness has prompted many to want to share what they’ve learned, to give back the experience, wisdom, and knowledge gained through the recovery process.  The Peer Support Volunteer Network was created as an answer to a tremendous need that many mental health clients, or “consumers” have to give back some of what they’ve learned in order to move forward.

Peer Support Volunteers provide additional support to El Hogar clients that Service Coordinators may not have the time to provide.  Although each client is assigned their own Personal Service Coordinator (Counselor), with caseloads ranging from 120 to 170, Service Coordinator time is limited.  The additional support provided by Peer Support Volunteers adds another level of understanding and compassion to El Hogar’s system of care.  Peer Support Volunteers understand from a personal level the challenges clients experience.  There may be instances when the client feels more secure having a support person with them while discussing medical or clinical issues with their Service Coordinator, doctor, or nurse.  The volunteers from the Peer Support Volunteer Network are available to provide this type of peer-to peer support.

Peer Support Volunteers are extremely valuable helping with community outreach activities, from participating in letter writing campaigns to impact public policy, helping set up tables and chairs for holiday meals for El Hogar clients, and handing out flyers and staffing booths at mental health community events such as the annual Walk for Mental Health and Disability Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.

The Peer Support Volunteer Network meets weekly as a group to support each other, discuss ways to assist other peers, and plan upcoming events and activities.  Volunteers sign a Volunteer Agreement with El Hogar, and are trained on practical skills needed to be effective peer counselors.  The group meetings are open to the community at large and all Sacramento area mental health consumers age 18 and up are welcome.  Currently, the Peer Support Volunteer Network has members from three community agencies and three different programs within the El Hogar system.  The only criteria for joining is to have the desire to help others and a willingness to share ones experiences in seeking wellness.

The Peer Support Volunteer Network is currently working on developing several support groups and training peer volunteers to facilitate these groups, as well as participating in Disability Advocacy Day activities this Spring to educate and lobby the California State Legislature on issues impacting the mental health community.

The Peer Support Volunteer Network meets weekly at the El Hogar Regional Support Team (RST) location. 

The RST is located at:
608 10^th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Click here for online driving directions to the RST.
It is open Monday thorough Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, and
Wednesday, 8:00am to 6:00pm..

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Mar 07. Co-Occurring Disorders Services

For more information about El Hogar's programs, call (916) 441-0226, send email, or write the El Hogar Administrative offices at;
930 G Street Sacramento, CA 95814
Click here for online driving directions to El Hogar's Administrative offices.