Post by Kasey on Jan 22, 2016 2:00:20 GMT -8
PHEN stands for Peer Healing and Empowerment Network.
Think of this forum as though it were online Clubhouse! For those of you unfamiliar with the Clubhouse Model: it's a place where members can sign in, and start threads for discussing mental health, connecting with one another, and collaborating together on projects. The forum is meant to be a welcoming, nonjudgmental place, where members can make connections and engage in meaningful work.
A “peer”, according to Oregon Administrative Rule (this is wordy, but it's important), is an “individual who has similar life experience, either as a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services, or as a family member of an individual who is a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services”. Peers are important, as PHEN is a peer run agency, so they'll make decisions regarding what we'll focus on as an organization.
“Peer researchers” are peers who invest their time in gathering information about mental healthcare. They assist in fact checking, surveying, and gathering relevant data, so peers can make better informed decisions about their own healthcare choices, and in deciding what PHEN will focus on as an organization. What does it take to be a researcher? Just find a thread that could benefit from your fact finding, and jump right in!
“Peer advocates” are peers who, once organizational decisions have been made, will enact those decisions. If peers vote that PHEN should take a particular direction on a given issue, peer advocates will be responsible for moving us in that direction. If peers want PHEN to participate in representing their interests in Salem, peer advocates will be sent to Salem for that purpose. Becoming an advocate can take some commitment, but any member can get involved this way too.
“Professionals” are members who have credentials in the field of mental health, such as degrees, diplomas, or licenses. PHEN will network with professionals, as they can provide valuable feedback and insight. If a professional also identifies as a peer, they can be part of the organization’s decision making process.
Finally, Peer Principles are always used in everything we do. In collaboration, this means working together in a way that focuses on strengths, inclusion, and removing power dynamics. Dissent is not only encouraged, it’s an essential part of the decision making process! Members are allowed to express dissenting opinions without losing their sense of welcome.
So welcome to PHEN.
Think of this forum as though it were online Clubhouse! For those of you unfamiliar with the Clubhouse Model: it's a place where members can sign in, and start threads for discussing mental health, connecting with one another, and collaborating together on projects. The forum is meant to be a welcoming, nonjudgmental place, where members can make connections and engage in meaningful work.
A “peer”, according to Oregon Administrative Rule (this is wordy, but it's important), is an “individual who has similar life experience, either as a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services, or as a family member of an individual who is a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services”. Peers are important, as PHEN is a peer run agency, so they'll make decisions regarding what we'll focus on as an organization.
“Peer researchers” are peers who invest their time in gathering information about mental healthcare. They assist in fact checking, surveying, and gathering relevant data, so peers can make better informed decisions about their own healthcare choices, and in deciding what PHEN will focus on as an organization. What does it take to be a researcher? Just find a thread that could benefit from your fact finding, and jump right in!
“Peer advocates” are peers who, once organizational decisions have been made, will enact those decisions. If peers vote that PHEN should take a particular direction on a given issue, peer advocates will be responsible for moving us in that direction. If peers want PHEN to participate in representing their interests in Salem, peer advocates will be sent to Salem for that purpose. Becoming an advocate can take some commitment, but any member can get involved this way too.
“Professionals” are members who have credentials in the field of mental health, such as degrees, diplomas, or licenses. PHEN will network with professionals, as they can provide valuable feedback and insight. If a professional also identifies as a peer, they can be part of the organization’s decision making process.
Finally, Peer Principles are always used in everything we do. In collaboration, this means working together in a way that focuses on strengths, inclusion, and removing power dynamics. Dissent is not only encouraged, it’s an essential part of the decision making process! Members are allowed to express dissenting opinions without losing their sense of welcome.
So welcome to PHEN.