Peer Spotlight
Jaime Yan Faurot is a highly respected and accomplished mental health advocate in Marin County, who has made significant contributions to the community through her volunteer work and leadership roles in various programs and county initiatives such as the MHSA Advisory Committee and Recovery Change Team. As a BIPOC and Mental Health Advocate that wears many hats, her warm personality and creative approach have enabled her to build bridges of connection where she goes. Her contributions have set a high standard for developing and promoting effective mental health programs and services that meet the diverse needs of the community. The core of her work is promoting cultural humility and meeting people where they are. She strongly believes that to Promote Change, she has to be the differences she wishes to see in the world; thus being the catalyst change maker herself.
Jaime has a Masters in hospitality Management and has since dedicated her passion to advocating for the mental health needs of the marginalized underserved and unserved communities of Marin County.
In 2021, she received a commendation from the Board of Supervisors, Marin County, for her volunteer role for 5.5 years as a BIPOC Peer and Community Advocate. She also was awarded in the Celebrating the Uncelebrated Ceremony for her service from the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Team in 2019.
What is Peer Support?
In Behavioral health, a peer is someone who has the lived experience of struggling with some sort of mental health and/or substance use disorder. Peer to peer support is a relationship between two individuals who “get it” when sharing their struggle. It is the “process of giving and receiving encouragement and assistance to achieve long-term recovery.” Peers “offer emotional support, share knowledge, teach skills, provide practical assistance, and connect people with resources, opportunities, communities of support, and other people” (Mead, 2003; Solomon, 2004). Peer support may consist of one peer who is the paid supporter or just two friends in recovery supporting one another. Peers relate to each other and are able to model that recovery is possible and mental illness does not have to define who we are. They are living proof that anyone can get well, stay well and go on to live meaningful lives.
That sounds Awesome! Where do I sign up?
If you would like to start your journey as a peer professional you should probably get trained! There are a number of trainings available for Peer Certification on the CalMHSA Peer Certification website.
For a list of Certified CalMHSA Peer Support Specialist trainings visit this link.
Have you just completed a Peer Education class and would like to get some experience? We have internships available! Please email mparker@marincounty.org for more information.
For initial eligibility requirements please refer to our internship guidelines located here: BHRS Internship Guidelines
Sign up to be on our email list to get updates regarding peer specialist jobs, trainings and other peer specialist related announcements.
California Medi-Cal Peer Certification Program
The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) is the certifying entity, responsible for certification, examination, and enforcement of professional standards for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists in California. All applicants seeking certification are required to successfully pass an exam ensuring any individual holding a certification has meet the minimum educational requirements.
Read our FAQ regarding Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification at this link.
What is the evidence?
Peer support is recognized as an evidence-based practice for individuals with mental health conditions or challenges. Quantitative and qualitative evidence indicates that peer support:
- Lowers costs associated with traditional mental health services by reducing re-hospitalization rates and inpatient stays
- Increased the utilization of outpatient services
- Improves a person’s quality of life
- Increases and improves service engagement
- Increases whole health and self-management
Here are some articles on the evidence of peer support:
- Revisiting The Rationale and Evidence for Peer Support (Psychiatric Times, 2018)
- Value of Peers (SAMSHA, 2017)
- Evidence for Peer Support (Mental Health America, 2019)
What are Peers doing in Marin?
Peers in Marin County have been passing on the message of recovery since the early 90s. Currently, Peers perform a variety of different and unique roles specific to their lived experiences. Here are some examples of the work peers are doing:
- Work with clinical staff in most of all BHRS Full-Service Partnership (FSP) teams
- Support individuals on the peer to peer support warmline
- Engage with youth who are at risk and transitioning into adulthood
- Conduct outreach and engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness
- Connect with older adults in isolation
- Assist adults and young adults in their substance use recovery
Peer Digital Resource Guide
We have a guide full of resources that are peer friendly! Is there a resource you would like to add or have input on? Email us!
Would you like to be a part of our peer digital task force?
The Peer Digital Taskforce is a team of peers dedicated to sharing the awareness of resources available to meet the specific behavioral health needs of the people of Marin County. Our team values the importance of connection and of overcoming the barriers to individuals accessing peer services that are meaningful to recovery and wellness in mental health and substance use challenges. For more information contact Mark Parker at mparker@marincounty.org.
- PeerResourceGuideExpanded9.28.23.pdf 452.13 KB
- OnePagerResourceGuide9.28.23.pdf 97.06 KB
Peer Advocacy
We need passionate peers to advocate for more peer voices in our community. BHRS has opportunities for you to be a part of the work!
Join the Peer Recovery Change Team that meets the first Thursday of every month at 12pm via Zoom. For more information, contact Mark Parker at mparker@marincounty.org
WET Scholarships
Marin County’s Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) has set aside Workforce Education and Training (WET) funds via the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) for vocational, training, and educational support to residents of Marin County who have lived experience with behavioral health (mental health and/or substance use) conditions, or their families, and who wish to join the behavioral health services profession.