North Dakota’s Health and Human Services (HHS) recently carried out a Parent and Caregiver Peer Support Training event from April 1-3. The session was aimed at preparing participants to offer peer support to parents and caregivers of children with behavioral health needs.
The training concluded with 23 participants completing the program. This marks a crucial advancement in extending peer support services across the state. The initiative is backed by the System of Care grant and is part of a broader plan to bolster resources for families dealing with behavioral health challenges. In 2022, HHS was awarded a federal grant to enhance mental health outcomes for youth and children.
HHS is funding new positions for parent and caregiver peer support specialists at regional Human Service Centers, which are behavioral health clinics. Other organizations across North Dakota are also employing or planning to employ parent peer supporters to increase the availability of these essential services.
“Parents and caregivers play a vital role in a child’s behavioral health journey, and peer supports are uniquely qualified to engage and partner with families,” commented Katie Houle, clinical administrator, System of Care. “This training is an important step in building a stronger, family-driven system of care across North Dakota.”
Participants of the training have firsthand experience as parents or primary caregivers who navigated child-serving systems for children with behavioral health needs. They are expected to provide services through various channels, including Human Service Centers and other child-serving systems throughout the state, ensuring that the new skills have a direct and immediate impact on local communities.
