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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

CIL-NET Presents… A National Teleconference & Webinar: Get to the Core of It – Peer Support

Get to the Core of It – Peer Support
Best Practices in the CIL Core Services
August 13, 2019; 3:00–4:30 p.m. Eastern
Presented by: Matt Cain & Sarah Jo Jorgenson
Register online or by using the printable registration form (PDF)

Peer support is a hallmark of the Independent Living Movement and a core service – both in statute and philosophy – of Centers for Independent Living. We all know what peer support is, but running an effective peer support program with limited funding and staff has to be tailored to each CIL’s capacity and need. If you and your staff would like to learn more about implementing a proven model for peer support, then you won’t want to miss this training.

Our presenters operate individual, group, and online peer support programs at Independent Living Choices, the Center for Independent Living in Sioux Falls, SD. You’ll learn all about their innovative peer support programs, from planning to implementation and expansion so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel!

Registration Fee: $75.00. Fee is per site and does not apply per participant; registrants are encouraged to gather as many individuals as desired to participate.

Target Audience: CIL executive directors, program managers, independent living specialists, and other staff members of CILs who are involved in coordinating or providing peer support.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this training, participants will have knowledge and resources that will enable them to:

  • Describe the types of mentoring, the service start-up and delivery structure, and the background and philosophy of Independent Living Choice’s (ILC) Peer Support Program.
  • Identify key peer support program elements that include peer recruitment, training, youth transition, volunteer retention and recognition, and supervision.
  • Describe innovative social media strategies and technologies that encourage enhanced and expanded interaction within peer support groups.
  • Describe examples of ILC’s interactions with Tribal Nations that develop volunteers and promote cultural competence in peer support.

Meet Your Presenters

Matt Cain is the Chief Executive Officer for Independent Living Choices (ILC) in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and has been in that role since 2006. Since 2006 ILC has undergone a name change, more than tripled the amount of people served on a yearly basis, and expanded office locations from four to ten. ILC is one of two independent living centers in South Dakota and ILC serves 50 counties and all nine tribal nations in the state.

Prior to his work at ILC, Matt was the assistant director for the Division of Disabilities for the State of South Dakota. Matt attended Augustana University and received a BA in Special Education/Pre OT. He is or has been a member of the Governor’s Board of Vocational Rehabilitation, Statewide Independent Living Council, the City of Sioux Falls ADA Access Committee, and the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities Board.

Sarah Jo Jorgensen currently serves as the Peer Support Program Coordinator/Referral Coordinator for Independent Living Choices in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Sarah Jo received a BS in Psychology from the University of South Dakota in 2001. She received a MA in Counseling and Psychology in Education from the University of South Dakota in 2004. She is a member of DOVIA (Directors of Volunteers in Agencies), Sioux Empire Organizations Active in Disaster, Compassionate Sioux Falls, and serves on the Sioux Falls Disability Awareness Commission.

The IL-NET is a national training and technical assistance project for centers for independent living and statewide independent living councils. The IL-NET is operated by Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL), and Utah State University Center for Persons with Disabilities. 

The IL-NET is supported by grant numbers 90ILTA0001 and 90ISTA0001 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

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