Empowering Youth in Leadership and Peer Support
Title: Empowering Youth in Leadership and Peer Support
Presenters: Amey Dettmer, Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery; Ryan Tempesco, Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery
Original Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2019, at 2:00 PM EST
Materials: Watch the recording or download the slides.
Description:
Many peer specialists are called to work with youth and young adults. However, youth have unique needs, and working alongside youth requires unique engagement strategies. In this webinar, you will hear from leaders in the youth peer support movement discussing ways to engage youth in leadership and peer support. Presenters will share about the Peer Generation model, exploring the history, development process, and youth-to-youth peer support training created by transitional age youth (TAY) leaders from around the country. This is an exciting chance to preview the Peer Generation Youth Empowerment Curriculum developed by the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery. Participants in this webinar will be offered the opportunity to participate in self-reflection activities that are appropriate for peer specialists to use with youth. This webinar will also offer ideas for implementing youth voice and innovative approaches into peer support programs.
Learning Objectives:
- Examine at least three benefits of peer support for youth and young adults.
- Gain an understanding of the four foundations of youth resiliency.
- Learn at least two interactive engagement activities for peer support specialists to utilize with youth.
- Explore ideas for encouraging and promoting youth leadership in programs and organizations.
Presenters:
Amey Dettmer is a Certified Peer Specialist and Advanced Level WRAP Facilitator, born and raised in rural Pennsylvania. Amey is currently the Program Manager of Doors to Wellbeing National Consumer Technical Assistance Center, a program of the Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery. Previously, Amey has been employed as a CPS supervisor and CPS providing direct peer support in her community. As a mental health advocate in her local area, she has been filmed for public service announcements and featured on the front page of her local newspaper, giving voice to the importance of peer support and the possibilities of recovery and wellness. Amey is a person who credits her own wellness to the connection, mutual learning, and understanding that began in her life once she was introduced to like-minded peer supporters, wanting to impact changes within our mental health system. Amey became actively involved in youth leadership initiatives nationwide, participating in National Youth Advisory Councils, creating youth-developed and youth-led peer support curriculums, implementing a National Youth Convergence, and co-chairing the International Association of Peer Supporters (INAPS) Youth and Young Adult Peer Support Committee. In December of 2018, Amey was awarded the “Disruptive Innovator Award” as INAPS recognized her for her leadership, honoring her as a young adult who has made a significant transformative contribution to the field of peer support through leadership, programming, and activism.
Ryan Tempesco is a CPS and Advanced Level WRAP Facilitator and a transgender individual who has found peace and wellness through community support, connection and understanding. He is currently the National Youth Program Coordinator for Doors to Wellbeing National Consumer Technical Assistance Center, a program of The Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery. He is the youngest Certified Peer Specialist in Virginia and is an advocate for wellness, as well as equal rights in his community. He is a young trailblazer, bringing his experience in developing a youth-led curriculum, Peer Generation, as well as serving on multiple boards and advisory councils.