On May 1st, working with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living was the site for a Peer Mentor training for the Foundations Peer and Family Support Program (PFSP).
Tom Hoatlin, the Reeve Foundation’s Midwest Regional Coordinator, was thrilled with the turnout of 18 peer mentor candidates living with paralysis, their family members and caregivers. “This was my first training since joining the Foundation in January and I was so pleased with the response and interest that we got.” Hoatlin was joined by co-trainers Christy Earhart, a Reeve Foundation Trainer and Steve Coleman, Vice President of the PFSP and Veteran Affairs for the Foundation.
The PFSP is the Reeve Foundations national peer to peer mentoring network. The program is designed to help people living with paralysis, their families and caregivers to live full, happy lives by establishing relationships with “Reeve Mentors” in their local area who are living with paralysis and are successful.
The next step in the program is to deploy the certified peer mentors out into the community and match them with people who are in need of support. “With Nationally ranked rehabilitation centers in our state we have a great need for these experienced mentors. Every week there are new patients with spinal cord injuries on the rehab unit at the University of Michigan alone. With RehabilitatiOn May 1st, working with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living was the site for a Peer Mentor training for the Foundations Peer and Family Support Program (PFSP). Tom Hoatlin, the Reeve Foundation’s Midwest Regional Coordinator, was thrilled with the turnout of 18 peer mentor candidates living with paralysis, their family members and caregivers. “This was my first training since joining the Foundation in January and I was so pleased with the response and interest that we got.” Hoatlin was joined by co-trainers Christy Earhart, a Reeve Foundation Trainer and Steve Coleman, Vice President of the PFSP and Veteran Affairs for the Foundation. The PFSP is the Reeve Foundations national peer to peer mentoring network. The program is designed to help people living with paralysis, their families and caregivers to live full, happy lives by establishing relationships with “Reeve Mentors” in their local area who are living with paralysis and are successful. The next step in the program is to deploy the certified peer mentors out into the community and match them with people who are in need of support. “With Nationally ranked rehabilitation centers in our state we have a great need for these experienced mentors. Every week there are new patients with spinal cord injuries on the rehab unit at the University of Michigan alone. With Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan in Detroit and Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids we are beginning to launch a statewide program,” Hoatlin said. The National Program is divided into eight regions. Eventually Tom Hoatlin will conduct and coordinate trainings in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. This was an awesome group and I learned as much as I taught! The Reeve Foundation launched this national program because they know that peer and family support is the cornerstone of a successful quality of life for people living with paralysis. on Institute of Michigan in Detroit and Mary Free Bed in Grand Rapids we are beginning to launch a statewide program,” Hoatlin said. The National Program is divided into eight regions. Eventually Tom Hoatlin will conduct and coordinate trainings in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
This was an awesome group and I learned as much as I taught! The Reeve Foundation launched this national program because they know that peer and family support is the cornerstone of a successful quality of life for people living with paralysis.
