Celebrating Peer Support Mentors

Every year on the third Thursday in October, we recognize Global Peer Support Celebration Day. It reminds us that understanding, shared experiences and encouragement can help people overcome challenges and reach their goals.

Easterseals PORT Health’s Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program helps individuals with severe and persistent mental illness find and maintain meaningful employment. Participants receive personalized job coaching, career guidance and ongoing support as they work toward employment.

A key component of the IPS program is the role of Employment Peer Mentors, who use their personal experiences and expertise to offer encouragement and support during the employment journey. We are proud to highlight three of our exceptional Employment Peer Mentors, Kiara, Michael and Yvette. Each of them are making a significant impact in the lives of the individuals they support.

Kiara serves as an Employment Peer Mentor with our IPS team in Cumberland County, NC. Reflecting on her role, Kiara shares, “I truly enjoy my work because I’ve always had a passion for helping, supporting and mentoring others as they work toward achieving their goals. One of the things I enjoy most about my role is being active in the community. It gives me the opportunity to network, build meaningful connections and meet people from all different walks of life. Working as an Employment Peer Mentor has helped me grow both personally and professionally. It has deepened my understanding of the challenges many individuals face and the importance of providing encouragement, guidance and support. This work has helped me realize that my long-term career goal is to become a Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor, where I can continue making a positive impact in the lives of others and help individuals on their journey toward recovery and personal growth.”

Michael has been an Employment Peer Mentor with our IPS team in Greenville, NC, for the past four years. Lisa is Michael’s team lead and shares, “Michael is a valuable part of our IPS team. He consistently builds positive relationships with everyone he interacts with and demonstrates a strong commitment to supporting each individual. Michael excels at developing plans that reflect each member’s unique strengths, goals and needs. His insightfulness and ability to create individualized strategies are especially important when working with the diverse population we serve. Through his compassion, professionalism and thoughtful approach, Michael has made a meaningful impact on the success and well-being of the members on his caseload.”

Yvette is an Employment Peer Mentor with our IPS team in Wake County, NC. Erin is Yvette’s team lead and shares, “Yvette was the piece of our Wake IPS team that we didn’t realize was missing. While she has been with the team for less than a year, her presence has demonstrated the power and value of lived experience. She brings meaningful insight into how we can best support individuals throughout their recovery journey. Yvette connects individuals to essential community resources, including clothing assistance, food programs, housing referrals, shelters, behavioral health providers and primary care services. She also supports wellness activities such as yoga, sound baths, self-care practices and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) planning. Yvette’s perspective strengthens our person-centered approach and reminds us of the importance of choice, dignity and meeting individuals where they are. She works closely with teammates to ensure individuals stay engaged in IPS services. Her calm, supportive nature inspires confidence that recovery, employment and success are possible. She is truly a great addition to the team.”

Easterseals PORT Health is grateful for Kiara, Michael, Yvette and all of our Employment Peer Mentors for the meaningful contributions they make every day. Learn more about our Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services at eastersealsPORT.com/individual-placement-support.

ABOUT US Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing exceptional disability, mental health and substance use services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Purpose, dedication and empathy drive our in-person and telehealth service delivery. Our diverse and inclusive 2,800 member team provides more than 10.2 million hours of meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com.