Peer-Mentoring for Families and Caregivers of People with Dual Diagnosis

Ohel Children's Home and Family Services was established in 1969. Ohel provides a range of social and human services across life areas including mental health, developmental disability, substance abuse, domestic violence, foster care and more. The organization works to build communities and transform lives.

Ohel will develop and implement caregiver Peer Mentoring Program for family members and caregivers of individuals with co-occurring intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and mental health conditions. The program will be a structured, lived-experience-driven model that strengthens caregiver knowledge, confidence, self-care, and system navigation, with virtual and hybrid options to support broader reach. Ohel's caregiver peer mentoring approach is grounded in family-driven, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive principles that are embedded across all programs. Caregivers are recognized as experts in their own experiences, and services are designed to amplify their strengths, promote resilience, and support informed decision-making.

Over the four-year grant period, the project will include the following core components:

Mentor Training and Supervision: Ohel maintains a comprehensive peer mentor training curriculum currently used across agency programs. This curriculum will be modified and tailored specifically for caregiver peer mentoring, with content addressing: psychoeducation related to dual diagnosis; caregiver stress, burnout, and self-care; trauma-informed communication and boundary setting in family contexts; navigation of OPWDD and OMH systems; and crisis planning, including clear protocols for responding to safety concerns. Training content will be reviewed by the Advisory Group to ensure accessibility, cultural responsiveness, and alignment with universal design principles. The licensed Clinical Supervisor will review and approve the final training content and safety/escalation protocols prior to cohort launch.

Psychoeducational Resources: Ohel will develop a series of 10 short educational videos with corresponding worksheets and reflection tools addressing:

• Understanding dual diagnosis
• Caregiver stress management and emotional regulation
• Navigating OPWDD and OMH systems• Crisis planning and communication with providers
• Advocacy, self-care and resilience and
• Building formal and informal support networks

Monthly Structured Social Events: Community-building activities designed to reduce isolation, strengthen peer relationships, and support social participation. 

Advisory Group Leadership: An inclusive Advisory Group comprised of individuals with lived experience of disability, family members, and cross-systems experts will guide program design, implementation, evaluation, and sustainability planning.

Clinical Oversight and Safety: The program will be overseen by a licensed psychologist with extensive experience in mental health practice and academic supervision. Clear safety and escalation protocols will be established for situations involving risk of harm to self or others. While mentors will not provide clinical treatment, clinical oversight ensures ethical practice, participant safety, and appropriate boundaries.

Evaluation and Outcomes: OHEL will implement a rigorous mixed-methods evaluation plan to assess program effectiveness and systems impact. This will guide program implementation and continuous quality improvement throughout the four-year period.