An exciting new networking program from United Spinal debuted to rave reviews in Salt Lake City.
By Lynette Ballard, LCSW
The University of Utah Hospital and Clinics Rehabilitation Center in Salt Lake City had the honor of launching one of United Spinal Association’s most exciting new programs as 15 men and women with spinal cord injuries (SCI) took part in two, one- day trainings last fall designed to develop peer mentoring skills.
Not Alone
United Spinal’s Peer Mentoring Program is an innovative addition to traditional rehabilitation strategies for individuals trying to cope with the overwhelming physical and psychological trauma of SCI. The program connects newly injured people with former rehabilitation patients who have successfully adapted to living with SCI. Mentoring helps newly injured people realize that they are not alone and that a meaningful, productive life still awaits them.
I took on the role of Peer Mentor Coordinator and in partnership with United Spinal staffers, introduced the program to potential mentors in the Salt Lake City community.
The literature shows that, whatever the diagnosis, people have better physical, mental, social, and emotional outcomes when they are able to meet with, and feel supported by, people with a similar diagnosis. Our experience with informal mentoring confi rmed the importance of newly injured patients having the opportunity to connect with someone experienced in living successfully with their SCI.
There is an incredible amount of comfort that comes from sharing similar experiences.
About four years ago, a multidisciplinary group of health care professionals at the University of Utah Rehabilitation Center, met to discuss an existing gap in services for persons with SCI as they transitioned from inpatient back into community. The result of this meeting was the creation of a new community outreach initiative called the Therapeutic Recreation and Independent Lifestyles (TRAILS) Program. The fundamental goal of this program is to connect people to people through participation in adaptive outdoor activities such as kayaking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, sled hockey, and hand cycling, to name just a few.
From the early planning stages of TRAILS, however, our Utah staff felt strongly that a peer mentoring program would need to be an integral component of the program. We have had informal peer mentoring for the past 30 years. At the 2006 national conference of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists and Social Workers, United Spinal held a roundtable discussion about peer mentoring and announced its plan to develop a national Peer Mentor Network. By partnering with United Spinal, The TRAILS Program was able to implement a formidable peer mentor program, meet the needs of its SCI patients, and be in the forefront of a national network.
Buddying Up
When we began to think about starting a peer mentor program, a significant consideration for the Utah staff was that our patient caseload was predominantly male. Males are generally perceived as being out of touch with their emotions and, if they are, they’re extremely reluctant to share their feelings with others. If you’ve ever asked a couple of men to discuss their feelings you get blank stares, disinterest, and sometimes anger.
But buddy-up a couple of men to talk about how to live life and have fun, talk about their experiences with finding resources and problem solving, as well as talk about the ‘icky’ emotional stuff, they are more likely to connect and bond. By linking the TRAILS Program with a peermentoring program, we provide a safe setting for “peers” to comfortably connect with their “mentors.”
SMART Goals
The goals of United Spinal’s Peer Mentor Program are to:
• Help individuals cope with their SCI
• Assist people with SCI to prevent secondary medical complications
• Guide those with SCI in discovering new ways to live healthy, active lives, and
• Support people in setting and achieving “SMART” goals (i.e., goals that are Specifi c, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely).
Confidentiality and a strict code of conduct regarding the peer-mentor relationship are also stressed and mentors are cautioned against attempting to be a substitute for health care, legal, or financial professionals. Mentors are trained to share their personal experiences and help improve problem solving through SMART goal setting, communication, and assertiveness skills.
During our session in Utah, we taught communication skills through role playing and experiential exercises. The mentors really enjoyed the role playing and responded positively to the training.
I am confident that, over time, we will see amazing peer-mentor connections form and friendships develop, while we fill the service gap for persons with SCI. We expect the Peer Mentor Program will improve our patients’ ability to self-manage and have a positive impact on depression, social isolation, and secondary medical conditions.
Lynette Ballard is a licensed clinical social worker at the Rehabilitation Center at the University of Utah Hospital.
Andy’s StoryAndy was injured two years ago in a biking accident and sustained a C-5, complete quadriplegia. He has had a long and difficult road to recovery and has been unable to return to work due to fatigue and other factors. He is quite active, though, and feels a strong need to be doing something that makes a difference.
Andy has been able to stay connected to others with SCI through ongoing therapy and the TRAILS program (see main article). Due to fi nancial difficulties, he will be unable to continue therapy at this time and he has been concerned about losing the connection he feels.
Andy went through United Spinal’s Peer Mentor training and has been meeting with Brandon, a fairly recently injured C-5 quadriplegic. They have developed a real bond, and while Brandon has had diffi culty relating to other members of the team, he has truly connected to Andy.
“It gives me a warm feeling inside to know that I can make a real difference here,’ Andy said. Not only does Brandon benefit from Andy’s experience and wealth of information, but Andy has the chance to feel needed again and the satisfaction of knowing that he’s made a difference.
