Critical Time Intervention-Peer Support

Critical Time Intervention-Peer Support is delivered by Community Mental Health Workers (CMHWs) and Peer Support Workers (PSWs). They will be selected, recruited, and trained by members of the research team to deliver mental health care according to the manualized recovery-oriented program. Ongoing regular supervision of PSWs and CMHWs, in weekly meetings, will be conducted throughout the study by members of the research team trained in CTI-PS by those who originally developed it at the Columbia University. Those allocated to the intervention group will receive usual care and, in addition, CTI-PS services over a 9-month period. The intervention has two broad objectives: 1) to collaborate with participants to develop durable connections to support systems, including both formal and informal supports (e.g., mental health services, primary care clinics, family, and friends); and 2) to provide practical and emotional support, helping the individual to overcome a critical period of transition during which they can feel especially vulnerable. The work of CTI-PS will focus on areas identified as crucial for strengthening the individual's continuum of services and forming enduring links with their community supports. The phases of CTI are Initiation, Try-Out, and Transfer of Care. The PSW-CMHW will collaborate with the participants to identify barriers to their recovery and develop a sustainable plan to engage in and use community supports and resources during and after CTI. They will also use their knowledge to increase participants' autonomy, strengthen their connection to health services, and expand their support networks. The role of CTI workers is specifically designed to avoid becoming the primary source of care for the individual.