PEER TEAM START UP : TENTATIVE AGENDA
When trying to sprout a new idea, it’s best to begin by setting a short, TENTATIVE TIMELINE OF EVENTS.
Here, where everyone is very busy, I found it crucial to create a program where there was the absolute least amount of
staff needed. Peer Led Programming.
When I felt like the light was green, I submitted this: PEER TEAM START UP: TENTATIVE AGENDA
05/06/24 TIME MATTERS CAMPAIGN- test run/ B1 & B3/ 2 weeks ( sign up sheets attached )
05/15//24 Applications by essay distributed in units ( 10 applications for each of the 12 units on the compound- 120 total )
Goal: find one PEER TEAM LEADER ( PTL ) for each housing unit dorm.
find 3-9 PEER TEAM MEMBERS ( PTM ) for each housing unit dorm.
05/30/24 Applications collected for review by STAFF SUPPORT TEAM ( SST ) and director ( yours truly )
SST Members: Social Worker Daniel, Ms.. Spicer DTS, Captain Mosby
06/15/24 to 07/01/24 – initial meet and greet with the 12 PTL chosen to lead the PEER SUPPORT TEAMS in their prospective units
– introduction to the project scope and agenda
By August we should be ready for the next step: introducing ourselves to the community
End of August- Training Seminar for 90 mentors
As far as the Peers go, it was important to start with small attainable goals.
The brand new PEER SUCCESS TEAM LEADERS; our Aliceville FCI, ” think tank ” was asked to go back to their unit and have a meeting with the mentors that had completed applications and been vetted as PEER SUCCESS TEAM MEMBERS.
Their agenda was simple:
1) get together and make vision board type posters, introducing themselves to the community:
“Hi, I am Susie and I am here to help
– need help parenting from prison?
– GED tutoring?
– budgeting
– reaching your fitness goals?
Remember, Re-entry starts the first day,
we are here to help you find your way”
hang posters in the ice room
2) host an event in the unit- ” ICEBREAKER “
-don’t forget, this is an event that is meant to bring everyone in the community together so that
the Peer Team can introduce themselves to the community.
* The importance is to allow each team the creative space to do what they think their community will respond to the best.
In our unit they did an ART EXPO, hair and make-up show “
The next steps are based on the idea that a good leader is never going to ask anyone to do what they have never done:
so the mentors are instructed to begin:
1) filling out goal sheets for themselves- setting heathy goals
2) drafting a ” bio “- the base for a re-entry plan
3) motivating someone towards fitness- using the ” buddy system ” to get moving.
