Community Impact Blog

You can drive greater impact with data – work with a program evaluator who has a history of publishing research in academic journals to ensure that more people set eyes on your accomplishments. We helped a client get their program expanded into 53 new locations because we published evaluation data in over 25 blogs and in three academic journals.

Based on the first round of data collection and analysis, it appears that HOM is achieving its desired outcomes. Specifically, program participants rated themselves highly in terms of their perceptions of HOM’s programs and services, ability to think adaptively under stress, psychological strength and approach to problem-solving, perceived social support, employment and educational trajectories, and positive use of leisure time.

Cognitive distortions - irrational thoughts that can distort the way a person sees themselves, their life, their specific day-to-day situations, their relationships, and other people - can contribute to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. Learn how to identify and address them in our peer2peer mental health support training.

The evidence is clear: TUMI is responsible for the drastic change I observed in people like David McMillan. So, yes, we should provide educational opportunities to those who are incarcerated!

In a recent post, I explained the “why” behind the development of my peer support training program, where we expand CBT beyond the traditional therapy office to individuals who have traditionally been unable to access evidence-based mental health care. We train peer support specialists on how to recognize and address negative thought processes and behaviors and help their clients thrive. Right away, I received one very important question from a colleague on LinkedIn: Can trained peer counselors provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? That question deserves a thoughtful response, and I did so in this article.

Some people want help with their own mental health and well-being but hesitate to see a licensed psychologist. Another group of people have the skills and want to help others achieve greater mental health and well-being, but they hesitate to undergo the lengthy schooling process necessary to become a licensed psychologist. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) works in a variety of situations (especially reentry), but few peer support training programs explicitly include CBT principles in their curriculum. We created a tool to train people with lived experience to implement CBT to educate clients on healthy coping strategies.

As peer counselors, we play a vital role in supporting individuals through their emotional struggles and challenges. One common hurdle we encounter with clients is cognitive distortions—patterns of thinking that skew perceptions of reality and often lead to negative emotions and behaviors. Identifying and addressing these distortions is a crucial step in promoting mental well-being. In this article, we'll explore strategies and techniques to help clients recognize and overcome cognitive distortions effectively.

Self-awareness is becoming aware of our thoughts and feelings. By understanding ourselves, we are better positioned to understand others and help them in their healing journey. As peer supporters, self-awareness is essential to preparing to encounter those we support, their families, and the system and support our peers in reentry.

Grant proposals describe your organization’s mission, how you plan to use grant funds, your program's goals and objectives, a timeline for completion of the project, and an expected outcome. However, a grant proposal must be written in such a way as to convince potential funders of the value and impact of your project. At LaBarbera Learning Solutions, we’ve helped our clients write several successful grant proposals. In this guide, we’ll share with you 8 tips we’ve learned about what it takes to create a winning proposal.