Peers power PROS growth

Unity House’s PROSperity program is growing to meet the need for outpatient psychiatric rehabilitation. As it does, it’s empowering participants to help each other recover.

With six full-time staffers – up from three in 2022 – PROS is offering more group classes than it has since before COVID. Most of the program’s 50 registered participants attend daily, and more are interested in joining, said PROS Director Taylor Casamassima.

“I have referrals flying in the door – about five a week,” Taylor said. “I’m having trouble keeping up with them.”

PROS participants themselves have been driving the growth, Taylor said.

“They have been telling others about the fun things we’re doing,” Taylor said. “We really do have a family here.”

To manage the growth, Taylor is seeking state approval to serve more people at their location, 146 North Street in Auburn. She’s also using PROS’ new van to take more participants to places like parks, libraries and volunteer opportunities.

One key strategy is to train PROS participants to take some of the workload. Four participants are currently enrolled in PROS’ Peer Academy, a class that helps them become certified peer specialists. Graduates of the program are eligible to be hired to work at Unity House and other organizations that provide mental health services.

Taylor said she hopes to soon employ two part-time peer specialists to help participants through their struggles and to facilitate group sessions.

“It’ll be great to have that help,” Taylor said. PROS participants “tend to be more receptive to hearing things from their peers.”

With additional training and experience, peer specialists can eventually become full-time mental health practitioners, she said.

PROS participant and GRACE House/SLF resident George is passionate about becoming a peer specialist. Sober for almost 18 months, he says he is grateful for the people he has found.

“People so freely helped me. It’s nice to see a familiar face when you’re struggling… I’m not a clinician, so I can share my experiences about what got me through some tough situations.”

-George Anthony