Office of Mental Health (OMH) Individual Advocate
Provides peer counseling, advocacy, and assistance with all aspects of receiving benefits, such as SSI, DSS and VESID. Helps people with mental illness become self empowered. Will assist recipients in identifying life goals, objectives and values, explore problems, sharing experiences and proposing potential resolutions to problems.

Bridging The Gap Program
Assists people transitioning from mental health institutions to the community. Assists with housing, independent living skills, socialization, and any other goal an individual has that will assist in staying out of an institution.

Filling the Gap Program
Assist people who have a mental illness and chemical addiction transition from the Erie County Holding Center to the community. Assists with dealing with the court system, obtaining housing, independent living skills, socialization, and any other goal an individual has that will assist the individual in staying in the community.

Erie County Medical Center Peer Advocate
This Peer Advocate offers assurance in the hospital setting, helping with understanding treatment plans and assists with resolving issues and concerns. The advocate also distributes information on self-help groups, social clubs and other services available in the community.

MICA Peer Vocational Program
The Peer Support Specialist assists the mentally ill chemical abuser (MICA) with vocational, housing, benefits, socialization, self-help and much more. Working together in the Peer Support Specialist Program, there is no limit to the goals a recipient can achieve.

Coordinated Care Program offers the aid of a PEER Connection Specialist to individuals compelled to treatment under the Involuntary Outpatient Commitment (IOC) Law and who agree to a  ”diversion plan.”  It also provides aid for those who are court-ordered into outpatient treatment under a Coordinated Care Program and choose to have a peer.

New York Works Demonstration Project
The Peer Benefits Advisors, trained by Cornell University, provide advisement and information on work incentives and benefits to recipients with mental illness, entitled through SSI or SSDI.

 Advance Directive Program
This Peer Advocate will assist individuals in developing Advance Directives and will provide educational workshops to traditional providers and mental health recipients on advance directives. An Advance Directive is a legal document developed by the mental health recipient that provides advance information to medical and mental health providers on appropriate treatment when one loses the capacity to decide for oneself.

Peer Support Phone Line
The Peer Support Phone Line offers individuals support in non-crisis situations. The phone is answered by mental health recipients who share their experience, strength, and hope with callers. The phone line is available 7 days a week from 1 :00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. by calling 834-7337.

Peers in Partnership Program
The Peers in Partnership program assists culturally diverse individuals with mental illness in overcoming barriers that prevent the individual from benefiting from mental health services.