Lived Experience Academy

Participants will learn how to share their stories for the purpose of empowering themselves, furthering the healing process, reducing stigma, and educating others about behavioral health conditions. Graduates can go on to be part of the Speakers Bureau and receive a stipend to share their stories with behavioral health providers and community members. There are two courses offered annually: the Core program and the Advocacy program.

LEA Core Values

• Lived experience is expertise.
• Integrating people with lived experience into the workforce is a type of workforce diversity, and increasing all forms of workforce diversity is important.
• Storytelling can be empowering, healing, educational, and de-stigmatizing.

Programs

Core Program

The Lived Experience Academy is designed for individuals living with mental health and/or substance use challenges and/or their family members. Participants will learn how to share their stories to empower themselves, reduce stigma, and educate others about behavioral health conditions.

• Offered once per year
• Five two-hour sessions
• Has capacity for 15-17 participants

Advocacy Program

The Lived Experience Advocacy Academy is designed for individuals living with mental health and/or substance use challenges and/or their family members, who have graduated from the Lived Experience Academy and want to get involved in advocacy work. It is considered a second-tier training that builds on the skills developed in the LEA.

Opportunities for Lived Experience Graduates

Speakers Bureau

LEA graduates may have the opportunity to share their stories of lived experience in training and events for the purpose of educating clinicians, providers and community members. This is a paid opportunity.

Lived Experience Education Workgroup (LEEW)

LEEW is a workgroup that promotes workforce opportunities for clients and family members, shares information on statewide conferences and initiatives, and supports people serving in Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) peer programs.

This group meets virtually on the first Tuesday of every month.

To confirm details for an upcoming meeting, please contact the Office of Consumer and Family Affairs at OCFA@smcgov.org or call 800-388-5189. This is a paid opportunity.

Local Advocacy

The Advocacy program prepares graduates to participate in county commissions, committees, and other decision-making bodies. Participants will improve their skills in advocating for themselves and their communities and in bringing the voices of those with lived experience to the decision-making table. This is a paid opportunity.

Event Support

LEA graduates may be trained to provide support for BHRS events around the county. This is a paid opportunity.