WEST FRANKFORT – Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health care, will host a Parent Peers Empowering Parents (PPEP) meeting via video/telephone providing support, education and inspiration for parents.

All parents are welcome to attend the following meeting, held from 6-8 p.m.:

  • Tuesday, August 25
    • Topic: Behavior Basics
    • Speaker: Amanda Ripley, MS, BCBA
    • Ripley has managed challenging behaviors across the age span since 2005. She graduated with her masters in Behavior Analysis and Therapy from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. She subsequently worked in multiple states providing applied behavior analysis services. She has presented workshops and trainings across the human services field including aging, developmental disabilities, schools, state-operated facilities, and crisis intervention teams.
    • Please join by either:
      • Visiting zoom.us/j/95813923863
      • Calling 888-475-4499 or 877-853-5257 and using the following Meeting ID: 958 1392 3863

Get The Latest News!

Don't miss our top stories and need-to-know news everyday in your inbox.

PPEP meetings started earlier this year and are regularly held to provide support, education and inspiration for all Southern Illinois parents. While the meetings are usually held in-person throughout the region, they are now being held via video/telephone due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The aim of the group is to empower parents, to allow them to be heard and to provide parent peer support,” said Niki Grajewski, Clinical Manager at Centerstone.

In December, Centerstone announced that it had received a $2.1 million, six-year grant from the Illinois Children’s Healthcare Foundation (ILCHF) to improve the mental health of children and communities throughout Southern Illinois. PPEP was created as a result of the grant.

Article continues after sponsor message

“Among the goals of this ILCHF-funded programs are to improve parental engagement, decrease caregiver stress, and increase peer-provided services in our project area,” said Grajewski. “PPEP will be provided mostly by parent peer supporters, parents with experience navigating the mental health system. They will support, inform and help parents build their own capacity for supporting their families.

“We wanted to provide multiple options in several communities to make it easy for parents to get involved and decrease transportation barriers,” Grajewski said.

All parents in Southern Illinois are welcome. There is no fee to join and no commitment required to participate.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Brandy Moore at (618) 457-6703, ext. 7772, or brandy.moore@centerstone.org.

About Centerstone

Centerstone is a not-for-profit health system providing mental health and substance use disorder treatments. Services are available nationally through the operation of outpatient clinics, residential programs, the use of telehealth and an inpatient hospital. Centerstone also features specialized programs for the military community, therapeutic foster care, children’s services and employee assistance programs. Centerstone’s Research Institute provides guidance through research and technology, leveraging the best practices for use in all our communities. Centerstone’s Foundation secures philanthropic resources to support the work and mission of delivering care that changes people’s lives.

More like this:

Mar 25, 2024 - 2024 Women of Distinction: Anne Tyree Is On Her Own Mission to Give Back Through Centerstone

Feb 8, 2024 - Centerstone Outlines Withdrawal Management and Residential Services for Substance Use

Mar 7, 2024 - Centerstone Offers Local Medication-Assisted Treatment for Substance Use

Feb 5, 2024 - A Trauma-Informed Courts and Community Symposium: Creating a Culture of Belonging Agenda Released

Mar 18, 2024 - Local Pediatrician Talks Children's Mental Health, Warning Signs, Ways to Help