A short video produced by the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health features CASES Peer Specialists Derrick Brown and Eric Jones talking about their critical roles on an Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) team, in which they use their own lived experience to advocate and support clients.

“Working here at CASES, they understand that a peer is very vital to the team,” Eric said. “Clients would reveal certain things to me that they wouldn’t say to the behavioral health specialist or maybe the nurse because I’m a peer. I’ve been in his shoes.”

CASES’ IMT teams provide wraparound care to people with frequent contact with the criminal legal, mental health, and shelter systems. These teams comprise social workers, nurses, and peer specialists who work alongside the client to identify and address the challenges they’re facing.

At @CASESnyc, the Intensive Mobile Treatment teams are made up of social workers, behavioral health specialists and peer specialists who work across disciplines to ensure New Yorkers with serious mental illness know support is consistently available. #MentalHealthForAll pic.twitter.com/mSEWYZwswc

— Chirlane McCray (@NYCFirstLady) August 24, 2021