Projects
Skills for Expanding Expertise in Peer Support (SEEPS) is a theory, set of skills, tools and comprehensive trainings developed for young adult Peer Support Specialists and supervisors working in Early Psychosis programs, part of a NIDILRR-funded research project.
Peer Approaches to Substances in Early Psychosis Programs (PAS-EPP) Study is under construction.
FCSC Family Peer Support Study is under construction.
Publicly Available Practice Tools
Explore our New SEEPS Toolkit, Training Materials and Reflective Professional Development Tool Klodnick, V. V., LaPelusa, B. (2025)
Bridging the Gap Peer Kit for Agencies Employing Young Adults in Peer Roles Barba, A., Klodnick, V. V., Munson, M. R., LaPelusa, B., Johnson, R. P. Jewish Board of New York. (2023)
Peer Approaches to Substances in Early Psychosis Programs (PAS-EPP) Manual. EPINET-TX. The University of Texas at Austin. LaPelusa, B., Klodnick, V. V., Reznik, S., Johnson, R. P., Mayhue, A,. Cohen, D., & Lopez, M. (2023)
Near-Age Young Adult Peer Support in Coordinated Specialty Care for First-Episode Psychosis: Skills & Challenges. Portland State University. Walker, J., LaPelusa, B., Hermsen-Kritz, M., Blajeski, S., & Klodnick, V. V. (2023).
Organizational Young Adult Peer Mentor Readiness Assessment Tool. Children’s Behavioral Health Knowledge Center, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Klodnick, V. V., & Gold, A. (2021).
Partnering with Young Adult Peer Mentors: Online Training Series. Children’s Behavioral Health Knowledge Center, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Klodnick, V. V., & Gold, A. (2021).
- Training 1 – Who are young adult peer mentors (YAPMs)?
- Training 2 – What YAPMs do (and don’t do)
- Training 3 – How YAPMs Enhance your Program
- Training 4 – How to Support and Partner with YAPMs
Youth Peer Support Worker TIP Sheet. New Mexico Healthy Transitions & UMASS Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research. Klodnick, V. V., Sabella, K., & Mizrahi, R. (2019).
Effective Supervision for Young Adult Peer Mentors: A Guidebook (Version 2). University of Massachusetts Medical School, Transitions Research & Training Center in partnership with Department of Mental Health SAMHSA-funded STAY Project. Klodnick, V. V. (2019)
Published Research
Presentations
- 2026 MHA PAR Presentation on YPS Research
- 2026 NAMI Beyond Conference Summit on Non-Clinical Role Implementation
- Klodnick, V. V. (2026, Mar). Youth Adult Peer Support in US Community Mental Health Settings. Youth Advisory Board. Douglas Centre for Youth Development, McGuill University, Montreal, CA. (1-hour virtual workshop; 12 participants)
- Klodnick, V. V. (2025, Oct). Integrating Young Adult Peer Support Specialists US Community Mental Health Settings: Implementation Challenges & Organizational Opportunities. Douglas Centre for Youth Development, McGuill University, Montreal, CA. (1-hour live recorded virtual presentation; 30 participants) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btRJNtjxun0
- Klodnick, V. V., Pagdon, S., Caruso, N., & Lara, I. (2025, August). Youth Peer Support in Early Serious Mental Illness (ESMI) Programs. SAMHSA 2025 ESMI Conference. Rockville, MD. (Facilitated 60-minute in-person panel discussion; 60 participants)
- 2025 Peer Support in Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis
- 2025 SSWR Presentation – Facilitating Effective & Equitable Collaboration in Participatory Action Research to Enhance Youth Peer Support Science, Practice & Policy in Community Mental Health
- 2024 Peer Support and Persons with Lived Experience in Supported Employment, SAMHSA Policy Academy on SE in Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers
- Klodnick, V. V., Barba, A., & Munson, M. (2022, Oct). Transforming Community Mental Healthcare: How to Grow the Youth & Young Adult Peer Support Workforce. University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research Webinar. (75-minute online seminar; 100 participants; recorded).
- Klodnick, V. V. (2022, Sept). The Time for Change is Now: Transforming Youth Mental Health by Integrating Youth Peer Support in Ohio. Ohio Annual Youth Peer Conference. (90-minute virtual keynote speech; 100 participants; recorded).
- Klodnick, V. V., Duke, A., & Caruso, N. (2020, Nov). Building & Retaining an Effective CSC Peer Workforce: The Vision, the Reality, & the Solution. Third National Early Psychosis Conference, American Psychiatric Association. (Virtual Delivery due to COVID-19; 590 participants).