CPSS Advocacy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a peer specialist advocates for a person's right to choose their own recovery path, which core principle are they upholding?
- Paternalism
- Self-determination (Correct answer)
- Compliance-based care
- Clinical authority
Correct answer: Self-determination
Self-determination is a foundational recovery principle that honors each person's right to direct their own life and recovery choices.
Question 2: A peer specialist learns that a system policy consistently disadvantages people with mental health conditions. The MOST appropriate systemic advocacy action is to:
- Accept the policy as unchangeable
- File an individual grievance only
- Document patterns and bring concerns to leadership or advocacy organizations (Correct answer)
- Advise individuals to avoid the system entirely
Correct answer: Document patterns and bring concerns to leadership or advocacy organizations
Systemic advocacy involves identifying patterns of inequity and working through proper channels—including leadership and advocacy groups—to create policy change.
Question 3: In North Carolina, which state agency is primarily responsible for overseeing mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use services?
- NC Department of Labor
- NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS) (Correct answer)
- NC Department of Education
- NC Division of Social Services
Correct answer: NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS)
NC DMH/DD/SUS is the state agency that oversees and sets policy for behavioral health services across North Carolina.
Question 4: A peer specialist helping someone navigate the appeals process for a denied service is engaged in which type of advocacy?
- Legislative advocacy
- Individual case advocacy (Correct answer)
- Community organizing
- Public awareness advocacy
Correct answer: Individual case advocacy
Individual case advocacy focuses on helping a specific person assert their rights and navigate systems to obtain needed services.
Question 5: Which communication approach is MOST effective when a peer specialist advocates on behalf of someone to a provider?
- Making demands and threatening complaints immediately
- Using collaborative, strength-based language that centers the person's goals (Correct answer)
- Speaking only in clinical terminology to appear credible
- Avoiding any mention of the person's diagnosis
Correct answer: Using collaborative, strength-based language that centers the person's goals
Collaborative, strength-based language promotes partnership with providers while keeping the focus on what the person needs and wants.
Question 6: When is it appropriate for a peer specialist to advocate on behalf of someone WITHOUT their direct instruction?
- Whenever the peer specialist believes they know what is best
- When the person has given prior consent or there is an immediate safety concern (Correct answer)
- When the peer specialist disagrees with a clinical decision
- Whenever the situation seems urgent
Correct answer: When the person has given prior consent or there is an immediate safety concern
Advocating on someone's behalf without consent is only appropriate when they have previously authorized it or when an immediate safety emergency exists.
Question 7: A peer specialist hears a person describe feeling dismissed by their treatment team. The FIRST step in advocacy is to:
- Immediately contact the treatment team to report the issue
- Listen fully and ask the person what kind of support they want (Correct answer)
- Document the complaint in the official record
- Advise the person to find a new provider
Correct answer: Listen fully and ask the person what kind of support they want
Effective advocacy begins by understanding the person's perspective and learning what type of support they are seeking before taking any action.
CPSS Advocacy 2
When a peer specialist advocates for a person's right to choose their own recovery path, which core principle are they upholding?