RIPIN was established in 1991 by a passionate group of parents of children with special needs. These parents recognized that by sharing key information and supporting each other, they could help each other find the resources they needed for their loved ones. Today, more than three-quarters of our staff are PEER PROFESSIONALS who have personal experience caring for a loved one with special health c
are or education needs. RIPIN’s programs and services are rooted in the peer-to-peer model of support, education and empowerment, where a professional peer with personal experience assists others in the capacity of a mentor, advocate, and motivator. RIPIN has certified 67 employees as Community Health Worker(CHW), representing over 75% of certified CHWs in the state. With national recognition for its model, RIPIN’s peer CHWs are part of patient-centered medical home settings, physicians’ offices as well as primary and secondary educational settings across the state.
