The Role of Peers in Behavioral Health Workforce Development Pat Taylor April 26, 2010
Who are Peers? People in recovery from addiction, their family members and significant others Offering hope and a shared, lived experience Coach, Firestarter, Peer Leader, Mentor, Guide 2
Distinguishing peers from counselors and sponsors Linkages with mutual aid groups Non-clinical services; linkages with treatment providers; criminal justice and other service systems Like people with other illnesses, social supports help people seeking/in recovery sustain and manage their recovery. 3
Peers Volunteer Paid 1). Staff to organize volunteers recruiting, training, and supervising volunteer peer leaders 2). Peer recovery support service provider Grants, contracts, private pay and/or third party 4
Where are services delivered? In the community: Recovery Community Centers Churches and faith communities Pre-release jail and prison; parole and probation programs Mental illness; HIV/AIDs and other health condition service agencies Drug Courts Treatment Centers Recovery Homes. 5
Recovery Community Organizations Bridging the gap between treatment and incarceration and long-term recovery Building recovery-oriented communities by: Putting a face and a voice on recovery Public education and advocacy Peer recovery support services 6
Peer Recovery Support Services PRO-ACT Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery Grace Under Fire Connecticut Turning to Youth and Families The RASE Project The M.A.R.S. Project White Bison 7
Recovery Coach Academy The Recovery Coach Academy is a five-day training for people interested in serving as a recovery coach focusing primarily on recovery from alcohol and other drug addiction. 8
Types of Social Support and Associated Peer Recovery Support Services (from What are Peer Recovery Support Services?) Emotional Informational Instrumental Affiliational Demonstrate empathy, caring, or concern to bolster person s self-esteem and confidence. Share knowledge and information and/or provide life or vocational skills training. Provide concrete assistance to help others accomplish tasks. Facilitate contacts with other people to promote learning of social and recreational skills, create community, and acquire a sense of belonging. Peer mentoring Peer-led support groups Parenting class Job readiness training Wellness seminar Child care Transportation Help accessing community health and social services Recovery centers Sports league participation Alcohol- and drug-free socialization opportunities 9
Identifying Peer Recovery Support Services Pre-treatment/recovery engagement and initiation (outreach) services In-treatment services Post-treatment and/or early recovery without professional treatment services 10
Credentialing Individuals Assuring Quality Experience and competency to deliver services 11
Organization Practice Guidelines/Standards Organizational Capacity Organizational Ethics Organizational Governance Peer Leader Development Workforce Management Evaluation 12
Resources Recovery Community Services Program web site: rcsp.samhsa.gov including What Are Peer Recovery Support Services? SAMHSA/CSAT; HHS Publication No. (SMA) 09-4454 (2009). Faces & Voices web site including 2009 Recovery Advocacy Teleconference Series Building Bridges to Long-term Recovery: Mutual Support Groups, Peer and other recovery support services, clinical treatment services their differences and relationships (6/30/09). Bill White, Bev Hablerle (PRO-ACT) and Phil Valentine (CCAR). 13
Resources White, W. (2006) Sponsor, Recovery Coach, Addiction Counselor: The Importance of Role Clarity and Role Integrity (monograph). Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia Dept. of Behavioral Health. White, W. (2009) Peer-based Addiction Recovery Support: History, Theory, Practice and Scientific Evaluation. Chicago, IL: Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center and Philadelphia Dept. of Behavioral Health 14
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