What is a peer support specialist?
Someone who has been diagnosed with a mental illness/challenge and has experienced living the journey from diagnosis to recovery.
What is the goal of a peer support specialist?
To support those who are struggling with mental health challenges and help them reconnect to themselves and their community, in a healthy way, to gain new meaning and purpose in their lives. Peer Recovery Specialists work alongside the professionals to promote healing and add their own message of hope by living and modeling recovery to peers.
Recovery
Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. (SAMHSA Working Definition of Recovery)
The belief that recovery is possible for all who experience psychiatric, traumatic, or substance use challenges is fundamental to the practice of peer support. The likelihood of long-term recovery is increased with effective support. Peer support has been demonstrated through research and practical application to be highly effective.
In addition to the SAMHSA Working Definition and Guiding Principles of Recovery, the following core values have been ratified by peer supporters across the country as the core ethical guidelines for peer support practice.
What Peers Can Offer
- Hope….that recovery is possible.
- Understanding….shared lived experience.
- Connection…people, systems, community
- Role Model…to overcome prejudice
- Experience…practical application of skills
- Knowledge…for people and systems
The Role of Peer Recovery Specialists
As a member of the team, the Certified Peer Specialist uses a non-clinical approach that assists the person to discover their strengths and develop their own unique recovery goals. The peer specialist models wellness, personal responsibility, self-advocacy, and hopefulness through appropriate sharing of his or her story.
As a Medicaid-billable service, Certified Peer Specialists provide non-clinical, person-centered recovery focused support while helping to ensure the treatment plan reflects the needs and preferences of the person being served to achieve their measurable and individualized goals. The level of services provided must be determined on an individual basis taking into account the intensity of the situation for the person receiving services, the experience of the Certified Peer Specialist and the acuity of the beneficiary’s condition.
The role of Peer Recovery Specialists is unique to the client because the Peer Recovery Specialist shares their own experience in receiving mental health services, their recovery and their experience in the system. Because of that, the Peer Recovery Specialist has unique individual support roles with the client which include:
Assist individual with recovery assessment and planning. Identify strengths and goals.
Conduct individual and group recovery coaching sessions and skills teaching.
Facilitate peer support groups.
Help individuals/families navigate systems to access supports and services. Advocate for person's involvement in decisions.
Provide outreach and engagement
Staff recovery houses, day programs or clubhouses, wellness centers, crisis/respite centers, residential, hotlines, warm lines, and many other places
Lead wellness activities (e.g., yoga, exercise, walking groups, nutrition groups, weight loss clubs, smoking cessation, etc.)
In addition, Peer Recovery Specialists have system Improvement Roles which include:
Educate other staff about recovery
Clarify the challenges of prejudice
Impact organizational culture
Offer perspective of lived experience in organizational planning and evaluation on internal and external committees
Raise community awareness and involvement