Peer Support Workers for Those in Recovery

Who Are Peer Workers?

Peer support workers are people who have been successful in the recovery process who help others experiencing similar situations. Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Peer support services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking a successful, sustained recovery process.

People with lived experience play key roles in expanding access to recovery and recovery supports and are often referred to as peer support workers.

Peer Support Role

Peer support workers engage in a wide range of activities. These include:

• Advocating for people in recovery
• Sharing resources and building skills
• Building community and relationships
• Leading recovery groups
• Mentoring and setting goals

Peer support roles may also extend to the following:

• Providing services and/or training
• Supervising other peer workers
• Developing resources
• Administering programs or agencies
• Educating the public and policymakers

Peer support workers may need to develop additional competencies to provide services to specific groups who also share common experiences, such as family members. The shared experience of being in recovery from a mental health and/or substance use condition or being a family member is the foundation on which the peer recovery support relationship is built in the behavioral health arena. Find answers to frequently asked questions about core competencies for peer workers in behavioral health services.

Resources

Use the following resources to learn more about the role that peers play in recovery.

• Consumer-Operated Services Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) KIT guides mental health authorities, agency staff, and others through the process of implementing evidence-based practices. It also highlights the importance of cultural competence.
• What Are Peer Recovery Support Services? explains peer recovery support services designed and delivered by people in recovery from substance use disorders.
• Peer workers are emerging as important members of treatment teams. The “Supervision of Peer Workers TA Resource” (PDF | 702 KB) helps supervisors understand how to supervise peer workers in behavioral health services. The Consumer-Operated Services Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Toolkit discusses some ways supervisors can be knowledgeable about their role when working with peer workers.
• Value of Peers (PDF | 2 MB) describes how peer supports advance recovery and add value to behavioral health systems. Peer Support provides a succinct summary of peer support and their roles.Peer Support (PDF | 2 MB)

If you would like to consider technical assistance on peer support services, you may view SAMHSA’s TA opportunities on the SAMHSA Technical Assistance and Training Directory.

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