Definition
An occupational title for individuals with "lived experience" who have been trained and certified to work with individuals who have struggles pertaining to mental health, psychological trauma or substance use. Peer support specialists can work with individuals as they develop and implement a personal recovery plan, which can also serve as a contract for engagement. Tasks may include assisting their peers in articulating their goals for recovery and learning and practicing new skills, helping them monitor their progress, supporting them in their treatment, modeling effective coping techniques and self help strategies based on their own recovery experience, and supporting them in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services. Peer specialists may work in a variety of different settings. Some may work alongside mental health providers in clinical settings such as hospitals and crisis centers. Others may work in independent, peer-run organizations. Peer specialists may also work on support teams in housing agencies or employment organizations, or may work on case management.
URL Name
YO-5000-1300
Third Level Code
YO-5000
Taxonomy Code
YO-5000.1300
Parent Code
YO-5000
Family Code
Y
Second Level Code
YO
Fourth Level Code
YO-5000-1300
Use References
Addiction Peer Recovery Coaches, Addiction Recovery Coaches, Alcohol and Drug Related Peer Recovery Coaches, Alcohol and Drug Related Recovery Coaches, Certified Peer Support Specialists, Substance Use Disorder Peer Recovery Coaches, Substance Use Disorder Recovery Coaches
Publication Status
Online