Follow us on...
What are Peer Recovery Support Services?
(Beginning Level)
This publication was developed for the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), by the Altarum Institute
1 Credit CE Course - Free to complete post-test and receive 1 CE credit.
In this paper you will be introduced to a new kind of social support services designed to fill the needs of people in or seeking recovery. The services are called peer recovery support services and, as the word peer implies, they are designed and delivered by people who have experienced both substance use disorder and recovery. Through the Recovery Community Services Program (RCSP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (SAMHSA/CSAT) funds grant projects across the country to develop and deliver these services.
The peer recovery support services developed by the RCSP projects help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Because they are designed and delivered by peers who have been successful in the recovery process, they embody a powerful message of hope, as well as a wealth of experiential knowledge. The services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking to achieve or sustain recovery.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
- Understand the importance of social support in the process of recovery.
- Learn about the different types of Peer Recovery Support Services.
- Be able to clearly distinguish the role of the peer leader from the role of the treatment counselor.
- Understand the meaning of Strengths Perspective.
- Understand the philosophy of self-direction, choice and empowerment, and the challenges it brings.
- Learn how peer leaders can provide support through different recovery stages.
» Back to Free Courses