What is a Peer Support Worker? [2.2.2.I.f.1]
A peer support worker is a person who shares common experiences with the people he or she serves. Because of their life experiences, peer support workers have expertise that professional training cannot replicate.
1 They are often called peer support specialists, recovery support workers, recovery coaches, peer health navigators, and peer educators. Many of these workers have received training and hold certifications in their field. More recently in primary care settings, peer support roles have evolved from informal or voluntary roles to include community health workers and peer coaches.
Peer support workers engage in a wide range of activities, including advocacy, linkage to resources, sharing of experiences, community and relationship building, group facilitation, skill building, mentoring, goal setting, and more. They may also plan and develop groups, services or activities, supervise other peer workers, provide training, gather information on resources, administer programs or agencies, and educate the public and policymakers.
2
The study described in report,
Pilot Test of a Peer Navigator Intervention for Improving the Health of Individuals with Serious Mental Illness demonstrates how peer health navigators positively impact health.
3
[1] Michigan Department of Community Health, Bulletin MSA 07-52: Revisions to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Chapter, September 1, 2007. Retrieved from
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/MSA-07-52-PIHP_Bulletin_207606_7.pdf
[2] Jacobson, N. et.al. (2012). What do peer support workers do? A job description. BMC Health Services Research. 12:205
[3] Kelly E. et. al. (2013). A Pilot Test of a Peer Navigator Intervention for Improving the Health of Individuals with Serious Mental Illness. Community Mental Health. Published online.