Peer Recovery Support

Peer Recovery Supporters have received online and in-person training, passed a competency exam and complete ongoing education requirements.

Peer recovery support is provided by self-identified individuals in recovery from mental illness, substance use disorders, or both.

Anyone committed to their own recovery is eligible to receive peer recovery support.

Peer recovery supporters have lived experience with mental illness, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders.

Peer Recovery Support is a Recovery-Oriented System of Care.

Peer Recovery Support is a mutual process of giving and receiving support an education from individuals with shared life experiences. Services are provided by individuals in recovery from mental illness and/or addiction who use their lived experience as a tool to assist others by sharing their personal journeys and knowledge. Peer services play a vital role in laying the foundation for sustained recovery. Peer Recovery Supporters encourage inspire and empower others to set recovery goals and achieve them.

Peer Recovery Support acknowledges that there can be many paths to recovery and no single solution may work for everyone. Peer Supporters can fulfill many roles, they can…

·     Inspire the hope of Recovery
·     Building Relationships through shared lived experiences
·     Listen and Understand the pain and isolation in early recovery
·     Provide Person-Centered support that builds on existing strengths
·     Help to develop strategies for communication and self-advocacy
·     Assist in implementing a relapse prevention plan
·     Model taking a proactive role in their own physical and behavioral health
·     Provide information for a peer to build needed community resources

Parent Peer Support

A New Program in the State of Ohio

What Is a Parent Peer Support Specialist?

An individual with a lived experience as the primary caregiver or parent of a child or children for whom they have navigated multiple child serving systems (mental health, juvenile Justice, child protective services, education), on behalf of their child/children with social, emotional, developmental, health and or behavioral health needs and who have had a behavioral health diagnosis.

How Are Parents Defined?

The term parent refers to the primary caregiver for a child with mental, emotional or behavioral health need. This Includes:

Biological Parents
Adoptive Parent s
Foster Parents (permanent placement living arrangement) Kinship Caregivers (grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, sibling)

What Do Parent Peer Support Specialists Offer?

Parent Peer Support Specialist services may include:

Providing empathetic listening and emotional support
Assisting families in navigating systems
Supplying information about child‐serving systems, children’s behavioral health and development, and community resources
Rendering advocacy support
Encouraging self‐care activities
Facilitating familial engagement with service providers
Modeling collaboration between families and professionals
Engaging in safety and care planning; exploring and eliminating barriers to care plan follow‐through
Offering skill‐building for parents that enhances resiliency, communication, advocacy and other areas affecting the ability to maintain a child with complex needs in the home, school and community
Sharing personal stories
Providing HOPE