Increasingly, peer recovery support services are an important—and sometimes central—part of efforts to effectively address the substance abuse epidemic. Peer-based services can be a vital part of the continuum of care for efforts to address alcohol and drug abuse—including opioid and stimulant misuse.
The Peer Recovery Support Services Mentoring Initiative (PRSSMI)—a special learning opportunity offered through the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP)—supports programs, organizations, and jurisdictions interested in incorporating peer recovery support services (PRSS) into their portfolios of substance abuse intervention and treatment strategies. The purposes of PRSSMI are to:
PRSSMI provides an opportunity for new or early-stage peer programs to be matched with and learn from an experienced program in a structured way. Mentee sites receive consultation and support from the staff of experienced programs, culminating in visits to mentor sites (PRSSMI will cover travel for up to three persons). Mentee sites are expected to:
Listen to “The Power of Peers: Highlighting the Peer Recovery Support Services Mentoring Initiative” podcast, showcasing two mentor sites and two mentee sites that participated in the PRSSMI last year.
Audio Transcript
All questions MUST be answered for your submission to be considered. Further details on the PRSSMI program and application process are available on the Mentor Program FAQs and Mentee Program FAQs. For questions not addressed by these documents or for tailored assistance, please contact Erin Etwaroo at Erin.Etwaroo@altarum.org.
Peer support services are an evidence-based model of care that consists of a qualified peer support practitioner who assists individuals with their recovery from substance use disorders and mental illness. The term Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS) refers to the wide array of person-centered, nonclinical supports provided by peer practitioners (also referred to as peer specialists). As outlined in the following graphic, there are four types of PRSS: (1) emotional, (2) instrumental, (3) informational, and (4) affiliational; often, a service or support falls into more than one category.
Type of Support | Description | Examples of Peer Recovery Support Services |
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Emotional | Demonstrate empathy, caring, and concern to bolster person’s self-esteem and confidence. |
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Instrumental |
Provide concrete assistance to help others accomplish tasks.
Increase access and opportunities; reduce barriers. |
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Informational | Share knowledge and information and/or provide life or vocational skills training. |
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Affiliational | Facilitate contacts with other people to promote learning of social and recreational skills, create community, and acquire a sense of belonging. |
Arranging outings or activities such as:
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Through recovery/goal planning and sharing resources, a peer specialist encourages a process of making healthful choices; creating or recreating a meaningful life; and being of service to family, friends, and community. Peer support has been shown to improve access to social supports, decrease criminal justice involvement, and provide greater housing stability. It has also been shown to improve relationships with treatment providers, increase treatment retention, increase satisfaction with the overall treatment experience, and decrease substance use.