I​ntegrating Peer Support into Human Services

This week’s readings and video introduce a new phenomenon in the field of human services: the use of “non-clinical” interventionalists, referred to as peer support or recovery coaches.

In the video by SAMHSA (found under “Required Readings” for this module), the experts assert that those in a peer-support role draw on “lived experience” to provide non-clinical, strength-based, reciprocal care to service recipients. Please provide your reaction to this method of intervention for those living with mental illness and/or substance use disorders.

Select three of the following human service needs (poverty, substance use, homelessness, transition from prison, mental illness, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, or youth in transition to adult) and describe a situation for each as to how peer support intervention can be used to enhance the care of the person in need.

Discussion question responses should be at least 200-300 words. Your responses in the discussion board must be well written according to and APA Requirements

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Dear writer I have enclosed the folloowing links to assist with answering the questions. These are the materials we used this week.

• SAMHSA.gov. (2013, September). Road to recovery September 2013; Peer recovery support: Leveraging personal experience in helping others.
• Davidson, L., Bellamy, C., Guy, K., & Miller, R. (2012). Peer support among persons with severe mental illnesses: A review of evidence and experience. World Psychiatry, 11(2), 123-128. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3363389/
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2009). What are peer recovery support services? (HHS Publication No. (SMA) 09-4454). Retrieved from https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA09-4454/SMA09-4454.pdf