What Is Peer Support?
Peer support is a voluntary, community-based recovery service for self-identifying individuals struggling with mental illness and/or substance use. Peer support services utilizes the shared experience of certified professionals to promote recovery, self-determination, self-advocacy, well-being and independence.
In the state of Ohio, peer recovery supporters are certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services through a professional training course. Certification requires individuals to provide a declaration of being in recovery with the lived experience of mental illness, substance use disorder (SUD), or both.
Candidates that complete the training must pass the Ohio certified Peer Supporter exam with 70% accuracy or more to be granted certification from the state. Additionally, they must sign and agree to the OhioMHAS Peer Recovery Services Code of Ethics and pass a Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) background check. Once accredited, peer supporters in Ohio are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain certification.
What Can Thrive’s Certified Peer Recovery Supporters Offer?
At Thrive, our certified Peer Recovery Supporters respect each individual’s journey and support all pathways to recovery. We assist our clients in developing their own recovery plans by helping them recognize their personal strengths, set their own goals and build a strong recovery platform.
Thrive’s certified Peer Recovery Supporters empower our clients to overcome problems (ex. guilt, shame, remorse, relationship issues, interpersonal conflict, etc.) that are barriers to their long-term recovery. Working together, a Peer Recovery Supporter will help clients to locate and utilize available resources, practice and learn how to set boundaries, understand what self-care is, identify healthy coping mechanisms and more.
Additionally, Thrive Recovery Services can help with:
Medicaid Insurance:
- Finding resources for housing, employment & childcare
- Building a professional resume, improving your job interviewing skills
- Reinstating your driver’s license
- Getting your GED, vocational training or enrolled in college
- Obtaining a MAT referral
- Budgeting, money management, etc.
- Applying for Food Stamps or Medicaid benefits
- Navigating the court system
Contracted Insurance:
- Receive support for any of your substance use or mental health needs
- Weekly group sessions for you or your family support system
- Access to a recovery-focused mobile app that will provide self-guided support and 24/7 access to a digital recovery community.
- Once you are matched with a certified Peer Recovery Supporter, you can create your own schedule and personalized goals.
- Help with finding resources, or just connect with someone who can offer guidance through a tough situation.
What Is The Difference Between Peer Support and Therapy or Case Management?
Unlike therapy or case management, peer support utilizes personal experience and stories to lend support and inspire hope.
In addition, peer supporters also have the unique ability to address the four types of support associated with recovery — emotional, informational, instrumental and affiliational. While case managers are able to provide crucial referrals to services (i.e. referral to job services), peer support professionals can provide the emotional support needed (i.e. supportive coaching to prepare for the job interview) and/or the instrumental support needed (i.e. help cleaning up a criminal record for the job application) for maximum success.
At Thrive, our Peer Recovery Supporters share their first-hand knowledge, practical guidance and real-life lessons learned on their own recovery journey. The Thrive Peer Support program empowers our clients to believe that they can attain greater self-fulfillment through personal responsibility.
How Is a Certified Peer Recovery Supporter Different From an NA or AA Sponsor?
Unlike therapy or case management, peer support utilizes personal experience and stories to lend support and inspire hope.
In addition, peer supporters also have the unique ability to address the four types of support associated with recovery — emotional, informational, instrumental and affiliational. While case managers are able to provide crucial referrals to services (i.e. referral to job services), peer support professionals can provide the emotional support needed (i.e. supportive coaching to prepare for the job interview) and/or the instrumental support needed (i.e. help cleaning up a criminal record for the job application) for maximum success.
At Thrive, our Peer Recovery Supporters share their first-hand knowledge, practical guidance and real-life lessons learned on their own recovery journey. The Thrive Peer Support program empowers our clients to believe that they can attain greater self-fulfillment through personal responsibility.
How Do Thrive’s Certified Peer Recovery Supporters Deliver Their Services?
At Thrive, we are committed to developing innovative ideas to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients and our Peer Recovery Supporters. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we are currently offering our peer support services face-to-face with the use of PPE, telephonically and through secure video conferencing platforms.
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