Peer Support Tools and Resources

Peer Support Services in Justice and Public Safety Settings: A Planning and Implementation Toolkit (Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association [LAPPA])

• An instructional guide for implementing peer support services in criminal justice and public safety settings, with a variety of information and linked resources and tools. The guide covers suggested roles and responsibilities of peer support workers, sample job descriptions and interview questions, common implementation challenges and resolution strategies, sample intake and consent forms, case studies and assessment tools. (Focus area: substance use disorder [SUD] and mental health)

Values of Peers Infographics: Peer Recovery (Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA])

• An infographic that describes peer recovery support services and peer recovery coaching and outlines their efficacy. (Focus area: SUD)

Five Steps to Effective Integration of Peer Recovery Support Services in the Criminal Justice System (Bureau of Justice Assistance [BJA])

• A toolkit that explains the five “Ps” of successful integration: promote recovery orientation, prepare to integrate, plan appropriate supports, produce peer-supportive policies and provide supervision and support. Checklists for assessing an organization’s readiness to effectively implement peer support are provided throughout the toolkit. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Advancing the Work of Peer Support Specialists in Behavioral Health-Criminal Justice Programming (Justice Center, The Council of State Governments [CSG])

• A brief that provides key strategies to promote the success of peer work in criminal justice settings. Strategies include hiring specialists who reflect the program participants; onboarding strategically; providing supportive, ongoing supervision; and incorporating peer support specialists in leadership-level discussions and roles. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Peer Support Toolkit (City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services [DBHIDS])

• A comprehensive interactive manual on how to integrate peer recovery specialists in mental health settings. The toolkit explains the process of preparing organizational culture, recruiting and onboarding peer staff, implementing services, and supervising peer staff. Its practical resources include tools for peers to use with clients, organizational readiness assessments, checklists, and sample interview questions. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Peer-based Overdose Prevention and Response for Justice-involved Persons Across the Sequential Intercept Model (National Council for Mental Wellbeing)

• This guide for program administrators in justice settings discusses the impact of the drug overdose epidemic in the United States on justice-involved individuals. Furthermore, it provides guidance on integrating peer support programs, including considerations for program design, infrastructure and partnerships. (Focus area: SUD)

NAMI National Warmline Directory  (National Alliance on Mental Illness [NAMI])

• A directory of peer-run crisis intervention numbers across the United States. Warmlines are led by volunteers who offer callers emotional support. (Focus area: mental health)

Peer Support Services in Crisis Care (SAMHSA)

• An advisory document describing the importance and role of peer support in crisis care settings, such as crisis phone lines, crisis mobile teams and crisis receiving and stabilization facilities. It describes key considerations, issues and potential solutions for integrating peer services in these settings. (Focus area: mental health)

Peer Support Workers in the ED: A Report (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico)

• A report based on a grant received by the New Mexico Department of Health which aimed to 1) identify the barriers and facilitators in implementing the peer support model in emergency departments (EDs) and 2) develop a checklist of best practices specific to peer support worker integration in EDs to address the state’s opioid use disorder (OUD) problem. (Focus area: SUD)

Building the Case for Emergency Department Peer Support: Implementation Guide  (North Carolina Healthcare Foundation)

• A general guide to integrating peer support in EDs, including key considerations, peer roles in the ED workflow, funding guidelines and infographics demonstrating the impact. (Focus area: SUD)

Implementing Peer Support Services in Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agencies (Community Oriented Policing Services [COPS])

• A guidebook that outlines the considerations and action steps for establishing peer support in small and/or rural agencies with fewer officers and less financial margin. Topics include establishing trust and buy-in; identifying, training and supporting team members and leaders; confidentiality; local and regional partnerships; and evaluation metrics. (Focus area: mental health)

Deflection and Pre-arrest Diversion: Integrating Peer Support Services (National Council for Mental Wellbeing)

• A guide describing deflection and pre-arrest diversion initiatives to link people who use drugs to evidence-based care and services instead of incarceration. It discusses best practices for integrating peer support services in deflection and pre-arrest diversion programs to enhance recovery-oriented systems of care. (Focus area: SUD)

Behavioral Health Crisis Alternatives: Shifting from Police to Community Responses (Vera Institute of Justice)

• An informative overview of the harm that can be created when non-trauma-informed police are solely relied on to respond to mental health and OUD crises, especially in Black, Indigenous and people of color communities. Suggested alternative approaches include the crisis intervention team (CIT) model, crisis case management teams, peer navigator programs and crisis warmlines. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs: A Best Practice Guide for Transforming Community Responses to Mental Health Crises (International Crisis Intervention Team [CIT])

• A step-by-step guide for law enforcement, mental health professionals, advocates and other partners on building partnerships between mental health advocacy organizations, the mental health system and law enforcement agencies. The goals are increased safety and effective services, and reduced trauma through strategic use of law enforcement, peer support and other recovery support services. (Focus area: mental health)

States’ Use of Peers in the Mental Health Crisis Continuum (National Academy for State Health Policy [NASHP])

• A blog post detailing the expansion of mental health crisis systems. Some topics covered are increased options for Medicaid coverage for peer supports, increased opportunities for peers to be involved in the recovery process, and increased peer support systems such as crisis call centers, mobile mental health teams, and facility-based care. The blog also provides a diagram of specific peer support services within a few states and how they are funded and designed. (Focus area: mental health)

‘I’ve Walked This Road Before’ (Advancing Pretrial Policy and Research [APPR])

• A news article on how New York City Criminal Justice Agency’s Queens Supervised Release program, which began providing peer support services in 2018, has made a profound impact assisting individuals throughout their pretrial services. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Participatory Defense Hubs (Defender Association of Philadelphia)

• A video overview of a Philadelphia community model that brings peers and other community members together with those facing criminal charges to assist them in the initial court hearing and pretrial services. The success of this model has included dismissed cases, dropped charges, acquittals and less harsh sentencing. A list of local participatory defense hubs is given as well as Zoom links for each hub. (Focus area: N/A)

Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT): A Service Delivery Model for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness Involved with the Criminal Justice System (SAMHSA)

• An overview of a service delivery model focused on individuals with serious mental illness who are also involved with the criminal justice system. The purpose of this model is to improve mental health and physical health outcomes, address criminogenic risk factors and reduce recidivism, divert individuals from jail and lead them instead to treatment, reduce arrest cost and increase public safety. Providers within this model can include peer supporters. (Focus area: mental health)

Peer Recovery Support Services in New York Opioid Intervention Courts: Essential Elements and Processes for Effective Integration (United States Courts)

• An article that provides a conceptual framework for incorporating PRSS into treatment and recovery courts. It describes the core components, design factors, processes, and drivers of success for successful integration. (Focus area: SUD)

Collaborative Court and Community Diversion for Individuals with Behavioral Health Needs (National Center for State Courts [NCSC])

• A report outlining the need for interventions prior to engagement in the correctional system. The aim is to guide individuals in crisis toward more appropriate and culturally competent community-based mental health care rather than incarceration. The report identifies opportunities for diversion at the community, pre-arrest and pre- and post-adjudication levels, including use of peer support services. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Peers in Courts (NCSC)

• A brief detailing the various roles of peers within court settings and examples of peer support organizations in courts across the country. It also includes links to toolkits, research studies, policy briefs and other resources related to peer support services in courts and the broader criminal justice system. (Focus area: mental health)

Peer Integration into the Medication-Assisted-Treatment (MAT) and Other Jail-Based Treatment Programs (Bureau of Justice Assistance [BJA] Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant and Substance Abuse Program [COSSAP])

• A presentation from Milwaukee County that provides a description of MAT and other local jail-based programs that integrate peer support. Examples of integrated support include drug treatment court, wraparound, the Milwaukee Overdose Response Initiative, crisis services, inpatient services and SUD treatment. The county states that peer support individuals are just as valued as clinicians, case managers and medical staff due to effective self-disclosure and strong connection. (Focus area: SUD)

Peer Recovery Support Services in Correctional Settings (BJA)

• A thorough overview of PRSS, their usefulness in correctional settings, standard tasks and roles associated with peer supporters and guidance on how to create and implement PRSS. This document also includes resources and implementation tools, such as program-planning worksheets, sample program policies and sample job descriptions. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Planning a Reentry Program: A Toolkit for Tribal Communities (U.S. Department of Justice, BJA)

• A toolkit that provides tribal justice agencies a step-by-step guide to establishing effective reentry programs, including the key considerations when incorporating peer mentors. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

The Formerly Incarcerated Are Helping Newly Released Prisoners Cope with Life After Prison (American Psychological Association [APA])

• A news story featuring an in-depth interview with a formerly incarcerated person who now serves as a mental health and reentry peer specialist in South Texas. The article details the immense struggles that individuals face upon leaving jail or prison and the need for peer support in that time. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Facilitating Successful Reentry Through Peer Support Services (COSSAP)

• An article detailing how peers can positively influence reentry outcomes. Studies show that peer support during reentry results in reduced recidivism and increased desistance. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Creating Reach Beyond the Jail Walls: An Implementation Guide for Harm Reduction Re-entry Wrap Around Services Programs (Catholic Charities Care Coordination Services [CCCCS])

• A toolkit for organizations implementing a harm reduction reentry wraparound program, which may incorporate peer support. It contains instructions for development and implementation, a list of common challenges and survey and assessment tools. (Focus area: SUD)

Saratoga County Jail Programs Example Forms (Reentry Tools New York)

• A resource that provides sample forms used in the Saratoga County Jail’s reentry programs including its peer program. The documents include an example screening form and program sign-up form. More information is available by clicking Saratoga under the Programs tab. (Focus area: SUD)

The National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens (The National Reentry Network)

• A listing of Washington, D.C.-based resources for returning citizens on probation or parole. Projects such as the Ready 4 Work Program and the Peer Navigator Program provide financial stability and mentorship surrounding the goals and success of returning citizens. Other resources listed include Restorative Justice reintegration support circles, the 24/7 Reentry Helpline and National Reentry Network Membership platform. (Focus area: mental health)

Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Tool Kit for Peer Recovery Specialists (National Institute of Corrections)

• A toolkit that prepares peer recovery specialists to discuss MOUD with providers, people seeking recovery and others with questions about this treatment option.  (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Community Supervision Peer Support Program Guidelines (National Institute of Corrections)

• A document outlining commonly accepted guidelines for implementing and maintaining peer support programs in community corrections agencies, including probation, pretrial and parole agencies. Topics include the scope of peer programs, staffing and leadership, confidentiality, conflicts of interest and data collection. (Focus area: SUD and mental health)

Overdose Prevention and Response in Community Corrections: Self-paced Courses (National Council for Mental Wellbeing)

• A web page that links to free courses on overdose prevention and response in criminal justice settings, including community corrections. Course C: Integrating Peer Recovery Support for Overdose Prevention in Community Supervision covers the benefits of PRSS and describes how to implement them in community corrections agencies. (Focus area: SUD)