Peer Support

PEER SUPPORT = TEAMWORK + 'PARTICIPANT-CENTERED' PLANS.   LET'S START ! !

1.  GETTING  STARTED  IN  PEER  SUPPORT

After a referral, a Peer Supporter is matched to a Peer Participant which starts the HRN Recovery Team.

RECOVERY TEAM-BUILDING PHASE The Peer Supporter contacts the Peer Participant to get started and set a first meeting (this should be a neutral place where both are comfortable--libraries, restaurants, lobbies, community centers--as the team gets acquainted). Early focus on daily task support to build the team relationship and stability, while learning strengths/areas of growth, past experiences, & current situation.

• HRN PEER PARTICIPANT MANUAL

Outline the process, define expectations and participation levels, agency rules, as well as Participant rights and privacy guidelines

Complete forms including: Participant Emergency Plan, Authorization to Release permissions if any & Participant Liability Release

• SET COMMUNICATION PREFERENCES & INDIVIDUAL BOUNDARIES

The Peer Supporter Role is new & different from other roles in the recovery field.  Without universal standards, this role must be clearly defined individually and tightly followed for the best experience.

 HRN Team Plan Worksheet is one way to advance team-building.  It helps to review  annually to update all information, and ensure healthy boundaries are still in place as the relationship changes over time.

2.  MAKING  RECOVERY  PROGRESS

After Participant's gain and maintain stability, the team can start to make "Progress" on goals to actually build life skills and improve living circumstances... its a great opportunity for life coaching and why Peer Supporters enjoy doing what they do!

SET PARTICIPANT-CENTERED GOALS Each team decides the best method to set goals based on the Participant's wants & abilities. Participants choose all goals, but Peer Supporters can guide how to set achievable goals and may present healthy options to improve well-being.

• REFOCUS FROM DAILY TASKS TO  INDEPENDENCE & GROWTH

As Participants become comfortable and stable, Peer Supporters help independence by becoming a "back-up" for daily tasks like transportation (by helping set up other resources and building social networks). 

The team develops an action plan to meet the goals, ways to measure progress and focuses on improving life circumstances (over maintaining current position).

3.  PROGRESS  ASSESSMENT  &  ON-GOING  PLAN

Each team has a different path, but at some point they will evaluate and decide what, if any, changes should be made in priorities or goals.  Its best to discuss goals periodically, with a more formal progress assessment annually.

• ASSESSMENTS & TIER ASSIGNMENT: A tier is assigned after assessing progress (HRN Progress Suvery &/or other general assessment tools), identifying future areas of potential progress, along with each Participant's needs, wants, and abilities.  

TIER 1 (Making Progress)  TIER 2 (Maintaining Position)  TIER 3 (Exiting Support).
This ensures resources are available for the highest needs, new referrals, and for those making active progress.

• EVALUATE & DECIDE ON-GOING PLAN
  Based on circumstances, decide to stay the course, versus changing the focus &/or amount of time in Peer Support.  Its important to clearly define the on-going plan specifics, (i.e. healthy achievable goals, specific actions & how to measure progress, how to correct any problems, when to re-assess, etc).

Its good write down the plan so both members know what is expected going forward, as well as reviewing the Participant 'HRN 'On-Board' Policy and HRN Joint Participation Contract again from the HRN Participant Manual.

4.  EXIT  PEER  RECOVERY  SUPPORT

The overall goal of HRN Peer Support is to reach the "Best Possible" outcome (based on various factors including social, physical, & mental aspects of daily life) for each Participant for their goals and abilities.

Peer Support is not indefinite.  It is designed to have a beginning, middle, and end.  The team decides what the end goals are, and when they have been met. 

Exiting Peer Support can be done in stages, or however the team decides is the best way.  (An EXIT SURVEY can ensure each Participant’s experience is part of Hope Recovery Network's future.  It also establishes how to return to HRN Peer Support, should it become necessary for any Participant again).

Its amazing how much progress can be made . . . Stronger Together. Hope Recovery Network is grateful to be one part of this process!