June 2025 Newsletter

Peer Recovery Support Services

Strengthening Community-Based Organizations for a More Inclusive Recovery Ecosystem

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Unlike traditional health care settings, CBOs are often staffed and led by individuals who have personal experience with mental health and substance use challenges. This shared lived experience fosters a sense of trust, relatability, and authenticity that can be difficult to achieve in more clinical environments. As a result, peers working within CBOs are more likely to feel understood and valued, enhancing the quality of support they provide and contributing to a more positive and supportive workplace environment.

Challenges Facing the PRSS Landscape

The future of PRSS is poised for significant advancement, but several challenges must be addressed to ensure sustainable growth and impact. These developments are crucial for the sustained growth and impact of PRSS, particularly as CBOs increasingly seek to participate in third-party billing systems like Medicaid. This diversity reflects localized needs and priorities and highlights the challenges of creating a consistent framework that allows CBOs to scale their services effectively and participate in broader health care financing systems.

Recommended Actions for Strengthening PRSS

To address these challenges, several key actions are necessary:

Standardize Certification Requirements

There must be a concerted effort to standardize certification requirements for peer support workers across states. This would ensure a consistent level of quality and competency among peer workers and facilitate greater mobility and flexibility within the workforce.

Improve Funding Mechanisms

Increasing funding mechanisms and improving reimbursement rates for PRSS are essential. Expanding Medicaid and other third-party billing options to include PRSS would provide a more reliable and scalable funding stream.

Revise Supervision Guidelines

Revising supervision guidelines to support peer-led oversight is crucial for the growth and development of the PRSS workforce. By recognizing and legitimizing the role of experienced peers in supervisory positions, the system can better align with the principles of peer support.

Advocate for Policy Reforms

Policy reforms are needed to dismantle existing barriers that hinder the full integration of CBOs into the broader healthcare system. Advocating for a consistent regulatory framework that allows CBOs to participate in third-party billing systems is essential for the growth of PRSS nationwide.

The transformation of the PRSS landscape hinges on systemic changes that fully integrate peers working alongside CBOs in diverse settings. By standardizing certification, improving funding mechanisms, revising supervision guidelines, and advocating for policy reforms, a more inclusive and sustainable system can be created that supports the continued delivery of high-quality, impactful PRSS.

These efforts will not only enhance recovery outcomes for individuals and families but also strengthen the overall well-being of communities across the nation. By creating clear career advancement pathways for peer support specialists, the field can improve job satisfaction and retention rates, ensuring a stable and experienced workforce that continues to provide high-quality support.

Key Takeaways

• CBOs and Recovery Community Organizations provide essential peer support services rooted in shared lived experience
• Standardizing certification requirements across states would ensure quality and facilitate workforce mobility
• Expanding Medicaid and other third-party billing options would provide more reliable funding streams for PRSS
• Recognizing and legitimizing peer-led supervision creates better alignment with peer support principles
• Policy reforms are needed to dismantle barriers and integrate CBOs into the broader health care system
• A comprehensive approach addressing certification, funding, supervision, and policy will create a more sustainable PRSS ecosystem

If you are interested in learning more about this work, please plan to attend the upcoming Alliance quarterly meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, from 3:00PM to 4:30PM Eastern Time. You can register for the meeting by following this link. A brief presentation will be followed by a panel discussion highlighting a Unity Recovery and Third Horizon-authored white paper entitled “The Value Proposition for Peer Recovery Support Services Delivered through Community-Based Organizations”. Eric Bailly, Senior Director and Manager of the Alliance for Addiction Payment Reform at Third Horizon will moderate the panel which will feature Robert Ashford, PhD, Executive Director at Unity Recovery, Greg Williams, President, at Third Horizon, Cheryle Pacapelli, Project Director, Peer Recovery Supports Facilitating Organization at Harbor Care, and Susan Nyamora, President and CEO at the South Florida Wellness Network.