June 8, 2023
On June 7, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), published the National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification, applicable for substance use, mental health, and family peer workers.
As stated in an HHS press release, the national model standards were created to "accelerate universal adoption, recognition, and integration of the peer workforce across all elements of the healthcare system." A peer worker is defined by HHS as "someone who, through their own lived experience of addressing a substance use or mental health issue, works to help others."
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra was quoted saying, "Our peer workforce plays a critical role in the treatment and recovery journey for individuals with behavioral health issues . . . These new national standards will help advance President Biden's strategy to tackle the nation's behavioral health crisis. We can improve health outcomes for people with behavioral health issues by better integrating the peer workforce into our health care system. Getting help from a person who has been successful in the recovery process can be life changing."
Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, PhD, HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, and the leader of SAMHSA, was also quoted, saying, "Peer workers play a crucial role in overdose prevention, crisis intervention, and in the promotion of recovery, resiliency and well-being across the nation . . . These standards will help accelerate their participation in the workforce as partners in the delivery of mental health and substance use services."
Click here to access the relevant HHS press release, and click here to access the National Model Standards for Peer Worker Certifications document itself.
