Posted on June 10th, 2022
Friday, June 24, 2022: 12:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. PDT
Peer workers, also known as peer support specialists, have long acted as a part of the prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery process for individuals living with Substance Use Disorders (SUD). This presentation will focus on the effective integration of peer workers into the existing substance use service systems. In particular, it will focus in on defining and maintaining peer workers’ role, values, and ethics while collaborating successfully with those in established, clinical roles. Additionally, the presentation will touch on peer workers avoiding peer drift, and how clinical staff can expand their understanding of peer workers. The presentation and subsequent panel discussion will encourage the audience to respect the value that peer workers bring with them to the behavioral health field. Finally, there will be discussion on best practices for the provision of peer support services within substance use service systems and how peers provide support to those through out the course of substance use disorder continuum.
A panel discussion will follow this presentation, featuring representatives from SAPC’s Systems of Care Unit, SAPC’s specialty provider network with particular experience or focus on peer navigators and a non-profit community organization around self-help and recovery. The panelists will specifically address current efforts of peer support specialists in Los Angeles County’s specialty network.
Presenters:
Tim Saubers, CPS, Program Coordinator for Workforce Development, University of Texas at Austin, Peer Recovery Center of Excellence
David Hindman, Ph.D, Branch Chief, Sage EHR Management Branch, Interim Chief, Clinical Standards & Training (CST) Unit, SAPC, LAC-DPH
Kyle Kennedy, Manager, Quality of Care Unit, System of Care Branch, SAPC, LAC-DPH Paulette Bowling, Peer Lead Navigator, A Safe Refuge
Jason Robison, Chief Program Officer, SHARE