Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a) Peer
recovery support services are an EBP model of care which consists of a
qualified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) who assists individuals with
their recovery from mental illness and/or substance use disorders.
(b) Family Peer Recovery Support Specialists
focus on the family unit of a child or adolescent in recovery, ensuring the
engagement and active participation of both the child/adolescent and the family
in treatment and guiding families toward taking a proactive role in their
family member's recovery.
(c) A
PRSS must possess knowledge about various mental health settings and ancillary
services (i.e., Social Security, housing services, and advocacy organizations).
A PRSS provides peer support services; serves as an advocate; provides
information and peer support. The PRSS performs a wide range of tasks to assist
consumers in regaining control of their lives and recovery processes. The PRSS
will possess the skills to maintain a high level of professionalism and ethics
in all professional interactions. The scope of practice of a PRSS includes the
following:
(1) Utilizing their knowledge,
skills and abilities the PRSS will:
(A) Teach
and mentor the value of every individual's recovery experience;
(B) Model effective coping techniques and
self-help strategies;
(C)
Prioritize self-care and role model that recovery is possible for all people
;
(D) Assist service recipients or
their family members in articulating personal goals for recovery; and
(E) Assist service recipients or their family
members in determining the objectives needed to reach recovery goals.
(2) Utilizing ongoing training the
PRSS may:
(A) Proactively engage consumers or
their family members using communication skills i to introduce new concepts,
ideas, and insight to others;
(B)
Facilitate peer support groups;
(C)
Assist in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support)
groups;
(D) Support consumers in
using a wellness plan;
(E) Assist
in creating a crisis plan/Psychiatric Advanced Directive as instructed in the
PRSS Training;
(F) Utilize and teach
problem solving techniques with consumers or their family members.
(G) Teach consumers how to identify and
combat negative self-talk and fears;
(H) Support the vocational choices of
consumers and assist him/her in overcoming job-related anxiety;
(I) Assist in building social skills in the
community that will enhance quality of life. Support the development of natural
support systems;
(J) Assist other
staff in identifying program and service environments that are conducive to
recovery;
(K) Attend treatment team
and program development meetings to ensure the presence of the consumer voice
and to promote the use of self-directed recovery tools.
(3) Possess knowledge about various
behavioral health settings and ancillary services (i.e. Social Security,
housing services, advocacy organizations);
(4) Maintain a working knowledge of current
trends and developments in the behavioral health field;
(A) Attend continuing education assemblies
when offered by/approved by the Commissioner or designee;
(B) Develop and share recovery-oriented
material with other Peer Recovery Support Specialists at peer-specific
continuing education trainings.
(5) Serve as a PRSS by:
(A) Providing and advocating for effective
recovery oriented services;
(B)
Assist consumers in obtaining services that suit that individual's recovery
needs;
(C) Inform consumers and
their family members about community and natural supports and how to utilize
these in the recovery process; and
(D) Assist consumers in developing
empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
