u/dr-hamburger

First question: Do you provide Peer Support through the lens of “it’s an actual model of providing Peer Support?”

For context, It’s generally accepted that there is a clinical model when practicing clinical services.

Do you as a Peer support specialist see Peer Support as having an actual model that includes building skills around putting the core values and core competencies into practice?

What are the core values and competencies of the Peer Support model?

I’ve referred to it being an actual model, but I don’t see a global or even national agreed upon model/framework.

I’ve said many times that either providing Peer Support or when an agency implements it as a program, it needs to be aligned with the Model to ensure fidelity.

I believe it’s important so that we as people providing peer support have a guide to practice aligned with the values. It’s also very important for agencies implementing it to be fully aligned or it can lead to co-optation and worse harmful to us Peer Support Specialists.

Given I don’t see funding agencies being experts in implementing Peer Support, how do we as the larger community of people with lived experience define it ourselves?

What are people’s thoughts about all this?

I’ve spent hours tying to find a work around and can’t get any combo of setting to work. I appreciate any advice. Thanks.