Peer Support Program
WELCOME TO THE FAITH IN MOTION PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM.
FIM BELIEVES IN PEER POWER.
Peer Support
A peer support program* utilizes the experiences and skills of fellow homeless persons, addicts and alcoholics ; Recovered persons– people who have “walked-the walk” – to provide support and reassurance that recovery and spirituality is attainable. All peers at FIM are trained or in training by a FIM Peer Specialist.. Faith In Motion’s Peers are Supportive and Skilled.
Peer support training is designed to teach peers how to connect fellow addicts and alcoholics with recovery. Most often this support will be provided in the form of an individual peer to peer support session. Essentially, their role is to offer personal support as a caring peer and provide some information on how to reach their goals associated with their chosen path to recovery . Peers are not being trained to be a therapist or problem-solver. Rather, they are trained to be themselves – a caring peer – offering support as they always have, however, with added skill and information pertaining to recovery and goal attaining.. Their work with you will probably be “therapeutic” and they may find themselves helping you “problem solve” some recovery-related issues. However, this is achieved through their role as a “caring peer” not a professional therapist or organizational problem solver.
Peer support, therefore, provides individuals with the opportunity to confidentially ‘talk out’ any problems with a peer support specialist following difficult life events. The program is designed to prevent the further development of more serious difficulties by providing information, direction and the possibility for referral. In most cases, receiving support from someone who “walks-the-same-walk” is reassuring. This is the basis of a peer support program.
Definitions and role expectations
A natural and healthy response by peers in any organization is to offer support to fellow homeless persons, addicts and alcoholics when they are going through tough times. And to help them put together a plan of action for their goal in attainment of thier recovery. The more this occurs naturally the less is the need for specialized “peer” support. However, due to demanding and challenging life changes, complacency, or a myriad of other factors, this naturally occurring support often does not occur. Also, because of the nature of some incidents, such as relapse or real life tragedies an inexperienced person does not have the proper support to offer.
The purpose of a peer support program is not to take away form this natural support of fellow homeless persons, addicts and alcoholics. Rather, the program ensures that the organization is “proactive” in its response to a client’s individual need such that no one is forgotten. Once a peer-support program is established, participants take on increased responsibility and obligations. It is more than a “Good Samaritan” program; the role brings with it specific expectations and ethical obligations. Here are some of the expectations the FIM Peer Support Program approach has of its peer-support members.
| PEER: | A fellow addict or alcoholic is perceived by an other to be an equal. |
| PEER SUPPORT PERSON: | A peer trained in peer support with the compassion and positive attitude to encourage the success of goal attainment. |
ROLE OF THE PS
A PSP is expected to:
- Be respected by their peers as a trustworthy and honourable person.
- Have basic training in interpersonal peer support.
- Be available on a rotation basis to offer peer support to peers as well as to clients.
- Maintain strict confidentiality and other ethical requirements regarding client.
- Have access to supervision from a Certified FIM Peer Support Volunteer and review their work from time to time.
- Be familiar with internal or external follow-up peer support resources.
- Recognize the limits of peer support and know when and how to make appropriate referrals to outside resources.
- Participate in the peer-support committee meeting.
- Participate in any staff activities pertaining to Faith In Motion peer programs..
- Provide support to other peer staff.
- Minimize the risk of relapse to individuals by ensuring responses from the organization and fellow peer support.
- Assist the Peer Support Staff in debriefings when requested.
- Conduct follow-up sessions when assigned.
- Assist the Program Director in the review and ongoing development of the FIM Peer Support Program.
Conclusions
A peer support program can be life-altering to a client who is wiling to take suggestions and follow guidance If a caring peer can proactively connect with a client, the client will then have an opportunity to learn and put to use the tools they are taught effectively and become a productive and contributing member of society. The peer support won’t solve the problem; rather, it would establish a more rational and balanced perspective for the client to integrate the principals of recovery in his or her daily life.
Through this mentoring process they learn how to utilize the tools they are taught so that they realize their goals. As we are working though these life changes, it is helpful to have a positive and compassionate peer close by.
