Recognizing the Value of Peer Support Specialists: Strategies for Increasing Wages and Developing Career Pathways-Presentation and Q&A

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In summary, the webinar discussed the value of peer support specialists and strategies for increasing their wages and developing career pathways. The webinar was hosted by SMI Advisor, an APA and SAMHSA initiative that helps clinicians implement evidence-based care for individuals with serious mental illness. The webinar offered one AMA PRA Category 1 credit for physicians, one continuing education credit for psychologists, and one continuing education credit for social workers. The slides for the presentation were available for download, and participants were encouraged to submit questions throughout the presentation for the Q&A session at the end. The webinar featured four faculty members who are experts in the field of peer support, including Dr. Benjamin Druss, Dr. Noah Abdenour, Stacey Manzer, Brandi Hemsley, and Jeremy Reed. The faculty discussed their experiences and initiatives related to peer support in their respective organizations and states. There was a focus on workforce development, capacity expansion, and the impact of peer support on individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. The webinar highlighted the importance of peer support in promoting recovery, reducing stigma, and improving outcomes for individuals with serious mental illness. It also addressed challenges and opportunities in the field, such as increasing wages, integrating peers into crisis response teams, and expanding reimbursement and funding for peer support services. Overall, the webinar emphasized the critical role of peer support specialists in the mental health field and provided insights and strategies for supporting and advancing the peer workforce.

Keywords

peer support specialists

increasing wages

career pathways

SMI Advisor

evidence-based care

workforce development

mental health

substance use disorders

recovery

reducing stigma