How to support and facilitate peer engagement in service provision roles
Abstract
Key take-home messages
- Peer support workers offer unique and valuable support to their peers by sharing similar lived experiences, particularly in mental health services and chronic disease management.
- Peer support workers are motivated by intrinsic desires to improve their own well-being and the well-being of their peers.
- To engage and retain peers, organizations should reinforce intrinsic rewards for peers, take steps to protect and nurture their health and well-being, and invest in ongoing and frequent training that is focused on both skills and content.
- Lack of role clarity is challenging for peers. To integrate peer support workers into the workplace, organizations should clarify peer roles and create a culture that highlights the integral services peers provide.
- The role of monetary incentives in engaging and retaining peers has not been explored in the literature and requires more thought and study.
Authors
The Ontario HIV Treatment Network: Rapid Response Service
Year
2013
Topics
- Determinants of Health
- Social support
- Population(s)
- Other
- Health Systems
- Delivery arrangements