Peer Integration Project – MGH Center of Excellence for Psychosocial and Systemic Research

Peer Support Integration Project

The purpose of the Peer Integration Project (PIP) is to assess the challenges and successes of integrating peer support into care systems across Massachusetts, and to provide subsequent recommendations in an effort to optimize the efficacy and career satisfaction of Peer Specialists.

METHODS

The PIP project consisted of four virtual listening groups. Participants were Certified Peer Specialists (CPSs) who identified as having worked for at least 10 hours per week for a minimum of one year in Massachusetts, were proficient in spoken English, and gave permission for the group to be audio-recorded. Participants were recruited through email network listservs to various organizations (e.g., CBHCs, hospitals, etc.) across Massachusetts. COE peer consultants and a clinical research coordinator facilitated each group before the sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed by a HIPAA-compliant transcription service.

Participants completed a brief demographics questionnaire prior to the group. Groups were facilitated using a semi-structured interview guide broken into four primary topics: organizational culture, resource availability, training and education, and role definition. During each topic, members were prompted to consider barriers to providing quality peer support services as well as recommendations to better integrate peer support services in the future.

DATA ANALYSIS

The coding team conducted a rapid analysis to systemically identify themes from transcripts. They developed a template that allowed coders to generate concise codes under each of the four topics, list impactful quotations, and generate a summary paragraph. A thematic analysis was conducted to identify common ideas that were frequently referenced in participants’ responses, and transferred the data into one primary template. Efforts were made to create themes that were inclusive of participants’ responses.

RESULTS

Our assessment of Peer Specialist working conditions, through listening groups and rapid qualitative analysis, revealed several areas of improvement desired by this group and subsequent recommendations to aid in the implementation of peer support services in healthcare organizations across Massachusetts. These areas of improvement fall into the four content areas the listening groups were structured around: organizational culture (e.g., interactions with clinical colleagues, supervision, number of CPSs at an organization, data collection), resource availability (e.g., access to transportation, office supplies, and reintegration programs, time management, collaboration, low salary), training and education (e.g., access to peer-focused, substance use, DEI, and technology training), and role definition (e.g., trust between clinical staff and CPSs, lack of career ladder and understanding of the peer role, inconsistent salary and benefits, and burnout). As a result, in Y7 we will make recommendations to policy makers, behavioral health providers, and fellow Peer Specialists and other peer workers, with the goal of improving the working conditions, effectiveness, and satisfaction of CPSs.

For the full methodology, procedures, data analysis and results, please see the PDF – Capturing the Experience of Certified Peer Specialists in Healthcare Systems in Massachusetts below.