What peer support is
Peer Support is a Medicaid-billable service delivered by individuals who have their own lived experience with mental health challenges, substance use recovery, or both — and who have completed the state's peer support training and certification. Peer support complements clinical care; it does not replace therapy, psychiatry, or case management.
The relationship between a Peer Support Specialist and the person they are supporting is built on shared understanding, mutual respect, and a strong belief that recovery is real and personal.
What our Peer Support Specialists do
- Recovery coaching: helping people clarify what recovery looks like for them and plan concrete steps toward it.
- Navigation support: helping clients work through complex systems — Medicaid, housing, benefits, community resources.
- Wellness and self-management: using tools like WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) to build day-to-day coping skills.
- Community connection: accompanying clients to community events, recovery meetings, faith communities, or first appointments.
- Advocacy: helping clients speak up for themselves in clinical, employment, housing, and family settings.
- Modeling recovery: simply showing up — week after week — as evidence that people do rebuild meaningful lives.
Certified, supervised, and accountable
All of our Peer Support Specialists hold active NC Certified Peer Support Specialist (NC CPSS) credentials, complete required continuing education, and work under qualified clinical supervision. Peer work follows the SAMHSA core competencies and the NC standards of practice. Documentation is completed in our electronic health record for every encounter.
Who peer support is for
Peer Support is appropriate for adults enrolled in a qualifying behavioral health service who could benefit from support, connection, and recovery coaching from someone with lived experience. It can be paired with PSR, Supportive Employment, Community Support Team, or case management.
How to access peer support
Peer Support can be accessed through self-referral or through referral from a provider, family member, LME-MCO care coordinator, or community partner. Our intake team will verify eligibility and coordinate the intake process.