📍Phoenix, Arizona
Peer-Led Support Services for Families and Youth
Challenge:
Families impacted by substance use disorders often struggle to access consistent behavioral health and parenting support, particularly from providers who understand the realities of recovery and child welfare involvement. The Family Involvement Center (FIC) sought to address this gap by leveraging HRSA Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program funding to prepare parents in recovery to become trained peer supporters who can assist other families navigating addiction, treatment, and justice systems.
Solution:
Family Involvement Center created a peer-driven, family-centered model that trains parents and peers facing challenges such as addiction to provide tailored support to fellow community members who are navigating the justice and behavioral healthcare systems. The program includes the following features:
- Person-centered care model: Integrated practices that prioritize safety, choice, and an understanding of difficult past experiences into all services.
- Comprehensive reentry support: Trained peers to offer guidance on housing, employment, education, and healthcare to individuals transitioning from incarceration.
- Peer leadership & workforce development: Prepared parents in recovery to take on peer-support and family-support roles by providing foundational social work education, certification, on-the-job apprentice training, and structured mentorship.
Impact:
✅ Increased access to peer-led support services for people in the community.
✅ Provided skills, training, educational support, and career opportunities to people in the community who want to provide peer support.
✅ Secured funding to expand the program’s reach and create sustainable impact.