SHARE! Study Guide

Question 1

How does SAMHSA define Peer Support Specialist?

Answer 1

The shared experience of being in recovery from a mental health and/or substance use condition or being a family member is the foundation on which the peer recovery support relationship is built in the behavioral health arena.

Question 2

How does the National Association of Peer Supporters define Peer Support Specialist?

Answer 2

A peer supporter is an individual with a life-altering lived experience of psychiatric, substance use, or other challenges who has made a personal commitment to his or her own recovery and has a desire to use what was learned from one’s own lived experiences to assist others with similar challenges.

Question 3

What are some things a Peer Specialist has that creates a power imbalance?

Answer 3

job, car, place to live, status of being a peer, title, storage, support system, and salary

Question 4

What are the benefits of disclosing your experience to an individual during a peer support session?

Answer 4

It creates a peer-to-peer environment; the more comfortable someone feels, the more they will disclose and the more growth becomes possible. The person will feel less alone and less shame. it also helps the individual feel accepted and less anxious.

Question 5

What is recovery planning?

Answer 5

A way for a person to take charge or and control their recovery process by developing a written plan to help in their recovery.

Question 6

What are Person-Centered services?

Answer 6

The individual is respected and valued in their beliefs, opinions, and preferences when making care plan decisions based on their partnership with their providers.

Question 7

What are the basic five stages in the recovery process?

Answer 7

Pre-Contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance

Question 8

What is helpful during the Pre-Contemplation stage of the recovery process?

Answer 8

At this stage the individual is not ready to change yet. Things to do:
- Express your care, concern, and desire to see them live their best life
- Listen and empathize with their feelings
- Increase the person’s understanding of the risks and problems with current behavior
- Increase awareness of possibilities
- Explore consequences and/or desirable options or alternatives

Question 9

What is helpful during the Contemplation stage of the recovery process?

Answer 9

At this stage the individual has initial awareness of a problem. Things to do:
- Talk to them about the pros and cons of change
- Express confidence in their ability to change
- Reinforce any decisions or steps for positive change from a person’s past
- Explore rather then prescribe (don’t give solutions)

Question 10

What is helpful during the Preparation stage of the recovery process?

Answer 10

At this stage the individual is ready to move away from ambivalence and toward action (making a decision), and they make statements reflect the beginnings of motivation (Change talk). Things to do:
- Respond positively to statements of intention
- Tip the balance from ambivalence toward taking action
- Goal-setting that accounts for preferences and environment
- Help create a plan and anticipate barriers

Question 11

What is helpful during the Action stage of the recovery process?

Answer 11

At this stage the individual is READY for change. Things to do:
- Help them carry out their plan
- Provide praise and reinforcement
- Continue to be a source of moral support
- Combat feelings of loss and talk about long-term benefits

Question 12

What is helpful during the Maintenance stage of the recovery process?

Answer 12

At this stage the individual is maintaining their action stage. Things to do:
- Plan for follow-up support
- Reinforce internal rewards
- Discussing coping with relapse

Question 13

What is the definition of “recovery” according to SAMHSA?

Answer 13

“A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.”

Question 14

What are the four dimensions that support recovery, according to SAMHSA?

Answer 14

Health, home, purpose, and community.

Question 15

What are the guiding principles of recovery as defined by SAMHSA?

Answer 15

1. Recovery emerges from hope
2. Recovery is person‐driven
3. Recovery occurs via many pathways
4. Recovery is holistic
5. Recovery is supported by peers and allies
6. Recovery is supported through relationship and social networks
7. Recovery is culturally based and influenced
8. Recovery is supported by addressing trauma
9. Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibilities 10. Recovery is based on respect

Question 16

How do Peer Support Specialists advocate for the people they serve?

Answer 16

• Encourage individuals to advocate for their needs and desires in treatment team meetings, community services, living situations, and with family
• Help the individual to advocate for themselves b disclosing about their own self-advocacy and serving as role models
• Advocates for the person by showing them in a positive light and describing their actions in the way the person would like to be described, rather than focusing on treatment goals
• Support the individual on their own path to advocacy

Question 17

How do Peer Support Specialists ensure a person’s rights are maintained?

Answer 17

Peer Support Specialists use knowledge of relevant rights and laws (ADA, HIPAA, Olmstead, etc.) to ensure that individuals‘ rights are respected.

Question 18

What is the Americans with Disabilities Act?

Answer 18

A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all private places that are open to the general public

Question 19

What is the Olmstead decision?

Answer 19

In 1999 this decision affirmed the idea that nobody can be separated from society and denied the right to make decisions for themselves.

The court concluded that people with disabilities have a right to receive state-funded supports in the community, rather than in facilities.

Question 20

What is the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act?

Answer 20

In 1967, this act ended the inappropriate, indefinite, and involuntary commitment of persons with mental health disorders, people with developmental disabilities, persons impaired by chronic alcoholism, and to eliminate legal disabilities.

Question 21

What self-help support groups helped develop the Peer movement?

Answer 21

Recovery International (RI) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Question 22

How does a Peer Support Specialist create healing relationships?

Answer 22

• Create the relationships based on respect, compassion, open and honest communication, active listening, and cultural humility
• Share personal stories and lived experience to empower the person receiving services
• Build rapport with the individuals
• Help individuals learn effective communication by modeling it

Question 23

What does OARS stand for?

Answer 23

Open-ended questions
Affirmations
Reflections/Reflective Listening
Summaries

Question 24

What is the goal of Open-ended questions in OARS?

Answer 24

Invite the individual to “tell their story” in their own words without leading them in a specific direction (Avoid yes or no questions).

Question 25

What is the goal of Affirmations in OARS?

Answer 25

Recognize the person’s strengths through statements and gestures that acknowledge behaviors that lead in the direction of positive change no matter how large or small.

Question 26

What is the goal of Reflections in OARS?

Answer 26

Ensure that the individual’s words are interpreted correctly and their inner wisdom is respected.

Question 27

What is the goal of Summaries in OARS?

Answer 27

Ensure that there is clear communication between the speaker and listener; and provide a stepping stone towards change.

Question 28

What are the levels of Reflection in OARS?

Answer 28

Simple: Repeating, rephrasing and staying close to content.
Amplified: Paraphrasing–respond to the meaning/beliefs being expressed.
Feelings: Respond to the feelings that person is talking about.

Question 29

What is Elicit-Provide-Elicit?

Answer 29

A Motivational Interviewing tool that intends to help people find their own solutions rather than telling them what to do.

Question 30

What does the first Elicit mean in the Elicit-Provide-Elicit tool?

Answer 30

Ask permission to give information, or ask which information the person is asking for.

Question 31

What does Provide mean in the Elicit-Provide-Elicit tool?

Answer 31

Give information, focus on what the peer wants to know, present the information clearly and in manageable amounts, emphasize that it’s their choice (avoid words like must, can’t or have to), and give options.

Question 32

What does the second Elicit mean in the Elicit-Provide-Elicit tool?

Answer 32

Check back in to see how they understand or respond to the information.

Question 33

What are whole health goals?

Answer 33

Whole person health involves looking at the whole person instead of looking at health as fragments of diseases, symptoms and problems.

Activation of whole health goals means the person is motivated and taking action to overcome obstacles and pursue their goals, often with the help of support groups and goal-setting plans.

Question 34

How can a Peer Support Specialist support someone’s growth and change?

Answer 34

Writing down goals, getting support to pursue goals, and attending a self-help support group which addresses those goals increase the chances that the person will achieve their goals.
Peer Support Specialists advocate for multiple pathways to recovery/wellness, and support people in finding the best way for them.

Question 35

What is cultural humility?

Answer 35

Cultural Humility Principles:
1. Lifelong commitment to learning and critical self-reflection
2. Desire to fix power imbalances within provider-client dynamic
3. Institutional accountability and mutual respectful partnership based on trust

Question 36

What is person-first language?

Answer 36

Describe what a person HAS and now who a person is.

Question 37

What is structural racism?

Answer 37

Communities of color face persistent health disparities including higher rates of asthma, diabetes, and obesity, resulting in a shorter life span, less wealth, and less opportunity. There are connections between behavioral health conditions and trauma, health disparities, and social inequity, which help explain such disparities.

Question 38

What is Trauma-Informed Care?

Answer 38

• An awareness of the prevalence of trauma
• An understanding of the impact of trauma on physical, emotional, and mental health as well as on behaviors and engagement to services
• An understanding that current service systems can retraumatize individuals

Question 39

What are some examples of Trauma-Informed peer approaches?

Answer 39

• Assume that everyone has experienced trauma on some level (use this approach with everyone)
• Ask “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”
• Find ways to include people in community even when their behavior pushes others away
• Honor other people’s backgrounds, culture, and individual needs
• Be transparent about your role’s limitations

Question 40

What are some examples of Group Facilitation Skills?

Answer 40

• Practice effective communication
• Be non-judgmental
• Encourage group sharing
• Welcome members each meeting
• Help exiting members transition fully

Question 41

What is self-care?

Answer 41

They can identify their own triggers, actively manage their recovery and maintain their support system. They can discuss the tools they use for taking care of themselves and model healthy responses to stress and professional demands.

Question 42

What is burnout?

Answer 42

A state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity
Often associated with heavy workloads, long hours, a lack of work-life balance, having little control at work, and being in a helping profession

Question 43

What are some ways to address compassion fatigue?

Answer 43

• Set and keep healthy boundaries with others
• Seek out supervision and consult with colleagues
• Arrive at and leave work on time, and take your breaks!
• Don’t take work home with you

Question 44

What are some examples of recovery capital?

Answer 44

The total resources that a person has available to find and maintain their recovery can include:
- Physical capital (health, healthcare, financial resources, clothing, food, safe and habitable shelter, and transportation)
- Human capital (a person’s abilities, skills, and knowledge, like problem-solving, education and credentials, self-esteem, the ability to navigate challenging situations and achieve goals, interpersonal skills, and a sense of meaning and purpose in life)
- Family/social recovery capital
-Community recovery capital (attitudes, policies, and resources)

Question 45

What are co-occurring disorders?

Answer 45

A person living with both mental health and substance use issues

Question 46

How are co-occurring disorders addressed?

Answer 46

Peer Support Specialists help individuals navigate the substance use system, public and private so they can receive the services they want. Peer Support Specialists also offer hope, approach people without judgment, and connect individuals to places that keep the following in mind:
- culture identity
- ethnic background
- age
- gender

Question 47

What is harm reduction?

Answer 47

Examples of harm reduction include needle exchange, reducing use, sobering centers, medication-assisted recovery and more.

Question 48

What does harm reduction do?

Answer 48

• Reduces negative consequences associated with drug use rather than ignore or condemn
• Affirms people who use drugs as the main agents in reducing the harm of their drug use
• Establishes quality of individual and community life and well-being — not necessarily cessation of all drug use — as the criteria for successful interventions and policies
• Recognizes that the realities of poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past trauma, sex-based discrimination, and other social inequalities affect both people’s vulnerability to and capacity for effectively dealing with drug-related harm

Question 49

What is conflict resolution?

Answer 49

Use de-escalation techniques to address conflicts and difficult interpersonal relationships. They use organizational/ departmental chain of command to address or resolve issues.

Question 50

What is CalAIM?

Answer 50

California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal has a goal to “move to a more integrated and people-centered approach to care for people with the most complex health and social needs.” Integrated approaches mean people’s health, mental health and substance use needs will all be addressed.

Question 51

What is in the Peer Support Specialists scope of service?

Answer 51

Peer Support Specialists must establish, negotiate, and maintain appropriate interpersonal limits and boundaries that are necessary to promote effective peer support services.