Implementing Peer Supports to Maximize Treatment Outcomes

Saturday, April 6, 2024

10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Presenter(s)

Karen Scott, MD, MPH

President
Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts, New York

Slides Handouts
Ken Shatzkes, PhD

Program Director
Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE), New York
Edward Suarez, Jr., PsyD, MBA

Assistant Professor
University of Miami/IDEA Exchange , Florida
Jason Pritchard, CPRS, i-FPRS

Outreach Manager
SaVida Health, Virginia

Peer programs hold great promise to engage and help retain people in OUD/SUD treatment, thereby contributing to improving overall access to treatment and reducing disparities. However, programs must be implemented in a manner that includes support for the peer workforce, and reliable reimbursement. This session, implementing peer programs, will present new findings from a 2023 national survey of the peer workforce, experiences from two programs within different healthcare systems, and discussion of policy options to support and sustain these programs.

Learning Objectives:

Learners will be able to:

Describe the potential benefit of peers in the treatment and recovery of patients, and the role in addressing disparities
Develop a peer program strategy based upon data and best practices
Identify policy options and opportunities to support peer programs