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We are bringing you another episode full of conversations with some of our organizational stakeholders. This month, we get to hear from Kate Bastedenbeck of the Over the Rainbow Project and Wendy Jones of the Minnesota Alliance of Recovery Community Organizations. Stay tuned for stories from the field!

This tool is a companion learning framework for the content found herein. Self-Assessment questions are provided to assess how you as a RCO might consider whether specific Medicaid frameworks are possible and feasible alternatives for your agency within your state’s Medicaid plan and culture.

Many Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) are launched with short-term funds which are term-limited, often through one-time federal or state grant initiatives. There are myriad alternatives to sustain funds, many of which are also term-limited but many of which can be sustained for a much longer time period.

As part of the PR CoE’s supplemental funding provided in 2023 to increase the number of Recovery Community Organizations able to bill insurance and be reimbursed for peer recovery support services, this report was developed to provide a state-by-state analysis of Medicaid reimbursement specifically for peer support services, including peer recovery support services for substance use disorders and mental health peer support services.

This report provides a national overview of:

• Which states offer Medicaid reimbursement specifically for peer support services
• Reimbursement rates for one-on-one and group peer support services
• Funding authority types and selections by each state
• Billing codes and modifiers used by each state to specify peer support services
• Recommendations

In late 2022, Tim Saubers who leads our workforce development team, hosted a 6-month Skill Development Series for Peer Recovery Support Specialists. The training series provided recurring opportunities for peer recovery support specialists from across the country to build foundational skills that are necessary for effective peer support service provision. The series was so well attended and in demand, that we also offered it in early 2023. In this podcast series, Tim sits down to have a conversation with each facilitator to have a deeper discussion with them about their presentation and what it means for the field.

In 2023, our RCO capacity building team hosted a learning series on nonprofit basics. The series aimed to:

• Offer practical skills and foundational elements needed to run, operate, and grow a healthy nonprofit organization
• Educate nonprofit leaders on the importance and elements of building proper infrastructure
• Build community and share resources among RCO, RCC, and peer-run nonprofit leaders

Session 3 focused on how to utilize the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Inventory. Learning objectives were:

• Define diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within recovery community organizations.
• Identify two (2) ways in which to engage with BIPOC recovery community members and providers.
• Identify practice considerations for realignment with the stated goal of DEI&B. Learning outcomes.
• Collaborate effectively with BIPOC recovery community members and BIPOC providers within an interdisciplinary context.
• Engage responsibly and sensitively with cultural, historical, and interdisciplinary contexts in the synthesis of ethical and sustainable practice solutions.
• Evaluate concepts of race, culture, identity, and diversity with regards to creating an inclusive recovery community.
• Critically reflect on professional knowledge and skills, incorporating DEI&B subject knowledge and perspectives.

You will find the recordings of the 2-part session below. You can download the slides and handouts by clicking the image to the left.

Part 1 Recording

Part 2 Recording

In late 2022, Tim Saubers, who leads our workforce development team, hosted a 6-month Skill Development Series for Peer Recovery Support Specialists. The series was so well attended and in demand, that we also offered it in early 2023. In this podcast series, Tim sits down to have a conversation with each facilitator to have a deeper discussion with them about their presentation and what it means for the field.

In this sixth and final episode of the series, Tim speaks with Jessi Davis about understanding and supporting mental health experiences. Jessi is an experienced Program Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in the Peer Support, Mental Health, and Substance Use Recovery fields. Jessi is known for work surrounding Youth and Young Adult Peer Support training, technical assistance, and leadership. Currently working at the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, Jessi works to provide support, technical assistance, and training to the peer workforce throughout the 5 states and all tribal communities within Region 6. They have spent much of their career focused on Youth and Young Adult Peer Support and are currently the President of the National Association of Peer Supporters.

In late 2022, Tim Saubers, who leads our workforce development team, hosted a 6-month Skill Development Series for Peer Recovery Support Specialists. The series was so well attended and in demand, that we also offered it in early 2023. In this podcast series, Tim sits down to have a conversation with each facilitator to have a deeper discussion with them about their presentation and what it means for the field.

In this fifth episode of the series, Tim speaks with Mx. Yaffa about developing advocacy skills. They are an award-winning disabled, mad, trans, queer, Muslim, indigenous Palestinian. Mx. Yaffa conducts transformative work around displacement, decolonization, equity, and centering lived experiences of individuals most impacted by injustice. Mx. Yaffa is a storyteller and an equity and transformation consultant, having shared their story with over 100,000 audience members at speaking events globally. Mx. Yaffa has worked in over two dozen countries, and specializes in global and community vision building.

In late 2022, Tim Saubers, who leads our workforce development team, hosted a 6-month Skill Development Series for Peer Recovery Support Specialists. The series was so well attended and in demand, that we also offered it in early 2023. In this podcast series, Tim sits down to have a conversation with each facilitator to have a deeper discussion with them about their presentation and what it means for the field.

In this fourth episode of the series, Tim speaks with Shandelle Friedman exploring multiple pathways to recovery. Shandelle is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist with 2 years of experience working in the field. Working with members of her local Sober Squad Chapter, she developed a desire to help others navigate the challenges faced by those recovering from substance use challenges. She now works as an ADC-T for her organization and finds peer support to be a vital part of the recovery process.

In late 2022, Tim Saubers, who leads our workforce development team, hosted a 6-month Skill Development Series for Peer Recovery Support Specialists. The series was so well attended and in demand, that we also offered it in early 2023. In this podcast series, Tim sits down to have a conversation with each facilitator to have a deeper discussion with them about their presentation and what it means for the field.

In this third episode of the series, Tim speaks with Sera Davidow about developing skills as a professional. Sera is a filmmaker, activist, advocate, author, and mother of two very busy kids. As a survivor of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse as a child and relationship violence as an adult, Sera has faced many challenges throughout her own healing process, including many ups and downs with suicidal thoughts, and self-injury. At present, she spends much of her time working as Director of the Wildflower Alliance (formerly known as the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community), which includes Afiya Peer Respite, recently recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of about two dozen exemplary, rights-based programs operating across the world.

In late 2022, Tim Saubers, who leads our workforce development team, hosted a 6-month Skill Development Series for Peer Recovery Support Specialists. The series was so well attended and in demand, that we also offered it in early 2023. In this podcast series, Tim sits down to have a conversation with each facilitator to have a deeper discussion with them about their presentation and what it means for the field.

In this second episode of the series, Tim talks with Nze Okoronta about supporting people navigating “crisis.” Nze is the Peer Services Manager for Solstice House, a peer-run respite and warmline operated by SOAR Case Management, a small nonprofit organization in Madison, WI with the mission of serving individuals who have experienced mental health and/or substance use challenges. Nze is passionate about peer support in Wisconsin and views peer support work as a fundamentally restorative practice. She believes peer work has the power to reduce and prevent systemic harm, support marginalized communities in a more complete way, and bring radical acceptance to the forefront of mental health and substance use care.

In late 2022, Tim Saubers, who leads our workforce development team, hosted a 6-month Skill Development Series for Peer Recovery Support Specialists. The series was so well attended and in demand, that we also offered it in early 2023. In this podcast series, Tim sits down to have a conversation with each facilitator to have a deeper discussion with them about their presentation and what it means for the field.

In this first episode of the series, I talk with Tim about his presentation on ethics within the provision of peer recovery support services. In addition to leading our workforce development team, Tim is a person with lived experience with both mental health and substance use challenges who got his start as a Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist in 2016, and has worked in direct support and supervisory roles. Tim has no formal education beyond his high school diploma and Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist Certification. He believes strongly in the value of his lived experiences and learned skills, and advocates for greater recognition and compensation of those without higher education across the field of behavioral health.