If you are looking for an employment or volunteer opportunity to complete your work experience hours, make sure that you will be performing duties that fall into these categories and you should be good to go. Ultimately, you will review your work experience hours with a Peer Specialists Supervisor. They will make the final determination on what work experience counts towards the 250 hour requirement or not.
Where a peer intern can complete their hours is up to the approval from their Peer Specialist Supervisor (PSS). The peer intern and their Peer Specialist Supervisor work together to identify where they can complete their hours.
These work experience hours can be completed in any of various service environments, but must meet the service provision standards for Texas Peer Specialists:
- recovery and wellness support, which includes providing information on and support with planning for recovery;
- mentoring, which includes serving as a role model and providing assistance in finding needed community resources and services; and
- advocacy, which includes providing support in stressful or urgent situations, and helping to ensure that the recipient’s rights are respected.
- Support other peers in their recovery goals in groups or one-on-ones
- Connect peers to resources in the community
- Update and research new resources in the community
- Lead sessions on coping and wellness strategies
- Support peers in navigating community resources and their recovery/wellness plan
- Help peers set a goal/recovery/discharge plan
- Work with treatment team to support peer’s recovery plan
- Introduce peers to recovery pathways in their community
- Advocate for peers in their recovery/wellness plan