What Advocacy Means in Peer Support
Lesson: Advocacy & Peer Leadership
Time Estimate: ~10 minutes
- Reading Time: ~6 minutes (1,050 words / 175 wpm)
- Activity: Interactive decision tree (5-7 minutes)
đź“– Learning Objectives
By the end of this topic, you will be able to:
âś… Define advocacy in peer support and its impact on recovery
âś… Differentiate between self-advocacy, community advocacy, and systems advocacy
âś… Identify ethical considerations when engaging in advocacy as a Peer Support Specialist
🔍 What is Advocacy in Peer Support?
Advocacy is at the core of peer support—helping individuals find their voice, navigate systems, and fight for recovery-centered change. Peer specialists advocate in different ways:
✔ Supporting self-advocacy—empowering peers to speak up for their needs
✔ Engaging in community advocacy—raising awareness about recovery and reducing stigma
✔ Participating in systems advocacy—working to improve policies and expand peer support services
🗣️ “Advocacy in peer support is not about speaking for others—it’s about helping people reclaim their voice.”
🛠️ The Three Levels of Advocacy
Advocacy happens at multiple levels. Understanding these differences helps Peer Support Specialists stay ethical, effective, and within their role.
âś… 1. Self-Advocacy (Peer-Level)
âś” Helping peers navigate services, speak up, and access resources
âś” Encouraging confidence and autonomy in decision-making
✔ Teaching rights awareness—housing, employment, healthcare, legal protections
🔹 Example: Helping a peer request reasonable accommodations at work for their recovery needs.
âś… 2. Community Advocacy (Local-Level)
âś” Educating communities, employers, and service providers about recovery
âś” Fighting stigma and discrimination against people in recovery
âś” Representing peer perspectives in local decision-making spaces
🔹 Example: Speaking at a town hall about the importance of recovery-friendly workplaces.
âś… 3. Systems Advocacy (Policy-Level)
âś” Promoting laws and policies that expand recovery support
âś” Engaging with state and national organizations to advance peer services
âś” Partnering with legislators, agencies, and stakeholders to improve recovery policies
🔹 Example: Meeting with policymakers to advocate for Medicaid reimbursement for peer support services.
âś… Key Takeaway: Peer specialists engage in different levels of advocacy, but the foundation of all advocacy is empowering peers to advocate for themselves first.
⚖️ Ethical Considerations in Peer Advocacy
While advocacy is an important part of peer support, it must always align with ethical guidelines and role boundaries.
đźš« What Peer Support Specialists Should NOT Do:
❌ Speak on behalf of a peer without their consent
❌ Pressure peers into advocacy they are not comfortable with
❌ Engage in political activism in a way that conflicts with professional role boundaries
âś… Ethical Advocacy Practices:
✔ Support peer choice—let individuals decide how they want to advocate
✔ Respect confidentiality—never disclose personal details without permission
✔ Stay within role boundaries—avoid legal or political advising outside your scope
✔ Use lived experience responsibly—advocate from experience without overstepping
🗣️ “Ethical advocacy means empowering peers, not speaking for them.”
đź“Ś Key Takeaways
âś” Advocacy is a key part of peer support, helping individuals navigate systems and reclaim their voice.
✔ There are different levels of advocacy—self-advocacy (peer level), community advocacy (local level), and systems advocacy (policy level).
✔ Peer advocacy must remain ethical—respecting boundaries, peer choice, and confidentiality.
✔ The most powerful advocacy starts with self-empowerment—helping peers advocate for themselves.
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đź“š References & Research
📖 SAMHSA’s Best Practices for Peer Advocacy (SAMHSA.gov)
đź“– National Association of Peer Supporters (NAPS) Guide to Ethical Peer Advocacy (NAPS.org)
📖 The Role of Peer Support in Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care – Journal of Substance Use Policy & Research