Topic 2: Professional Growth in Peer Support

Topic 2: Professional Growth in Peer Support

Professional growth goes beyond learning—it involves applying ethical insights to real-world peer work and seeking mentorship and feedback to refine skills.

Strategies for Professional Growth:

  • Seek mentorship from experienced peer specialists.
  • Participate in reflective supervision for guidance on ethical challenges.
  • Engage in peer networking to learn from others in the field.
  • Develop leadership skills to advocate for ethical peer support policies.

Example: A peer specialist joins a peer-led ethics committee to discuss complex ethical dilemmas and learn from others’ experiences.

Best Practice: Actively seek opportunities for mentorship, peer learning, and professional leadership roles.

Calls to Action Poll

Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Peer mentor training
Group facilitator training
Crisis responder training
Toolkits or educational resources
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Templates for operations (e.g., reports, outreach plans)
Apps for scheduling, communication, or service delivery
Centralized platforms or systems to manage services
Tech literacy and support for RCO staff/volunteers
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Public education materials about recovery
Anti-stigma messaging and campaigns
Community presentations or media outreach
Engagement with schools, employers, and faith-based organizations
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Transitional or supportive housing models
Second-chance hiring programs
Job training and resume support
Partnerships with local employers
Strongly disagreeDisagreeNeutralAgreeStrongly agree
Volunteer recruitment and engagement
Matching professional skills (e.g., legal, marketing) with org needs
Platform or system to manage and track volunteer involvement
Training and orientation tools for volunteers