Peer recovery mentors are used to promote long-term recovery for parents with acute substance use disorder in three domains: 1) sobriety, 2) emotional, relational, and physical health, and 3) positive and self-directed participation in the family and community. SAMHSA supports peer recovery support services as an essential part of recovery and under some circumstances, they may be billed through Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. As support for peer recovery mentors grows, it is important to understand the specific types of services peer mentors provide, as well as risks and advantages associated with peer mentors’ own sobriety. This study documented the experiences of 28 family mentors in the Kentucky START program over the course of 8 years.
Peer mentors spent a total of 55.3 hours and over 60.5 contacts with each family per month. This was an average of 3.7 contact hours per month. The mentors had on average 40.2 contacts coaching on recovery and 38.5 contacts coaching on daily living skills. The first 7 contacts with the family were made within an average of 23.6 days. During this initial period, the mentors spent an average of 8 hours working with or on behalf of the family. This is important as parents are especially struggling to deal with difficult circumstances. For each no show by the parent or refusal to meet, the likelihood of family separation at the end of the case increased by 24%. Mentor face-to-face visits with the children increased the odds of reunification. For each face-to-face visit, the odds of staying together increased by 9%. On average, intact families had 14 more face-to-face visits than separated families.
Huebner, R. A., Hall, M. T., Smead, E., Willauer, T., & Posze, L. (January 01, 2018). Peer mentoring services, opportunities, and outcomes for child welfare families with substance use disorders. Children and Youth Services Review, 84, 239-246.