This case study explores Pennsylvania’s development and implementation of a peer provider workforce in mental health (MH) and substance use disorders (SUD). Peer providers are individuals hired to provide direct support to those undertaking MH or SUD recovery, often referred to in the literature as “consumers.” The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines a peer provider as “a person who uses his or her lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or addiction, plus skills learned in formal training, to deliver services in behavioral health settings to promote mind-body recovery and resilience.”

More background information on this topic can be found in the related report, The Peer Provider Workforce in Behavioral Health: A Landscape Analysis.