Peer Specialist Services
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Goals
Our goals and intentions for Peer Specialist Services are to:
- improve engagement and strengthen the relationships between the people we serve and the agency;
- provide an understanding ear and a resource to voice concerns with treatment services;
- provide enducation and insight about mental illness and behavioral disorders from a person who has lived experience;
- support the Treatment Plan with services that are integrated with and complementary to it; and
- improve treatment outcomes.
As articulately described by SAMSHA in this flyer, Peer Specialists:
- inspire hope that people can and do recover; walk with people on their recovery journeys;
- dispel myths about what it means to have a mental health condition or substance use disorder;
- provide self-help education and link people to tools and resources; and
- support people in identifying their goals, hopes, and dreams, and creating a roadmap for getting there.
Adult Peer Specialist Services
Peer Support Specialists to adults are defined in the Minnesota Health Care Programs Manual here and include the following:
- Education and skill-building, including but not limited to the following:
- Wellness planning
- Crisis planning
- Advanced Psychiatric Directives
- Self-advocacy skills including connecting to professional services when appropriate
- Services that help members to do the following:
- Identify their strengths and to use their strengths to reach their treatment goals
- Identify and overcome barriers to participation in community resources
- Connect with resources, including:
- Visiting community resources to assist them in becoming familiar with potential opportunities
- Teaching and modeling the skills needed to successfully utilize community resources
- Building relationships and encouraging community-based activities, such as:
- Work
- Relationships
- Physical activity
- Self-directed hobbies
Eligible Adult Peer Specialist Recipients
To recieve Adult Peer Specialist services, an individual must be an ARMHS recipient but must not necessarily be receiving ARMHS Treatment services from a Practitioner or Worker. Peer Specialist Services may be an exclusive ARMHS service with an Individual Treatment Plan that describes the rational, goals, objectives and methods for the service.
Certified Family Peer Specialists
Certified Family Peer Specialists are defined in the Minnesota Health Care Programs Manual here and include the following:
- Education to develop coping and problem-solving skills
- Nonadversarial advocacy
- Collaboration with others providing care or support to family
- Connection to other families, parents, community and school resources
- Identifying strategies and services that help promote resiliency and develop natural supports
- Establish and lead parent support groups
- Support parental self-advocacy skills, including accompanying parents to IEP and treatment planning meetings and community events
Eligible Family Peer Specialist Recipients
Children who are recipients of CTSS services are eligible to receive Family Peer Specialist Services.
Tips
While the service listed here are excluded from Peer Specialist services when the primary purpose of the service is to complete these tasks.
Peer Specialist services might be provided when a recipient is completing tasks such as housekeeping or grocery shopping when the Treatment Plan has indicated a need for Peer Supports while doing these activities because functioning in this activity is described in the Treatment Plan.
Excluded Services
Peer Specialist Services exclude the following:
- Transportation*
- Household tasks, chores, or related activities such as laundering clothes, moving, housekeeping, and grocery shopping
- Job-specific skills services, such as on-the-job training
- Case management
- Outreach to potential clients
*Transportation for errands, shopping, basic needs, etc. is not an allowed Peer Specialist service. When Peer Specialists travel with peer recipients, the travel (rideshaing) must meet the definition of Medical Necessary Travel During Services found in our service guide for Mental Health Travel Time.
Adult Peer Specialist Services
Assessment and Planning requirements include all of the requirements of ARMHS. This includes:
| Assessment |
Why Required |
Due Upon Admission |
Updates Required |
| Diagnostic Assessment |
One component for establishing eligibility for ARMHS |
Prior to Admission |
Reviewed annually and a new DA conducted if identified by the conclusions of the review. |
| Functional Assessment |
One component for establishing eligibility for ARMHS |
Within 30 days of Admission |
At least every 6 months, or earlier if there is a substantial change in functioning or a life change that may impact functioning. |
| Client Status Report |
Required for all ARMHS recipients for MHIS Reporting |
Upon Admission |
At least every 6 months, or earlier if there substantial life change. |
| Treatment Plan |
A Treatment Plan is recommended, but not required for Peer Supports if this is the only service and individual receives. Where there are other services, the Integrated Plan should identify how goals ond objectives are supported by Peer Specialists where applicable. |
As needed |
In alignment with requrements for other services. |
Progress Notes for Peer Specialists are found in the ARMHS category, and include the following. All ARMHS Add-On Services also apply to Peer Specialist Services.
| Activity |
Category: Service |
| Direct Services to Individuals |
Peer Specialist: Peer Specialist |
| Assessment Interview |
Peer Specialist: Assessment Interview
This service may only be provided by an ARMHS Peer Specialist II |
| Assessment Write Up |
Peer Specialist: Assessment Writeup
This service may only be provided by an ARMHS Peer Specialist II |
| Service Coordination with internal or external providers |
Peer Specialist: Service Coordination |
| Client-Initiated Cancellation |
Peer Specialist: Client Cancellation |
| Provider-Initiated Cancellation |
Peer Specialist: Provider Initiated Cancellation |
| Contact and Scheduling |
Peer Specialist: Contact and Scheduling |
| File Notes |
Other Notes: File Note |
Add-Ons to Peer Specialist Services
Add-ons created a record of certain activiites that take place during a service. Available add-ons for Peer Specialist Services include the following.
| Add-On |
Use For |
| Assessment or TXP Interview in Session |
Time spent gathering informaiton for a Functional Assesssment or Treatment Plan. |
| Being Observed/Mentored During Service |
On-the-job training, providing a service with a trainer present. |
| Being Shadowed During Service |
On-the-job training others, providing a service with a trainee present. |
| Contact and Scheduling Following CCN |
Contacting individuals after a cancellation or no-show. |
| Coordination During Services |
Making calls or other coordination with other providers during a session. |
| Incident Report Filed |
When filing an incident or maltreatment report as a part of or following a session. |
| Insurance Advocacy During Service |
Helping individuals complete redetermination paperwork or solve other problems with health insurance. |
| Progress Review in Session |
Gathering information for a Progress Review during a session. |
| Recovery Team Meeting During Service |
Documenting direct services during a Recovery Team Meeting (if ARMHS or Psychotherapy providers are present, ony one adult service provider can bill for direct services during a Recovery Team Meeting). |
| Referral During Service |
When making referrals to other services during a session. |
|
Peer Specialist Qualifications
Adult Peer Specialist I
Level I peer specialists must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Have or have had a primary diagnosis of mental illness
- Is a current or former recipient of mental health services
- Demonstrates leadership and advocacy skills
- Successfully completes the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) approved Certified Peer Specialist training and certification exam
Adult Peer Specialist II
A Level II Peer Specialist is qualified as a mental health practitioner
Certified Family Peer Specialist
The certified family peer specialist must meet all of the following qualifications:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Have raised or are currently raising a child with a mental illness
- Be currently navigating or have experience navigating the children's mental health system
- Demonstrate leadership and advocacy skills
- Successfully complete the Department of Human Services-approved Certified Family Peer Specialist Training and certification exam
Links to External Resources
>> MHCP Manual: Peer Specialist Services
>> MHCP Manual: Certified Family Peer Specialists
>> Peers Link to Hope: DHS-Endorsed Peer Specialist Training
>> SAMHSA Flyer: Peer Supports
>> NAMI Blog Entry: Spreading Hope Through Peer Support
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