The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), published this model to accelerate universal adoption, recognition, and integration of the peer workforce across all elements of the healthcare system. A peer worker is someone who, through their own lived experience of addressing a substance use or mental health issue, works to help others. SAMHSA’s Core Competencies for Peer Workers in Behavioral Health Services describes peer support as “offering and receiving help, based on shared understanding, respect and mutual empowerment between people in similar situations.” SAMHSA collaborated with federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local partners including peer specialists, and also requested and incorporated public comments, to develop the national model standards.

• i. Preface p.3
• ii. Terminology p.3
• iii. Process p.6
• iv. Applications p.7
• v. National model standards p.8
• Model standard #1: authenticity and lived experience p.8
• Model standard #2: training p.9
• Model standard #3: examinations p.11
• Model standard #4: formal education p.12
• Model standard #5: supervised work experience p.13
• Model standard #6: background checks p.14
• Model standard #7: recovery p.15
• Model standard #8: diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility p.16
• Model standard #9: ethics p.17
• Model standard #10: costs and fees p.18
• Model standard #11: peer supervision p.19
• vi. Revisions and reciprocity p.21
• vii. Conclusion p.21
  exhibit a— strategies for supporting and expanding the peer workforce p.22
  exhibit b— guiding questions for revising peer certifications p.23
  exhibit c—samhsa’s technical expert panel on peer support certification p.24
  exhibit d—references and resources p.26