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Peer Support Specialist Programs for Families Affected by Substance Use and Involved with Child Welfare Services: A Four-Module Implementation Toolkit

This four-module toolkit offers strategies to develop peer support specialist programs for parents affected by substance use—whose children and families are involved with child welfare. The toolkit, rich with on-the-ground examples and lessons from successful peer support specialist programs, offers practical strategies and resources to promote system-level policy change and practice innovations on behalf of children and families.

Module 1: Background on Peer Support Specialist Programs and Introduction to the Toolkit

Module 1: Background on Peer Support Specialist Programs and Introduction to the Toolkit

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2024

Briefly outlines the support model for parents in child welfare either with or at...(Read More)
View Document (PDF 3.97 MB)

Module 2: Building Collaborative Partnerships to Establish Peer Support Specialist Programs

Module 2: Building Collaborative Partnerships to Establish Peer Support Specialist Programs

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2024

Describes how to formulate an effective program and convene a collaborative team to...(Read More)
View Document (PDF 4.37 MB)

Module 3: Program Development Strategies to Implement Effective Peer Support Specialist Programs

Module 3: Program Development Strategies to Implement Effective Peer Support Specialist Programs

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2024

Suggests strategies to consider when designing a peer support specialist program...(Read More)
View Document (PDF 4.19 MB)

Module 4: Strategies for Developing the Peer Support Specialist Workforce

Module 4: Strategies for Developing the Peer Support Specialist Workforce

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare, 2024

Highlights workforce development considerations for establishing peer support...(Read More)
View Document (PDF 3.97 MB)

Find Help with a Personal Situation

Substance Use and Mental Health Treatment Locator

To find treatment facilities confidentially, 24/7, please call 1-800-662-4357 (HELP).

To locate general treatment services, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Treatment Locator online or call 1-800-662-4357 (HELP). This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. It is a free, confidential, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a year information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members needing treatment for a mental and/or substance use disorder.

To locate general treatment services, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Treatment Locator online or call 1-800-662-4357 (HELP). This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. It is a free, confidential, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a year information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members needing treatment for a mental and/or substance use disorder.

National Child Abuse Hotline

If you suspect a child has been harmed by abuse or neglect, please call 1-800-422-4453.

If you suspect that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at Call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. Serving the United States and Canada, the hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who—through interpreters—provide assistance in over 170 languages. All calls, texts, and chats are confidential. If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.

If you suspect that a child has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed by abuse or neglect, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. Serving the United States and Canada, the hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with professional crisis counselors who—through interpreters—provide assistance in over 170 languages. All calls, texts, and chats are confidential. If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.

National Suicide Prevention Line

For free and confidential support for people in distress, 24/7, please call or text 988, chat 988Lifeline.org, or call 1-800-273-8255.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, help is available and there are options to receive compassionate care. You can call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Both are confidential and available 24/7 to everyone in the United States and will connect you to a trained counselor at a suicide crisis center nearest you.

If you or someone you know are in crisis, thinking about harming yourself, attempting suicide, or harming another person, tell someone who can help right away. There are options to help you cope. Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to be connected to a trained counselor at a suicide crisis center nearest you. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is confidential support, available 24/7 to everyone in the United States.

Contact Us

The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare offers free technical assistance to a variety of systems on making policy and practice changes to improve outcomes for families affected by substance use disorders and involvement with child welfare services. To learn more about technical assistance services or if you have a question please email NCSACW at ncsacw@cffutures.org or call toll-free at 1–866–493–2758.

Administration for Children & FamiliesSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov

An official website of the Administration for Children and Families and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare