Peer Recovery Support Services and Supervision: The Arkansas Model

This session will cover how the Arkansas State Drug Director hired a person on parole to be the first parolee to hold a state position and lead the development and implementation of peer support throughout Arkansas. Drawing on Jimmy McGill's recovery and lived experience with substance use, mental heath, and incarceration, they challenged the status quo and changed the state laws surrounding peer workers. Their dedicated efforts have allowed Arkansas to place peer recovery inside the Department of Human Services, Division of Youth Services, Department of Health, emergency rooms, drug courts, jails, reentry centers, prisons, law enforcement partnerships, behavioral health providers, treatment centers, Recovery Community Organizations, and community service centers. The Arkansas Peer Specialist Program is an innovative three-tiered credentialing process that allows an individual the opportunity to progress professionally through the core, advanced, and supervision levels. This process is designed to produce highly trained and knowledgeable peer specialists. This organized system streamlines each step of the credentialing process and allow peers access to a one-stop shop for all their peer credentialing needs. Presenters will share the program's framework for recruiting, training, promoting, and empowering peer workers to reach more people in need.