Introduction
This brief summarizes promising strategies that three programs participating in the Next Generation of Enhanced Employment Strategies (NextGen) Project used to hire and support peer support staff, or those with personal experiences similar to those of program participants. In human services programs, having personal experiences similar to those of program participants may be required for a role. For example, most states offer peer specialist training and certification programs to prepare for work in behavioral health settings, requiring specific personal experiences—often related to substance use or mental health challenges.
Purpose
This brief describes strategies for hiring and supporting peer support staff. Leaders of human services programs may find it helpful to draw on this information as they are considering hiring peer support staff.
Key Findings and Highlights
Evidence suggests that hiring peer support staff can improve human services programs by validating the complex challenges participants face, identifying staff who can serve as role models, and connecting staff and participants through shared characteristics.
When recruiting peer support staff, programs recommended asking directly or specific personal experience in job descriptions, recruiting in the service community, and prioritizing specific characteristics, especially empathy.
To support peer support staff, program leaders said human services programs should clearly define job roles and relationships, validate and supplement staff skills, and support employees through triggering situations.
The findings in this brief are descriptive and cannot attest to the effectiveness of sites participating in the NextGen Project.
Methods
The NextGen Project team drafted this brief based on information from surveys and interviews of staff, participants, and leaders, as well as insights gathered from routine work with programs to implement the impact evaluation at three NextGen sites: Individual Placement and Support for Adults with Justice Involvement (IPS-AJI), Western Mass Mental Health Outreach for MotherS PartnershipSM (Western Mass MOMS), and Philadelphia Workforce Inclusion Networks (PhillyWINs). Authors also drew on findings from peer-reviewed research to inform the descriptions of strategies highlighted in this brief.
Citation
Harris, Amy, Alexandra Stanczyk, and Diana McCallum (2025). Hiring and supporting peer support staff: Strategies from three NextGen employment programs. OPRE Report #2025-086. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.