A Certified Peer Specialist is a person who has had their own experience of struggling with mental health and/or substance use, and, matched with formal state-sponsored training and continuing education, serves peers who are facing their own emotional challenges. Peer support is a 100% voluntary service driven by the peer's vision and priorities and
focuses on the emotional connecting/sharing between two people who have their own experiences of coping with mental health/substance use challenges. Peer Support should not be used for or replace services/tasks such as errand-running or use of transportation.
Note: "Peer" is defined as the person being referred for peer support.