Findings indicate that less than half of SUD treatment and/or recovery service providers in Texas employ peer specialists. Services were more concentrated in metropolitan regions, with notable gaps in rural communities. Peer specialists emphasized purposeful use of lived experience, relationship-centered practice, and commitment to person-driven recovery, while also highlighting the importance of strengthening training and supervision, reducing stigma toward parents with substance use disorder, and expanding long-term, family-centered recovery pathways. Integrating Peer Recovery Support Services in child welfare settings has great potential to help parents navigate complex systems and improve family outcomes, but it requires cross-system training and clarification of the peer support role.
Key Recommendations
- Address service gaps in rural communities
- Focus on individual and family needs to support long-term recovery
- Enhance training and supervision for peer specialists
- Clarify peer support roles in child welfare
- Develop a pathway of recovery for child welfare-involved parents
