Peer Recovery Specialists as EBI Providers: What Does Successful Implementation and Scaling Require?

Justin Bell, PhD
Chestnut Health Systems

ABSTRACT:
Peer recovery specialists (PRS) are increasingly trained to deliver evidence-based interventions (EBIs) such as motivational interviewing, behavioral activation, and SBIRT. This shift expands access to care but also raises questions: Where do EBIs fit in peers’ role scope? What makes a successful implementation? How can policy ensure peer providers can deliver EBIs sustainably?

This presentation shares findings from Bell et al.’s recent scoping review of factors influencing the delivery of EBIs by PRS. Twelve studies were synthesized using Proctor's implementation taxonomy, with determinants classified as facilitators or barriers across outcomes such as acceptability and sustainability. Results explore facilitators of implementation success that often happened on an individual- or organizational-level, and barriers that were often systemic and tied to occupational conditions.

The presentation situates these findings within the current policy landscape, including recent federal initiatives to expand the peer workforce. Drawing on the history of peer support as a social movement, practical recommendations will be shared for aligning implementation and workforce policy so that scaling peer-delivered EBIs strengthens rather than erodes the values that make peer support effective.