Back in April 2023, when SAMHSA first released the draft for public input, the IARCP felt a strong responsibility to use our platform to respond. Now that the finalized Model Standards for Peer Support Certification document is available (view here), it’s worth revisiting how we, as Recovery Coach Professionals, engaged with this critical conversation.
All too often, recovery coaches are grouped under the broader umbrella of peer recovery support. While we share some similarities, this categorization can inadvertently overlook the distinct expertise and value recovery coaches bring to the table.
I invite you to explore our response and reflect on the points we raised. Your thoughts are invaluable—so please comment or let us know via email at IARCP@ccar.us
Let’s continue to elevate and define our profession together!
Letter to SAMHSA, Dated April 2023
As a collective of Recovery Coach Professionals from across the globe, The International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals (IARCP) felt it was important to provide feedback based on the draft of the SAMHSA National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification. We would like to share that our basis in sharing this feedback is to ensure that the validity of the peer role is honored and respected at all levels of utilization. For the sake of clarification, please know that we, the IARCP, are not Peers, we are Recovery Coaches. We believe that we are professionals that should be afforded the same respect and dignity as anyone serving those who have been impacted by addiction.
We applaud the efforts of SAMHSA and the Technical Experts who have been working to create a document to serve as the basis in which we all have some shared guidance around the roles of peers. Our hope is that the final document can serve as mechanism for ensuring that compensation for these services is on par with the value that peers bring to the recovery process.
Standard #1: Authenticity and Lived Experience
This is the greatest asset one brings to their role; however, can you define what lived experience is? Does a person have to personally be in recovery to have lived experience? Recovery from what? And for how long? The attempt to be broad, means that we may have to adopt the belief that people have lived experience when they say they do.
Standard #2: Training
Training for any role is essential and by investing in quality training that focuses on recovery coaching fundamentals, typically a 46-hour curriculum can set the foundation for this role, however, ongoing professional development and training must be offered. Different settings may have their own needs, culture and practices will require additional learning.
Standard #3: Examinations
In this area we believe that testing needs to be better aligned with the role, and a multiple-choice examination may not be the best determinate of someone’s experience, skills and knowledge. A variety of assessments to best meet people where they are at should be prioritized.
Standard #4: Formal Education
Formal education should not be a factor for this role, as we are striving to honor the lived experience along with training and subsequent passing of a certification examination.
Standard #5: Work Experience
The opportunity for shadowing and internships should be made available by hiring organizations. Due to limited accessibility, this should be kept at a minimum requirement for certification. Again, the focus should be on meeting people where they are at, and not create barriers to certification.
Standard #6: Background Checks
Background checks should be the responsibility of the hiring organizations and not part of the certification process.
Standard #7: Recovery
You are in recovery when you say you are, and the pathway should be chosen by the individual being served. It is essential that a wide variety of pathways are supported by anyone serving in this role.
Standard #8: Diversity Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
Everyone, regardless of race, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation, etc. should have access to high quality services, and as such anyone serving in this role needs to have access to ongoing professional development in this area to ensure they are inclusive of all, and can embrace and support the wide range of needs, desires of those being served.
Standard #9: Ethics
Ethics is essential for anyone in a serving role and as such, ethics specific to this role should be part of the core foundational training required. There should be an unbiased forum in which to report ethical grievances, as well as established guidelines regarding the process and timing in which one would be eligible to reapply after such a grievance occurs.
Standard 10: Costs and Fees
The costs of training and fees for certification should not create barriers for access, however this should be assessed on a case-by-case basis. We cannot just assume that because someone is in recovery that they cannot afford training or the cost of certification.
Standard 11: Peer Supervision: We believe that those who are supervising this role, be someone with the same qualifications required to become a peer. Honoring the unique values of this role means to fully embrace the foundational principles, experiences of those who serve. Often clinical roles and peer roles do not align. Also, organizations who hire peers should ensure their codes of conduct and ethical practice embrace the role of the peer.
We thank you for taking the time to include the public as part of this process and hope that we can all work together to ensure that our role is valued as the professionals are and that we as individuals are also valued for the unique gifts, skills and experience we each bring to our own art of recovery coaching.
With respect,
The International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals
Virginia Adams, CT
Candace Alley, NC
Paul Alves, MA
Maureen Anderson, CT
Randy Anderson, MN
Margerite Ballard, FL
Robert Benben, MI
Hillena (Hillu) Beyene, MD
Jean Blackwell, CO
Lila Boyer, NY
Jan Brown, VA
Alexander Brown, MA
Harley Brown, CT
Alan Bryan, Iceland
Anthony Bryant, NY
Jennifer Burns, MA
Shane Butler, CO
Jan Carpenter, CT
Stacy Charpentier, CT
William Clark, FL
Vince Collins, WA
Calliese Conner, UK
Lisa Cooper, CT
Freeman (Sam) Corkum, CA
Elaine Corwin, NY
Charisse Czaja, CT
Rick Davila, FL
John Dawe, PA
Tiodolo De La Garza, WI
Dwayne Dean, MD
Kevin Diakiw, Canada
Johanna Dolan, MD
Jackie Doodley, OH
Stevie Duds, UK
John Elford, UK
Carrie Elliott, CO
Stacy Englert, FL
Krysta Fehlmann, CO
Alexander Fidalgo, MA
Rachel Fowler, CO
James Gabal, CT
Domenick Galarenue, CT
Gayle George, CO
Ilan Glazer, MD
Melissa Gonzales, CO
Maria Gratton, CT
Jackie Griffin, FL
Donald Gunther, GA
Carolyn Halpern, CT
Sharon Hanford. CT
Nakita Haywood, MA
Stephanie Hazard, CT
Jesse Heffernan, WI
Liz Helgesen, GA
Yvonne Hickey, GA
Lisa Hope, NY
Faraji Hubbard, IA
Shelley Janoka, Canada
James Johansen, NJ
Jesse Kaplan, MN
Kristina Keene, CT
Carol Leiserson, CO
Grayson Lewis, MI
Karen Lilleyman, UK
Sandra Losty, IR
Sandie MacGowan, CA
Tracy Madden, MI
Luis Mantilla, MD
Regina McGarrah, CT
Kathy McKnight, FL
Tyrell Moyd, MD
Peter Murphy, CT
Timmy Perry, MA
Meghann Perry, MA
Margaret Price, NY
Liz Ramseur, NC
Jennifer Reed, CT
Mindy Richardson, CT
Ruth Riddick, NY
Maryann Rodino, FL
Anthony Rose, FL
Rod Rushing, CO
Shakilla Saeed, CO
Kristin Schaedler, CT
Michele Schreffler-Perez, NJ
John Schwartz, CT
Michael Serrano, CT
Prescilla Shafor, MI
Dan Sheeran, NY
Linda Sheffer, FL
Carie Shugart, GA
Darlene Smith, IN
Patricia Smith, FL
Angela Stratelak, MI
David Tebbet, UK
Cynthia Terl, MD
Robin Travers, Canada
Patrick Turner, CT
Naetha Uren, UK
Phillip Valentine, CT
Sandy Valentine, CT
Laura Waters, GA
Patrecia Williams, MD
Mark Yenny, FL
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