The peer to career pipeline : An observational study of peer worker trainee characteristics and training completion likelihood

Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved..

INTRODUCTION: Peer recovery support services (PRSS) for substance use disorder (SUD) are a flexible and evidence-based intervention employed across multiple settings and for a variety of populations. These services have expanded over the past two decades, but there is little research on recruitment and training of prospective peer workers - the peer to career pipeline. This study observed training outcomes for applicants to a peer worker scholarship program in Texas.

METHODS: A total of 448 participants provided baseline personal history information, and a subset of participants (n = 239) completed optional psychosocial surveys. Logistic regression analysis tested associations of personal history and psychosocial variables with three training stage completion outcomes: classroom training completion, placement at an internship site, and full certification.

RESULTS: The greatest decline in advancement between stages occurred in the transition between classroom training (78.1 % of participants completed) and internship placement (43.3 % of participants completed). Participants were diverse in terms of race/ethnicity and life experiences salient to the peer worker role, but Hispanic/Latinx peer workers were under-represented. Past work with a SUD peer worker, age, and having a bachelor's degree were each positively associated with training stage completion across multiple models, while having basic technological access, being a woman, and veteran status were each positively associated with training stage completion in only one model. Years since recovery initiation date, non-monosexual orientation, White race, and quality of life were each negatively associated with training stage completion in only one model.

CONCLUSIONS: The existing peer workforce may be a key source of recruitment for new peer workers; thus retention of existing workers is key to ensuring continued expansion of these services. Additional support may be required to recruit and retain younger peer worker trainees, men trainees, Hispanic/Latinx trainees, trainees who lack basic technological access, or trainees without bachelor's degrees. Unanswered questions about the peer workforce remain and must be addressed to ensure that an appropriately diverse workforce is recruited, that disparities in training outcomes are minimized or prevented, and that existing peer workers are well-supported.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:159

Enthalten in:

Journal of substance use and addiction treatment - 159(2024) vom: 24. Apr., Seite 209287

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Castedo de Martell, Sierra [VerfasserIn]
Wilkerson, J Michael [VerfasserIn]
Howell, Jason [VerfasserIn]
Brown, H Shelton [VerfasserIn]
Ranjit, Nalini [VerfasserIn]
Holleran Steiker, Lori [VerfasserIn]
McCurdy, Sheryl A [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Journal Article
Observational Study
Peer recovery support services
Peer worker
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
Training
Workforce

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 18.03.2024

Date Revised 19.04.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1016/j.josat.2023.209287

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM366515136