September 2016
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) contracted with the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health (TIEMH) to evaluate peer specialist integration within the Texas state mental health system. TIEMH employed a qualitative and quantitative approach that:
- Administered a survey to employees of 39 local mental health authorities (LMHAs) and 9 psychiatric hospitals; and
- Conducted four focus groups with peer and non-peer employees from across Texas.
To provide insight into peer specialist integration in Texas, data collection efforts focused on examining six domains of peer specialist integration, which include:
1. organizational culture;
2. funding;
3. recruitment, hiring, and training;
4. role clarity;
5. supervision and career advancement; and
6. collaboration between peer specialists and other employees.
Authors
Juli Earley, LMSW
Amy C. Lodge, Ph.D.
Wendy Kuhn, M.A.
Pamela Daggett, M.R.A.
Stacey Stevens-Manser, Ph. D.