Peer Run Organizations
Peer Run Organizations are services or activities that are planned, developed, administered, delivered, and evaluated mainly by people with direct lived experience of a mental health and/or substance use disorder. Peer Run organizations include consumer operated services, recovery community organizations, peer drop-in centers, club houses and more.
Peer run organizations aim to enhance the quantity and quality of support available to people seeking recovery from mental health or substance use disorders. They are grounded in three core principles: a recovery vision, authenticity of voice, and accountability to the recovery community. These groups promote public awareness and education, personal empowerment, and peer-based and other recovery support services and activities which may include:
- peer recovery support,
- telephone recovery support services,
- all-recovery meetings,
- structured volunteer/work activities,
- social activities, or
- wellness activities.
Ultimately, peer run organizations are responsive to the needs of individuals participating in services and be based on local needs as identified by the individuals participating in the service.
Through the promotion of sharing personal experience and knowledge, individuals engaged in peer support play an active and vital role in laying the foundations for sustained recovery.
