National Practice Guidelines for Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors
Dana Foglesong, Kelsey Knowles, Rita Cronise, Jessica Wolf, Jonathan P. Edwards
Abstract
In 2017, the National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) leadership became aware of growing member concerns about supervision contradicting or conflicting with core peer support values. In response, N.A.P.S. established a work group that revised the association's 2013 National Practice Guidelines for Peer Supporters to include specific guidance to supervisors (i.e., the National Practice Guidelines for Peer Specialists and Supervisors). The new guidelines are not intended to address administrative or other basic functions of supervision; instead, they offer expertise and practical guidance to supervisors of peer support workers in understanding the core values of mutual support and managing the complexities of the nonclinical role in settings that may have different values and priorities.