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Social Workers and Self-Help Services: Forging Positive Relationships
Melissa Anne Hensley1, Christine Dawson1
1Melissa Anne Hensley, PhD, is associate professor and field education coordinator, Department of Social Work, Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Avenue CB 51, Minneapolis, MN 55454; e-mail: hensleym@augsburg.edu. Christine Dawson, MSW, is a social worker and HeroCare veterans' services advocate, Regions Hospital, Saint Paul, MN.
Social Work
|February 8, 2017
Summary
Self-help and peer support services are expanding for mental health and addiction recovery. Social workers should understand these services to foster better collaboration and partnerships with peer providers.
Area of Science:
- Social Work
- Mental Health Services
- Addiction Recovery
Background:
- Self-help and peer-provided services for mental health and addiction have seen significant growth.
- Individuals accessing professional social work services often participate in peer-provided recovery activities.
- Existing positive relationships between social workers and peer organizations highlight the potential for collaboration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To increase social workers' understanding of the goals and principles of peer-provided services.
- To identify opportunities for social workers to establish collaborative relationships with peer providers.
- To provide an overview of various self-help and peer-provided services and their benefits.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of self-help and peer-provided mental health and addiction services.
- Analysis of the principles and goals underpinning peer support.
- Examination of existing collaborative models between social workers and peer providers.
Main Results:
- Peer-provided services encompass a range of self-help groups and recovery support.
- These services offer valuable benefits to individuals undergoing mental health and addiction recovery.
- Social workers can enhance their practice by understanding and integrating peer support principles.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced understanding of peer services can facilitate stronger partnerships between social workers and peer providers.
- Collaboration between social workers and peer providers can improve the continuum of care for individuals with mental health and addiction challenges.
- Further integration of peer support into professional social work practice is recommended.
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