NYAPRS Note: Given their focus on advancing peer support workforce initiatives and fostering best practices in supervision, the National Association of Peer Supporters (N.A.P.S.) Workforce and Supervision Committee–Rita Cronise, Jonathan P. Edwards, Gita Enders, and Joanne Forbes–curated and summarized a collection of workshops and presentations spanning five years of wisdom shared at N.A.P.S. Annual Conferences in a new book, “What it Takes” Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors.”
With foreword commentary from Celia Brown and Dr. Larry Davidson, this unique volume provides historical content, tributes, and chapter overviews chronicling peer support from its origins in self-help to its continuing evolution as a profession, including development of values and practice guidelines. What It Takes is available in e-book and paperback through Amazon. Get your copy today. Actual link:
Summary of What It Takes:
This book is about the practice of peer support from its origins in self-help to its continuing evolution as a profession. It provides some history, research, values, and guidelines of peer support brought together from conference presentations from real-world practitioners. Written by NAPS members for NAPS members and others, it aligns with foundational memes: “Nothing about us without us” and “Each one Teach one”. Each chapter contains information from the front-line practitioners and peer support allies who are crafting the profession on a daily basis. The purpose of this edition is to provide one of the first guides to peer support work from a peer-led authoritative source. Peer Support has grown rapidly with a need to provide the basic information for those entering its ranks. The book is intended to provide the latest information on a philosophy and profession that is at the forefront of the transformation of behavioral health services from a medical model satisfied with symptom relief and stability to a recovery model determined to inform those who have been impacted in various ways by the mental health system that a quality life is possible and doable.