Peer support specialist initiatives include expanding and investing in peer support services through training, certification, and deployment of individuals with lived experience. The goal is to elevate peer roles to core components of the mental health and substance use system. 

This includes the North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) Program, which provides peers and providers with evidence-based practices, technical assistance and continuous improvement to support peers throughout their career as a CPSS.

Why it Matters in North Carolina

CPSSs serve as trusted connectors, advocates, and supports within recovery pathways. Integrating peers into mental health, crisis, co-occurring services and care teams enhances engagement, outcomes and equity. Expanding peer roles diversifies workforce perspectives and brings authentic recovery voices into systems.

How it Works

The new Peer Support Specialist Certification Curriculum, launched in 2025, has been updated with best practices and enhanced competencies. Check qualifications and application details on UNC's website.

NCDHHS and the NC Certified Peer Support Specialist Program work together to collaborate with providers to embed PSS roles into clinical care teams. The program provides technical assistance to support providers in bringing peers onto their staff, learning how to best support peers. It also ensures peers are fully trained to work in different community settings.  

As part of this work, NCDHHS, in partnership with the UNC School of Social Work and NC CPSS Program, is working to create a technical assistance hub for peer supports and providers. The hub will encompass additional low-cost to free trainings, resume building supports, and employment supports for peers. It will also provide a new peer supervisor training and support in helping to employ peer supports. The goal is to create a cohesive work environment and ensure providers know what a peer can and cannot do in the community.  

The hub will also hold the new peer mentoring program, which will launch in 2026. This program will help individuals living with IDD or a TBI become peer mentors to assist others living with similar experiences in reaching their own personal goals. All of the new programs and trainings will launch as they are developed throughout 2026 and 2027.

Separately, the Peer Connections App connects certified peers with other peers in North Carolina. This allows peers to help peers with stress from the job and also provides a community for everyone to communicate together.  It also assists community members and can be used during times when a provider is not available. Enroll in Connections.