Our passion is empowering people to make positive life changes.
We do this through connections between people and community resources. Peer Support services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of
those seeking a successful, sustained recovery process.
Certified Peer Specialists are people who have been successful in the recovery process who help others experiencing similar situations. Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of recurrence. The role of Peer is to:
- Advocate for people in recovery
- Share resources and building skills
- Reduce substance use
- Inspire hope that people can and do recover
- Mentor and help set goals
PreventEd’s Peer Support Program provides Certified Peer Specialist services to those seeking recovery in Franklin County and Lincoln County, Missouri, with plans to expand to additional Eastern Missouri counties.
Our Peers help clients engage with appropriate services for their needs and situation, including engaging with local community resources, connecting with treatment providers, and help enrolling in Medication-Assisted Treatment programs.
Why Franklin and Lincoln Counties?
Missouri consistently ranks among the highest states in the country in overdose deaths, and is not seeing the same decline that other states have noted in the last couple of years. Most recent data shows that the Missouri average for drug related overdose deaths is of 35.07 deaths per 100,000.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has recognized Franklin and Lincoln Counties as rural communities that have been particularly hard hit by the opioid epidemic. They lack treatment options and treatment infrastructure to effectively and substantially address substance use disorders (SUD). This includes lack of medication providers and access to medication for people living with substance use disorders.