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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research

Published in:

01-05-2007 | Original Paper

Developing Strategies to Integrate Peer Providers into the Staff of Mental Health Agencies

Authors: Lauren B. Gates, Sheila H. Akabas

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 3/2007

Abstract

This study informs new strategies that promote integration of peer providers into the staff of social service agencies. Executive directors, human resource managers, supervisors and co-workers at 27 agencies in New York City were interviewed in-depth. Focus groups with peers were conducted. Consistent with previous research, respondents identified attitudes toward recovery, role conflict and confusion, lack of policies and practices around confidentiality, poorly defined job structure and lack of support as problems that undermined integration. Emerging from the data are strategies related to human resource policies and practices and workgroup relationships and operations that can improve employment of peer staff.

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Title: Developing Strategies to Integrate Peer Providers into the Staff of Mental Health Agencies
Authors: Lauren B. Gates
Sheila H. Akabas
Publication date: 01-05-2007
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers-Plenum Publishers
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 3/2007
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-006-0109-4

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Developing Strategies to Integrate Peer Providers into the Staff of Mental Health Agencies

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