Developing a Role for Peer Specialists within a Jail Diversion Program

The Eleventh Judicial Criminal Mental Health Project (CMHP) -Jail Diversion Program in Miami, Florida was designed and implemented to divert people with serious mental illnesses that are involved in the criminal justice system into community-based treatment and supportive services that will ensure successful community integration and recovery. The program operates both a pre-booking and post-booking jail diversion program, and brings together the resources and services of healthcare providers, social-service agencies, law enforcement personnel, and the courts. In order to better engage and support program participants, a role and function was developed for peer support specialists as an integral component of the jail diversion team.

Peer support specialists are individuals who identify themselves as having a mental illness and possible co-occurring substance use disorder and are receiving or have received behavioral health treatment/services to promote the process of recovery. Due to their life experience they are uniquely qualified to perform the functions of the position. Peer support specialists assist jail diversion participants with community re-entry by providing access to housing, treatment and support services that promote recovery and lead to improved functioning in the community. This is accomplished by working with participants, caregivers, family members, and other sources of support to minimize barriers to treatment engagement, and to model and facilitate the development of adaptive coping skills and behaviors.

The program currently employs six part-time peer specialists. They work as members of the jail diversion team. General requirements for the position include:

• Personal knowledge of mental health/substance use recovery
• Must be able to serve as a model of hope and recovery
• Ability to follow directions and communicate effectively
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with co-workers, judiciary, court administration, and community agencies
• Ability to utilize public transportation

Specific job functions and tasks include:

• Assist program participants with the release from jail and re-entry to the community
• Accompany program participants to appointments in the community
• Accompany to follow-up court appointments
• Provide support visits in the community
• Provide clerical support functions
• Computer generated documentation
• Serve as consultants and faculty for Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for law enforcement

Meaningful and productive work activities help the peer specialists on their own path to recovery. It is a constant reminder of the progress they have made; that work has helped to build self-esteem and self confidence. They report that it is a humbling experience to be able to assist people that are experiencing similar life challenges and to provide assistance. Several of the peer specialists have successfully graduated from the CMHP.

The Peer Specialists are a tremendous asset to the operation of the CMHP. They embody the hope that recovery and resiliency are achievable goals. One of our peer specialists tells a story about how he met with a program participant that was released from jail and was transferred to a crisis stabilization unit in the community. He told the man that he was once a patient in the same facility and that he needed help too. The man was incredulous and replied that he didn’t believe it. “You look too good to be like me!” But our peer specialist convinced him that recovery is possible and that support was an important part of the process.