The data from Waukesha County is a clear testament to the growing reliance on Certified Peer Specialist support for substance use. This trend is not arbitrary; several factors drive it. The availability of more specialists, recognizing peer work as an evidence-based practice, and the increasing awareness and knowledge of certified peer specialists all contribute to this shift. Yet, sustaining this trend relies on perceiving peer work as legitimate and increasing the number of Certified Peer Specialists. The emergence of peer work as a new field has significantly heightened the demand for CPS.

Furthermore, a growing body of research confirms peer work's effectiveness. The understanding that compassion, a trait best understood and shared by humans, is a potent tool in this field is gaining traction. Enhancing public education about this profession is imperative to further bolster the use of Certified Peer Specialists for substance use issues.

Contributing Factors:

• Increased availability of certified peer specialists
• Shifting perception of peer work as evidence-based practice
• Heightened public knowledge of certified peer specialists

Restricting Factors:

• A lack of education surrounding Certified Peer Specialists
• Insufficient number of certified peer specialists
• Limited public knowledge
• Challenges in accessing certified peer specialist training and certification

Root Cause: A lack of education surrounding Certified Peer Specialists, their roles, and the substantial benefits they offer to individuals grappling with Substance Use Disorders. Comprehensive education initiatives are essential to bridge this knowledge gap and amplify the positive impact of CPS in the community.

When considering partnerships, the action team kept things as broad as possible. Not all potential partners end up being a vetted resource and partner for the CHIP process, but it was still worthwhile to consider a wide-range of options. Below is a list of potential partners that may have a link to substance use, peer supports, or access to people in Waukesha County that access peers for substance use.

Potential Partner List:

1. 16th Street Community Health Centers
2. Addiction Resource Council
3. Aging and Disabilities Resource Center
4. Alano Club
5. Al-Anon
6. AA
7. American Lung Assocation
8. Ascension
9. Aspen Center
10. Aurora Health Care
11. Bethany Christian Services
12. Bethesda Park
13. Bridges Library System
14. Carroll University
15. Case workers
16. CDC
17. Community Care
18. Community Medical Services
19. Crosswalk Church
20. Denoon Recovery
21. Elevate
22. Elmbrook Church library
23. Emergency services
24. Evangelical & Reformed United Church of Christ
25. Family Promise of Western Waukesha County
26. First Baptist Church
27. First Congregational Church
28. First United Methodist Church
29. Friendships Unlimited
30. Froedert Community Memorial Hospital
31. Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
32. Hebron Housing Services
33. Hope Center
34. Impact 2-1-1
35. Interagency Programs for the Intoxicated Driver Committee
36. James Place
37. Justice system
38. Lake Area Alano Club
39. Law enforcement
40. Lutheran Social Services/ Aspen Center
41. Medical Examiner's Office
42. Mental Health America
43. Mental Health America of WI NAMI
44. Meta House
45. Minooka Park
46. Moorewood Park
47. NAMI SE WI
48. NA
49. Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital
50. Phopenix Recovery
51. ProHealth Care Behavioral Health
52. ProHealth Care Rehabilitation Center
53. Public Health
54. Representative Adam Neylon
55. Representative Scott Allen
56. Rogers Memorial Hospital
57. Salvation Army
58. School Districts
59. Senator Chris Kapenga
60. SMART Recovery
61. Silver Haze Smoke Shop
62. Spring City Corner Clubhouse
63. St. Joseph's Catholic Church
64. St. Luke's Lutheran Church
65. St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church
66. St. Matthias Episcopal Church
67. Statewide Poison Center
68. Substance Use Advisory Committee
69. The Women's Center
70. Todd Wehr Memorial Library
71. Trinity Lutheran Church
72. Trinity Presbyterian Church
73. VA Medical Center
74. Vivent Health
75. Voices for Recovery
76. Waukesha Church of Christ
77. Waukesha City Church
78. Waukesha Comprehensive Treatment Center
79. Waukesha County Health & Human Services
80. Waukesha Memorial Hospital
81. Waukesha Public Library
82. Waukesha Springs Park
83. WC Public Health Center
84. WCTC Library
85. WHARP
86. WI DHS
87. Wisconsin Department of Community Corrections
88. Wisconsin Family Ties
89. Wisconsin Peer Support Certification
90. Wisconsin Society of Addiction Medicine
91. Wisconsin Community Services
92. WisHope Recovery

What Works is a brainstorming process where the action team identifies strategies to address opioid-related deaths, focusing on the root cause — as a lack of education about Certified Peer Specialists, what they do, and how beneficial they are to those stuggling with substance use disorder. Additionally, the importance of including someone with lived experience, facilitating warm hand-offs among providers, and establishing a fluid step-down/up process tailored to each individual's needs. 

While the action team cannot undertake every identified strategy, community partners may find this list helpful as a collaborative resource to address mental health for adolescents in Waukesha County.

Evidence-Based Strategies:

• Increase WCS Provided Training for State Certification: Enhance the number of training programs provided by WCS for state certification in peer support, ensuring a well-prepared workforce.
• Peer Involvement through MATRIX Curriculum: Promote peer involvement through the MATRIX curriculum, which encourages ethical training for Certified Peer Specialists, providing assurance to employers.

Innovative & Creative Sstrategies:

• Community Advocacy for CPS Professionalization: Conduct community initiatives to establish Certified Peer Specialists as a recognized professional position, minimizing barriers to entry.
• Business/School/Medical Professional Training: Educate businesses, schools, and medical professionals about the role of a peer specialist, emphasizing the benefits of hiring one in various settings.

Low-Cost/ No-Cost Strategies: 

• Community Support Group Advertisement: Advertise in community support groups to raise awareness of the need for more Certified Peer Specialists, encouraging individuals to consider this impactful role.
• Barrier Removal for Peer Specialist Entry: Implement strategies to remove barriers for individuals seeking to become peer specialists, making the certification process more accessible.
• Marketing CPS as Evidence-Based Practice: Market Certified Peer Specialists as an evidence-based practice, highlighting their effectiveness in supporting individuals with substance use disorder.

Data Development & Research Agenda: 

• Understanding Workforce Entry Challenges: Investigate reasons why individuals may be deterred from entering the Certified Peer Specialist workforce, addressing financial concerns and promoting awareness.
• Impact on Disability and Employment Sustainability: Explore the impact of Certified Peer Specialist roles on disability status and assess the sustainability of full-time employment in this field.
• Insurance Billing for Peer Support Services: Research and advocate for the inclusion of Certified Peer Specialist services in insurance billing, addressing challenges related to reimbursement and service accessibility.

Substance Use End Result 1: People who use or are in recovery for opioid use in Waukesha County have access to life-saving interventions.

Selecting an effective strategy involves a meticulous evaluation based on four key criteria:

• Leverage, which assesses the potential impact on progress
• Feasibility, ensuring practicality and achievability
• Specificity, detailing budget and timeline considerations
• Values, ensuring alignment with the values of both the community and the organization

This comprehensive approach ensures that the chosen strategies have a meaningful impact, are feasible to implement, align with established values, and are supported by a clear budget and timeline.

Substance Use Team Selected Strategies:

Data Source: Substance use team partner Wisconsin Community Services provided this data from their internal system.