This session will provide reflection and practical guidance on the role of peer and family peer support providers as members of multidisciplinary, integrated care teams serving pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorders. The session will draw from EMPOWERED, which provides peer recovery support specialist services in Nevada for mothers who have used opioids or stimulants, and their households, partnering in their care through stabilization to resilience. The presentation will focus on how peers help improve care transitions, build trust, promote recovery, and increase care continuity throughout the perinatal period. Participants will learn key considerations for engaging peers to support coordination and integration of services across obstetrics, pediatrics, primary care, child welfare, and behavioral health systems through recovery coaching, psychoeducation, skill building, care navigation, and warm handoffs to resources that address health-related social needs. Presenters will share practical examples that illustrate how these approaches are implemented in real-world settings. The session will also highlight policy and program strategies relevant to state and program leaders.

After this webinar, participants will be able to: 

• Describe how peer support strengthens perinatal care and builds stability for mothers.
• Identify key considerations in designing and implementing peer support services to elevate the impact of the multidisciplinary team and the role of the peer recovery support specialist.
• Understand how to work with organizations to provide peer support services for perinatal populations.
• Describe organizational policies and statewide services that support providing peer recovery support services.

This virtual session is supported by the Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions, funded by a grant award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you have questions about these sessions, please contact Integration@TheNationalCouncil.org.