Certified Peer Specialists (CPSs) serve a critical role in the behavioral health workforce, but little is known about their job quality or financial well-being. Compared to Bureau of Labor Statistics data on comparable non-peer Community/Social Service occupations, peer support jobs are lower wage and have shorter job tenure. Compared to the general workforce, peer support jobs are more often part-time. Compared to a national survey of all adults in the United States, CPS report lower FWB regardless of job type and are at risk of financial hardship. In multivariable analyses and compared to non-peer support jobs, peer support jobs were not associated with significantly higher wages, more full-time status, longer tenure, or greater FWB. Higher wage jobs among CPS were associated with higher education, being a Veteran, and residence in an urban/suburban region rather than small town or rural setting. Full-time work was associated with not receiving federal disability benefits. CPS FWB was associated with higher hourly wage, older age, Latinx ethnicity, Veteran status, and better physical health. CPSs are at risk of financial hardship. Among recently certified CPSs, working in peer support jobs was not associated with higher wages or greater financial wellbeing compared to CPSs working in other jobs.
Read More
This study uses survey data from certified peer specialists (CPS) who were currently employed in any type of job, providing peer support services or not. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Areas of Worklife Survey (AWS), along with other measures of personal and job characteristics, relationships of predictors variables to burnout measures were described in unadjusted and adjusted linear regression models. Scores on each of the averaged burnout measures differed significantly between those employed in peer services jobs and those in other job types, with those in peer services jobs reporting lower exhaustion, cynicism, and higher professional efficacy.
Read More
This study of over 680 certified peer specialists (CPS) in four states found that those who are unemployed are more likely to be receiving Social Security disability benefits, be veterans, use outpatient counseling or therapy, and not disclose their mental health status in the workplace. In this study, the benefits of peer support jobs, compared to non-peer support jobs, include longer job tenure, availability of employee benefits, and higher job satisfaction.
Read More
Erika Miranda-Bartlett, Outreach Specialist with Live & Learn, Inc., discusses what brought her to the Certified Peer Specialist Career Outcomes Study and what it means to her.
Read More