Researchers from the University of Calgary and staff from Peer Support Canada, with support from a CIHR grant, have been working over the last few years to understand how peer support workers are hired, employed and trained in organizations that serve youth.

As part of this work, we had distributed a survey to understand organization’s current capacity for supporting peer support workers, and to identify gaps in order understand how external supports could help address these gaps.

We used the results from the survey to draft a list of recommendations that we believe can create better conditions for peer support staff and encourage an equitable and sustainable working environment.

As a next step, we are inviting peer support workers to participate in a series of four virtual co-design sessions. These sessions are intended to centre lived and living experience, strengthen the relevance of the recommendations, and ensure they are grounded in real-world peer support practice. The sessions will be interactive and discussion based, and no prior research experience is required to participate.

All sessions will last approximately 90 minutes and will be help on the following dates:

• Tuesday April 7   1:00 – 2:30 EST  
• Tuesday, April 14   1:00 – 2:30 EST
• Tuesday, April 21   1:00 – 2:30 EST
• Friday May 1   12:00 -1:00 EST

If you would like to participate, or if you would like additional information about this study, please click this link