Walking Alongside: Integrating Peer Recovery Support within Child Welfare Systems

Background and Purpose
Parental substance use disorders (SUD) are a major driver of child welfare involvement, yet child protection systems often rely on compliance-based approaches that may not align with recovery processes. Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS) offer a promising, relationship-centered approach grounded in lived experience, but their integration into child welfare systems remains underdeveloped. This study examines how peer support can strengthen child welfare responses for families affected by substance use and identifies workforce development needs to support effective integration.

Methods
Guided by Community-Based Participatory Research principles, this study was conducted in Texas in partnership with a community organization serving pregnant and parenting individuals in recovery. The study included two phases: (1) an environmental scan of Texas providers of SUD treatment and recovery support services employing PRSS, documenting program characteristics, certification requirements, and system collaboration, and (2) semi-structured interviews with 20 certified PRSS working with child welfare-involved parents. Interview data were analyzed using Consensual Qualitative Research to develop themes across cases and identify innovative practices and systemic challenges.

Results

The environmental scan of 96 SUD treatment and recovery service providers in Texas found 39 organizations with 43 sites that employ PRSS, representing less than 50% of the providers screened. Services were concentrated in metropolitan areas, with limited availability in rural regions, indicating geographic disparities in access.

Program data highlighted both strengths and gaps in workforce preparation. While most sites required PRSS certification and supervision, training in parenting and child development was limited. Few sites offered training specific to child welfare or child safety planning, and child welfare-specific roles were inconsistently defined. Only 19 sites identified supporting service plan requirements as a high priority, and just 8 identified monitoring or reporting as high priority, reflecting role ambiguity in system integration.

Qualitative findings from 20 certified PRSS further contextualize these results. Most participants had more than three years of experience, and all worked with child welfare-involved families. PRSS described their role as “walking alongside” parents to support engagement, navigate systems, and address barriers such as stigma and fear of child removal; however, findings also revealed systemic tensions. Role ambiguity emerged as a central challenge, particularly when balancing relational support with compliance expectations. PRSS identified opportunities for growth, including culturally responsive services, father-focused programming, and long-term recovery support for families. Existing outcome measures were also viewed as inadequate, focusing on service engagement rather than relational and family-centered recovery outcomes.

Conclusions and Implications
Integrating peer recovery support into child welfare systems represents an innovative approach to improving engagement, reducing stigma, and supporting family stability. Findings highlight the need for targeted workforce development, including specialized training in child welfare, clear role definitions, and policies that protect the relational foundation of peer work. Expanding peer integration within child welfare has the potential to enhance both recovery outcomes and child safety through more holistic, family-centered approaches.