title: Utilization of peers in services for youth with emotional and behavioral challenges: A scoping review.
abstract: This scoping review synthesizes published and unpublished information on Youth Peer Support Services (YPSS), where young adults with current or prior mental health challenges provide support services to other youth and young adults currently struggling with similar difficulties. Existing published and unpublished "grey" literature were reviewed, yielding 30 programs included for data extraction and qualitative syntheses using a descriptive analytic framework. Findings identify variations in service delivery structures, program goals, host service systems, peer roles, core competencies, training and supervision needs, outcomes for youth and young adult consumers, as well as organizational readiness needs to integrate YPSS. Recommendations for future research, practice, and policy include more studies evaluating the unique impact of YPSS using rigorous methodological study designs, identifying developmentally appropriate training/supervision strategies and overall service costs and financing options, as well as distinguishing YPSS from other peer models with regard to certification and billing.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Social Work, 525 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States. Electronic address: ggopalan@ssw.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Geetha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gopalan
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Social Work, 525 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States.
authors.forename: Sang Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland Baltimore, 601 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, 1 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10016, United States.
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Acri
authors.affiliation: Silver School of Social Work New York University, 1 Washington Square, New York, NY 10003, United States.
authors.forename: Michelle R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Munson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010379:Peer Group; D000072858:Psychosocial Support Systems; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Emotional and/or behavioral difficulties; Mental health; Youth peer advocate; Youth peer support