START A PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM
Build peer support worthy
of the people it serves.
Training good people matters. Building a strong program takes more.
Crisis Support Solutions helps organizations create the leadership, structure, policies, peer selection, training, and ongoing support needed to build peer support people can trust.
BUILD THE FOUNDATION FIRST
Peer support is a program,
not a class.
Training equips people with skills. A strong program gives those skills somewhere safe and effective to work.
Before peers ever enter the classroom, organizations need to think about leadership, policy, confidentiality, peer selection, boundaries, referral pathways, program coordination, and how the team will be supported over time.
THE PRINCIPLE
Training is important.
Readiness comes first.
The strongest peer support programs are built intentionally before they are scaled.
PEER SUPPORT + CISM
What’s the difference between
CISM and peer support?
Peer support isn’t only there for the big event.
CISM can provide structured support following critical incidents. Peer support is broader and relational—peers are present before, during, and after difficult experiences.
Through those ongoing relationships, trained peers can help cultivate a culture of care where people know support is available when they need it.
Peer support does not compete with CISM, EAP, clinical care, chaplaincy, or other support resources. It complements them.
Strong systems of care give people multiple pathways to support.
FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
Where is your program today?
You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. Choose the statement that best describes where your organization is now.
We are exploring peer support.
We think peer support could benefit our people, but we are still learning what a strong program requires.
Help Us Make the Case →Leadership is interested.
We have support for the idea, but we need policies, structure, clear roles, and a plan before training peers.
Build the Foundation →Our foundation is taking shape.
Leadership, policy, and program expectations are coming together. Now we need to recruit, select, and prepare the right people.
Prepare the Program →We already have a program.
Our peer support program exists, but we want to strengthen, clarify, or sustain what we have built.
Talk With Us →Start with a conversation. We can help you identify the next right step.
START WITH WHAT YOU NEED NOW
Free tools for building a stronger foundation.
You may not be ready for a full training program yet. These short, self-paced resources can help you begin addressing two of the most common early challenges: leadership buy-in and program policy.
Build Leadership Buy-In
Peer support needs more than permission. Learn how to help decision-makers understand the purpose, value, expectations, and organizational support a strong program requires.
Build Policy & Protocols
Clear policy helps define the peer role, protect confidentiality, establish boundaries, clarify referral expectations, and reduce unnecessary ambiguity for everyone involved.
These resources are a starting point. Every organization is different, and peer support policy should reflect your local laws, organizational requirements, scope, and professional guidance.
READY TO BUILD IT WELL?
Equip the person responsible for making it work.
Strong peer support programs need more than trained peers. They need someone prepared to organize, guide, support, and sustain the program over time.
Peer Support Coordinator Training
Designed for those responsible for starting, coordinating, strengthening, or sustaining a peer support program.
- Program readiness and structure
- Leadership support and organizational buy-in
- Policy, protocols, and role clarity
- Peer recruitment and selection
- Training and continuing development
- Program stewardship and sustainability
When the program is ready, train the team.
Basic Peer Support equips selected peers with the practical skills they need to provide care, offer hope, and connect people to additional support when needed.
Explore Basic Peer Support →