How Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSSs) Help Strengthen Recovery
10/19/2026
Recovery from a substance use disorder is about more than treatment alone. For many individuals, barriers such as stigma, isolation, housing instability, transportation challenges and limited support systems can make it difficult to seek care, remain engaged in treatment or sustain recovery over time. PRSSs help bridge those gaps through ongoing support rooted in lived experience and built on trust. As part of Centene's Health Assistance, Linkage and Outreach (HALO)™ program, PRSSs work alongside care teams to support Marketplace members diagnosed with or at risk of developing a substance use disorder (SUD).
What Is a Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS)?
PRSSs offer a unique form of support grounded in lived experience. Rather than providing clinical care, they draw on their own recovery journeys to build trust, offer encouragement and help members navigate recovery. Through HALO™, PRSSs complement the work of care managers and other members of the care team by focusing on members' strengths, personal goals and overall well-being, while care managers focus on clinical needs, care coordination and connecting members with physical and behavioral health providers. Together, they provide coordinated, person-centered support tailored to each member's needs.
How Peer Recovery Support Specialists Support Recovery
Through HALO, PRSSs proactively reach out to members with substance use disorder-related risks, helping them identify recovery goals, overcome barriers and connect to support.
Conversations may focus on understanding barriers to recovery, discussing previous recovery experiences, assessing current needs and identifying resources that may help members move forward. Depending on the member's goals and circumstances, discussions may involve wellness check-ins, self-care practices, rebuilding relationships affected by substance use or navigating challenges that could impact recovery. PRSSs use active listening, motivational interviewing and a person-centered approach to tailor support to each individual's needs.
Because every member brings different goals, challenges and experiences, peer support does not follow a standardized script. As PRSS Toni Blanton explains, “There is no ‘typical’ day for a PRSS. The role requires flexibility, adaptability and a commitment to meeting members where they are in their recovery journey.”
PRSSs' work extends beyond the initial outreach. They also:
- Conduct follow-up calls to provide ongoing encouragement and support
- Help connect members with local recovery resources
- Collaborate with care managers, primary care providers, behavioral health professionals and treatment teams to help ensure members’ goals, needs and preferences are reflected in their care
- Research community resources that can help address barriers related to transportation, housing, food access and other drivers of health
This personalized approach helps members remain connected to care and access the support they need at critical moments in recovery.
How Centene’s Peer Support Model Strengthens Recovery
Centene's PRSS model delivers measurable outcomes in member outreach, engagement and self-management:
- 2x higher engagement in HALO among hard-to-reach members when initial outreach is conducted by a PRSS
- 100% of members contacted by a PRSS within 30 days of discharge from residential treatment
- 7x more likely to actively self-manage their condition when supported by a PRSS
Together, these results show how lived-experience support can help members connect with services and take a more active role in their recovery, demonstrating how managed care can combine peer support, care coordination and community resources to support whole-person recovery. Learn more in Centene’s PRSS Impact Brief.
