Start a Program

Please see Disclaimer: Peer Support Resources below.

There are three important aspects to any peer support program:

• The people with diabetes you aim to serve - it is important to assess the target audience, understand their needs, and explore how features of their culture and communities may influence these needs and how to address them.
• The peer supporters who will work with them - it is important to involve people who have knowledge from their own experiences or that of a close person affected by diabetes (e.g. immediate family member) and train them to be able to provide social, emotional, practical, and ongoing support; and
• The program or agency that sponsors and manages the peer support intervention - there are a number of important ways that an organization can back and strengthen a peer support intervention.

Attention to all three aspects can help to develop an effective peer support program and even strengthen an existing one.

The following resources provide a broad view of things to consider for starting a peer support program.

Overviews

• New- The Chronic Illness Peer Support Network's Best Practice Framework covers major aspects of developing and managing a volunteer-based, chronic illness peer support program.
• New-The World Health Organization's Global Evidence of Communith Health Workers (CHWs) provides programmatic overview and recommendations that can help to design and manage a peer support program utilizing CHWs for various diseases/conditions.
• Live, Learn and Share - A Diabetes Peer Support Group Guide for the Black Caribbean Community provides information, step-by-step guidance and resources for people living with diabetes to start a Diabetes Peer Support Group.
• This Peers for Progress Guide to Program Development and Management provides information, interactive tools and resources for designing, enhancing or refining peer support programs.
• This 2008 report provides a timely overview of diabetes in society and peer support's important contribution for change.
• This Handbook for Program Managers outlines building the case for diabetes self-management.
• This Peer Support Resource Manual describes formal and informal structures of peer support and key elements associated with them. Also, Section 4 outlines steps for implementing peer support.
• This Peer Support Program Manual for Individuals with Brain Injury and Their Families provides a comprehensive overview of issues to think about for starting a peer support program.
• This Critical Issues Guide provides an overview of developing peer-to-peer programs for families and children's mental health.

Planning, Preparation, and Community Input

• This report addresses planning and preparation of peer support services to assist people with kidney disease. In particular, Part 6 also discusses patient perspectives on peer support and incorporating them to address needs.
• This Stakeholder Report provides an example of getting feedback from potential target audiences about their needs for peer support.

Organizational Issues

• This report on Emerging New Practices in Organized Peer Support takes a look at organizational aspects of beginning and integrating peer support into mental health systems.
• This Self-Management Support checklist can help an organization think about how it can incorporate peer support into addressing diabetes self-management needs.
• Assessment of Primary Care Resources and Supports for Chronic Disease Self Management (PCRS) can help an organization think about how integrating peer support may help them improve self-management practices.

Please also visit important Management resources that address peer supporter characteristics and other organizational aspects of peer support. In addition, visit Training to find information and resources on the skills and competencies addressing the core components of peer support.

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