Peer Coaching Training Provided to Alabama parents by Alabama Department of Mental Health Substance Use Services Division

The previous peer coach training was delivered through a self-paced online learning portal rather than a live, instructor-led format. While this approach increased accessibility and allowed participants to complete the coursework on their own schedules, it made it more difficult to build momentum, foster engagement, and create the meaningful connections and peer support that naturally develop during live Zoom trainings.

We partnered with the Alabama Department of Mental Health Substance Use Services Division to deliver three trainings to parents and caregivers affected by their child’s substance use. We provided them with the knowledge and skills they needed to support their own family or other families in similar situations. During these trainings, participants completed 15 self-paced, online, guided modules over seven weeks, with each module varying in length up to one hour. In addition, they attended four live, one-hour Zoom sessions that provided an introduction, check-ins, and a wrap-up to the training.

A total of 51 parents and caregivers in the state of Alabama received the Peer Coaching Training. All participants now have foundational knowledge of addiction, behavior change, and evidence-based family support strategies. These are skills they can use to support their own families as well as other families in their communities.