Every day, families across the country navigate the heartbreaking realities of addiction. In 2023, over 107,000 people lost their lives to an overdose, and 17% of the U.S. population struggled with addiction. Nearly half of Americans, 46%, have a close friend or family member facing addiction.

We know that when families are involved, outcomes improve for those who are struggling and for the family members themselves. However, families continue to be underappreciated and underutilized in solutions for addressing this addiction crisis. Most families do not have access to evidence-based strategies to support their loved ones. Instead, they experience stress, anxiety, isolation, stigma, and financial hardship.

At Partnership to End Addiction, we believe families should not have to navigate these difficult times alone. This is why we created the Peer Coaching Program, a free, four-week service for connecting parents seeking support with trained peer coaches via text or phone. Our peer coaches are parents who have walked this path themselves and now offer compassionate, nonjudgmental support to others.

Interested in becoming a Peer Coach at the Partnership?

Our training program equips future peer coaches with the skills needed to support parents navigating a loved one’s substance use. The training includes:

12 live Zoom sessions of two hours each, over 15 weeks
Homework assignments to reinforce learning
Using training simulations for hands-on practice

Training Structure

Part 1: Intro to the Partnership Model

Builds foundational knowledge of addiction, behavior change, and evidence-based family support strategies.

Topics Include:

Understanding Your Loved One’s Substance Use
Understanding Yourself
Communication Tools for Stronger Connection
Behavior Tools That Support Change
Change, Ambivalence, and the Ups-and-Down Journey
New Perspectives

Part 2: The Art of Coaching

Focuses on how to coach effectively, applying communication and behavioral strategies in real-world scenarios.

Topics Include:

Peer Coaching Essentials: Foundations and Ethical Principles
Peer Coaching Frameworks
Communication Skills for Effective Coaching
Understanding Worldviews: Foundations for Connection
Exploring Assumptions and Reactions
Navigating Challenges in Coaching

What does coaching involve?

Completing our training is the first step to becoming a peer coach. Afterward, participants will apply to become volunteers with the Partnership. Our team carefully reviews applications, considering performance and engagement throughout the training, to determine eligibility and fitness for a coaching role.

Those selected to become peer coaches must meet the following commitments:

Time Commitment: Minimum one-year volunteer commitment. New coaches usually spend about 3 to 5 hours per week involved in peer coaching.
Role: All new coaches begin by coaching over text before moving on to phone-based coaching.
Clinical Support Meetings:Once coaching begins, attendance at a monthly clinical support meeting to discuss current cases and challenges.
Continuing Education: Participation in a monthly continuing education meeting to deepen knowledge.

Am I eligible to be a Peer Coach at the Partnership?

IIf you have lived experience as a parent navigating your child’s substance use and feel ready to support others, we encourage you to apply. No professional background in counseling or addiction support is required; only your personal experience, empathy, and willingness to help others are needed. Ready to make a difference? Start with training and see where your journey takes you!

When is the next training session?

Peer Coach Training takes place from early September through early December each year. The program is delivered via Zoom in the evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Eastern Time.

Schedule Overview

Part 1 – The first six-week session begins in early September and continues through mid-October. This portion focuses on an introduction to the Partnership Model.

Break – There is a one-week pause between Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 2 – The second six-week session begins in late October and continues through early December. This portion focuses on the Art of Coaching. There is one week off in late November in observance of the holiday.

Homework and Assignments: Participants are expected to complete homework and assignments the week before training begins and each week throughout the training, including during the break between Part 1 and Part 2.

Are applications open for the next training session?

Yes, we are now accepting applications for the upcoming training session.

Filled out the form below to apply to training.

If you represent a local organization or jurisdiction interested in bringing a Peer Coach Training to your community, please contact solutions@toendaddiction.org.

I still have questions...

Will I coach people in my community?

Not necessarily. We receive requests from across the country and match parents based on factors like time zones.

Can I be a peer coach if my child is actively using substances?

Yes. Our peer coaches have a wide range of experience. Some have children in long-term recovery; some have children who are actively using substances; and some parents have lost children to addiction. Our only condition is that your commitment to peer coaching does not jeopardize your child’s progress toward a healthy recovery.

What does volunteering mean to peer coaches?

Watch this video to hear directly from our coaches:

Peer Coaching Program: Get Trained and Volunteer with Us