Peer Coaching is offered as a service of the Partnership to End Addiction (the Partnership). It is our sincerest hope that our peer-to-peer support program will be as useful to you as it has been to many others.

When getting started, please keep in mind:

• Our Peer Coaches are rigorously trained in The Partnership Model, an approach designed to support families navigating substance use challenges. This model integrates proven methods and principles, including Motivational Interviewing, Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT), the Transtheoretical Model of Change, and Harm Reduction principles. With a focus on empathy and empowerment, our peer coaches provide compassionate listening, encourage self-compassion, and draw on their lived experiences to foster connection, reduce isolation, and combat stigma.
• The Coach’s role is not to provide “the answer” or give solutions to the issues your family is facing. Their role is to listen with empathy and support you as you solve problems together.
• Upon completing this assessment, you will be assigned to a Peer Coach. Coaches are usually able to make their initial contact within 3 days. If you are signing up to receive peer support via phone, please check your text messages or email daily, including Junk/Spam folders so that you do not miss the introduction message from your Coach.
• You and your Peer Coach will work out a schedule that works for both of you. If you are communicating via phone, you and your Coach will have five conversations on the phone, usually about one hour in length, over the course of 5-6 weeks. If you are communicating via text message, you and your Coach will decide the frequency of communication and will work together for 28 days.

By participating in Coaching, you agree to the following:

• You are making a commitment to participate in the Coaching program. You can always decide that it is not right for you and stop receiving Coaching (by informing your Coach), but we ask that you value your volunteer Coach’s time and be responsive.
• You or the Partnership may end the coaching relationship at any time.
• There is no cost for this service. Peer Coaches are not therapists nor is Peer Coaching considered a substitute for therapy. Peer Coaches do not provide professional counseling or legal, financial or medical services. Neither the Peer Coach, nor the Partnership can guarantee any specific outcome for either you or your loved one. It is our sincerest hope however, that our peer-to-peer support program will be useful to you as it has been to others. To the extent permitted by law, you agree not to make any sort of legal claim against the Peer Coach, or the Partnership.
• By signing up for this service, you agree that the Peer Coach assigned to you can read your chats and other communication with the Helpline so that they can understand a little more about your situation before providing peer support.

If you feel that this is not a good time for you to commit to Coaching, you can always chose one of our other free services offered through the Partnership. Please contact our Helpline again to receive our other resources and services.

If you have any questions about the above statements, please contact our Support Services team at familysupport@drugfree.org.