Provincial Systems Resource Hub

Peer Support, Engagement & Co-Design Resources

This resource collection brings together practical tools, guides, best-practice documents, and learning resources that support peer support, engagement, and co-design.

Resources include materials developed by the Centre for Innovation in Peer Support, as well as selected external resources that align with peer support values, lived and living experience leadership, and emerging best practices. Together, these resources support individuals, organizations, communities, and service systems to strengthen practice, build capacity, and promote meaningful involvement.

Select a resource below to download.

Tools for the Practice of Peer Support

THE CENTRE

• Welcome to the Centre for Innovation in Peer Support E-learning module

GUIDING STANDARDS

• Guiding Standards of Peer Support Handout (from Mental Health Commission of Canada, Peer Support Canada & Centre for Innovation in Peer Support)
• Guiding Standards of Peer Support E-learning module

PEER SUPPORT & THE SYSTEM

• An Overview of Mental Health & Addictions Care Professionals in Ontario
• Peer Support and Ontario Program Standards
• The History of Mental Health & Addiction Peer Support – A Canadian Context
• Understanding Peer Support – A Proposed Core Service in Ontario
• Understanding the Peer Role

PROVIDING PEER SUPPORT

• CHIME Recovery Processes
• Compassionate Language for Mental Health and Substance Use (EN FR)
• Connecting to Community Resources
• DEBORAH Goal Setting Model
• Developing Your Resilience Stories Toolkit
• Distress & Crisis Supports
• Empathetic Communication Toolkit (EN FR)
• Ethically Navigating Boundaries in Peer Support
• Peer Support Documentation Guidelines
• Peer Support Examining Bias Toolkit (EN FR)
• Stages of Peer Support Relationships
• The Relationship to Lived Experience Spectrum (EN FR)
• Wellness Plan Template (EN FR)
• Peer Support Canada: National Peer Support Certification Handbook (external resource)

GROUP FACILITATION

• Group Facilitation Toolkit

PEER SUPPORT INTERNSHIP

• Peer Support Internship Toolkit
• Internship Debrief Template
• Internship Self-Reflection Tool
• Internship Staffing & Role Descriptions and Host Checklist

PREPARING FOR EMPLOYMENT & PEER SUPPORT CERTIFICATION (NEW!)

• Preparing for Employment & Peer Support Certification: A Reflective Practice & Readiness Toolkit
• Worksheet 1 – Core Values
• Worksheet 2 – Principles of Practice in Action
• Worksheet 3 – Lived Living Experience
• Worksheet 4 – Code of Conduct & Ethical Practice
• Worksheet 5 – Knowledge Standards in Peer Support
• Worksheet 6 – Acquired Experience & Applying Peer Support in Practice
• Worksheet 7 – Preparing for Certification
• National Peer Supporter Certification Handbook (external resource)

WORKPLACE WELLNESS

• Supporting our Wellness in the Workplace (EN FR)
• Professional Quality of Life Survey (external resource)
• National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health & Safety in the Workplace (external resource)

IMPLEMENTATION

• Peer Support Hiring Guide
• Peer Staff Job Description
• Peer Support Implementation Toolkit
• Supervising Peer Workers: A Toolkit for Implementing and Supporting Successful Peer Staff Roles in Mainstream Mental Health and Substance Use/Addiction Organizations
• MHCC Guidelines for the Practice and Training of Peer Support (external resource)
• ImROC Peer Support Workers: A Practical Guide To Implementation (external resource)

EVIDENCE & RESEARCH OF PEER SUPPORT

• Evidence of Peer Support infographic
• Evidence Brief: Core Elements Peer Support
• The Value of Peer Support – CMHA Waterloo Wellington (external resource)
• Best Practices Peer Support AMHO 2014 (external resource)
• Making the Case for Peer Support (2016) (external resource)
• Ontario Roadmap to Wellness (external resource)

THE PEER SUPPORT INTEGRITY, QUALITY AND IMPACT TOOL

The Peer Support Integrity, Quality and Impact package consists of 4 documents:

• Survey and User’s Manual to help you get the process started and learn how to organize and analyze the data you collect
• Survey on its own in PDF format
• Agency Cover Letter in word format, customizable to the needs and timelines of your organization and
• Demographic Questions in word format also customizable

We ask for your support in ensuring all surveys handed out have the copyright with logos intact.

Engagement, Co-design & Partnership with Lived Experience, and/or Family/Caregivers

• Preparing to Share your Personal Journey Workbook
• Modernization and Disruption: Driving Positive Change by Co-Design – Minister’s Patient and Family Advisory Council Annual Report 2024-25 (external resource) EN  FR
• Ontario Health Teams Patient, Family and Caregiver Partnership and Engagement Strategy: Guidance Document (external resource)
• Patient, Family and Caregiver Declaration of Values for Ontario (external resource)
• Engage with Impact Toolkit (external resource)
• Ontario Health (Health Quality Ontario) – Ontario’s Patient Engagement Framework (external resource)
• RISE: Rapid-Improvement Support and Exchange (external resource)