Invite to Qualifying Paper Defense: Sarah Porter, December 2, 1PM PST on Zoom or Room 253C in Research Commons

MSW students, please see your invite from Shirley Chu (Assistant Director to the PhD Social Welfare Program) below:

Hi SSW Community- Hope you are safe and well. I would like to invite you to attend our doctoral student, Sarah Porter’s qualifying paper defense on Monday, December 2 at 1pm on Zoom [https://washington.zoom.us/j/94338125711 ] and in IEP Classroom in Research Commons (Room 253C).

Time:

Monday, December 2, 2024, at 1PM PST.

Title:

Peering into Mental Health Crisis Workforce Roles: An Analysis of Lived Experience(s) in State-level 988 Legislations

Location: Hybrid

Zoom Link:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/94338125711

Room:

IEP Classroom in Research Commons (Room 253C)

Abstract:

This study examines the integration and conceptualization of peer workforce roles within state-level National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020 (988) legislation, a policy effort aimed at reshaping the U.S. mental health crisis response continuum. The peer movement, rooted in grassroots advocacy and community-based support in the 1950s, has historically provided relational, non-coercive care among individuals with shared lived experiences. However, its expansion into formalized workforce roles within crisis systems represents a significant shift in the evolution of mental health support. This policy movement stems from growing recognition of punitive and medicalized crisis interventions—particularly impacting intentionally oppressed communities—in the current 911 system.

Using adaptations of the Narrative Policy Framework and Policy Diffusion Theory, we analyzed legislation from 26 states that have enacted 988 laws between 2020 and April 2023, identifying those that reference peer workers and exploring variations in the qualifications, roles, and settings assigned to these workers. Our findings reveal significant diversity in how peer roles are conceptualized in interdisciplinary crisis response settings. This study highlights the critical tension between the professionalization of peers and the preservation of peer-led, relational approaches that center a service user’s autonomy. We argue that as states continue to build out their crisis response systems, it is essential to create policies that honor the core values of peer support while ensuring equitable inclusion and advancement of peer workers’ lived experiences in the mental health workforce. 

Congratulations to Sarah Porter in reaching this milestone in the PhD Program!

Comments