Family and youth peer support is an important component of the Care Management Entity (CME) approach. These supports play an essential role in helping to build the resiliency of caregivers and youth and strengthen the capacity of families to care for children at home. Family and youth peer support providers are integral to teams serving children and youth with behavioral health challenges and their families, and they are distinct from traditional mental health service providers in that they operate out of their personal experience and knowledge.
Strategies for funding formal family and youth peer support exist in states across the country. The following chart draws from a national point-in-time scan of states that are using Medicaid to finance family and youth peer support efforts. The information is meant to guide states that are exploring models of family and youth peer support and/or seeking to learn more about financing strategies to help ensure sustainability of these services.