Help Shape Florida’s Behavioral Health Workforce
Last month’s webinar, Strengthening Florida’s Behavioral Health Workforce, highlighted a major statewide effort led by the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce at USF. The initiative, created through SB 330 (2024), aims to grow, retain, and innovate Florida’s behavioral health workforce—a critical step toward closing the care gap.
Part of this work includes systematically examining certified recovery peer specialists and nontraditional behavioral health professionals. The current research project on recovery peer specialists aims to advance peer integration and promote sustainability of peer-based services. To do this FL Center on Behavioral Health Workforce will research:
But to do this, FLCBHW needs your help. To ensure this initiative truly reflects the realities of Florida’s peer workforce, the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce is launching the Florida Peer Specialist Workforce Survey—and they need the voices of peers across the state to make it count.
This short, statewide survey is designed to capture your experiences, your challenges, and your ideas as a Certified or Provisionally Certified Recovery Peer Specialist or as a supervisor of peers.
Most importantly, this research recognizes what peers already know: effective behavioral health care depends on a strong, supported peer workforce. Your lived experience, your perspective, and your frontline expertise are not only valued—they are needed to guide statewide decision-making.
And the process is simple. The survey takes about 20–30 minutes, your answers remain confidential, and you’ll receive a $25 electronic gift card as a thank-you for your time. You’ll also have the option to volunteer for a follow-up interview if you’d like to share more of your story.
Florida’s peer workforce is growing, evolving, and making a measurable impact. Your voice ensures that growth happens in the right direction.
Please take a moment to answer the survey by clicking here. Your input may help shape the future, funding, and policies impacting peer-based services.
This current statewide research into the peer workforce in part builds upon a project recently completed by FLCBHW. Researchers analyzed the many frontline professionals that round out our system of care in the Tampa Bay region. Many of these non-traditional professionals—including law enforcement, EMS, and hospital staff—are first points of contact and play vital roles in connecting individuals to care.
Click here to find out more about all of the research projects being performed by the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Center.