Iowa Health and Human Services awarded a contract to the University of Iowa National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice (UI-NRC) in the School of Social Work to provide comprehensive training for Iowa’s peer workforce. The project provides training for peer support specialists, family peer support specialists, and recovery coaches to grow the workforce and organizations that employ peers. 

The partnership also provides technical assistance to agencies and organizations across Iowa that have a peer workforce. This partnership will be called the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative (IPWC) and is made possible through funding from Iowa Health and Human Services through its contract with the University of Iowa National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice (UI-NRC) for Peer Support and Recovery Coach Training and Coordination (MHDS 21-013).

News and Announcements

Shifts in Iowa’s Peer Workforce Amid Integrated Health Home Closure

Thursday, January 8, 2026
In 2025, Iowa began a major system realignment. Given the scale of this transition and the important role of peer professionals in behavioral health, understanding workforce changes is essential. In this research brief, Katelyn Akright describes changes in the number, type, and location of employed peer professionals between 2024 and 2025, using the Iowa Peer Support Inventory (PSI). She considers both statewide trends and regional variation, as well as shifts in the types of employed peer professionals (PSS, FPSS, and RC) across Iowa.

Recovery Coach Team ADDS Strength to Behavioral Health Services in Southeast Iowa

Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Peer Recovery Coaches from Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services (ADDS) of Southeast Iowa are expanding peer support services throughout Des Moines, Henry, Lee, and Lousia counties.

Study Looks at Factors Related to Emotional Exhaustion in Peer Workforce

Thursday, October 9, 2025
In a recent study, the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative (IPWC) found that work overload, less autonomy and fewer promotional opportunities are related to emotional exhaustion in Iowa's peer support workforce.

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To join the Iowa Peer Workforce Collaborative email list and be notified of trainings and events, please send a request with your contact information to: IowaPeerSupportTraining@uiowa.edu