Volunteers are vital to the success of Iowa’s peer-run programs and organizations. They are involved in all aspects of their organizations, from serving on boards to supporting other peers in their recovery to educating policymakers on the benefits of peer services and support. They often share their own experiences and do provide real-life examples of successful recovery. Therefore, it is crucial to understand ways to recognize and retain peer volunteers.

There is a robust research literature on strategies to retain volunteers in general; however, we couldn’t find any research on how organizations recognize the contributions of peer volunteers. Recently, we surveyed peer support employees and volunteers in Iowa. Here, we’ll share what we learned from 21 peer volunteers who completed the survey. Most peers (71.4%) volunteered at peer-run programs. We asked them two open-ended questions: “How does your organization or supervisor recognize your contributions?” and “How would you like your organization or supervisor to recognize your contributions?”

How Organizations Recognize Peer Volunteers

Peer volunteers reported five ways in which they were recognized. They: 
•    Provided me with positive verbal feedback or encouragement in one-to-one interactions
•    Said thank you to me
•    Gave me a thank you card or gift
•    Recognized my contribution publicly—at meetings, events, or in newsletters
•    Provided me with opportunities for professional development
One volunteer reported receiving an award, while four others wrote that their contributions were not recognized.

How Peer Volunteers Want to Be Recognized

When we asked them how they would like their organizations or supervisors to recognize their contributions, six volunteers said some version of ‘keep doing what you’ve been doing!’ Or, ‘do more of what you are doing.’ Several volunteers suggested their organizations do one or more things in the bulleted list (above) and added a few more ways to recognize peer volunteers:
•    Recognize my contribution on social media.
•    Foster a culture where all colleagues regularly recognize each other’s contributions.
One volunteer pointed out that providing specific feedback was most meaningful: “Firstly, acknowledgment of my contributions during team meetings or through personal feedback sessions would be meaningful, highlighting specific instances where my support has made a positive impact on individuals or the team.”

Peer volunteers also wrote that it was important to provide opportunities to:
•    Take on more responsibility, act more autonomously, or use their peer support skills
•    Grow professionally, including offering “training sessions or workshops to enhance our skills and knowledge in peer support.”