Introducing the First-of-its-Kind Peer Support Specialist Program!

I AM ALS is proud to launch the first national peer support specialist program. In recognition of caregivers as a critical audience, the launch coincides with National Family Caregiver Month and the November 2024 #CallingAllCaregivers campaign.

Who are Peer Support Specialists?

Peer Support Specialists are people impacted by ALS who are trained to provide 1:1 client support to peers who are impacted by the disease, share information, facilitate referrals, provide emotional support, and more. Drawing from the success of crisis support, cancer and diabetes interventions, and various other volunteer case management models, the training program was designed thoughtfully over the course of the year. 

This new program is the latest addition to I AM ALS’s Peer Initiatives. The Peer Mentor Program, launched in 2020, has been a remarkable success in connecting people impacted by ALS to each other for emotional and social support.

Fostering Collaboration Across the Neurodegenerative Disease Community 

With caregiving as a global disease-agnostic experience impacting 1 in 4 Americans, the organization’s cross-neurodegenerative coalition, the Cures Collective, is also coming together to participate in the campaign for National Family Caregivers Month. The Collective represents more than 50 organizations in ALS, Parkinson’s, Frontotemporal dementia, Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and more. Learn more about the Cures Collective here.

Recognizing the Value of Community + Volunteer Expertise

Peer Support Specialists are people impacted by ALS who are trained to provide 1:1 client support to peers who are impacted by the disease, share information, facilitate referrals, provide emotional support, and more. Drawing from the success of crisis support, cancer and diabetes interventions, and various other volunteer case management models, the training program was designed thoughtfully over the course of the year. 

Scroll down to learn more about how to become a Peer Support Specialist.

More about Peer Support at I AM ALS

Be part of a support team.

You can make a huge difference to another person impacted by ALS. Peer Support at I AM ALS recognizes that you are the experts in ALS. Our goal is to make sure that no person living with ALS, caregivers, loved ones or gene carriers feels alone when navigating this disease.

So what’s next? We’ve outlined the steps below.

1. Determine if you want to be a peer mentor or a peer support specialist (see table 1).
2. Apply to become a mentor, or email gethelp@iamals.org if you are interested in becoming a peer support specialist.
3. Complete the required training and forms
4. Start supporting people living with ALS, caregivers, loved ones and gene carriers!