House Human Services hears bill to certify family peer support specialists

Representative S. J. Howell, sponsor of House Bill 76, told the House Human Services Committee that the bill would establish a certified family peer support system to help families of children and youth with special health-care needs navigate hospitals, schools, juvenile justice, and other child-serving systems. "House Bill 76 is a bill to create a certified family peer support system," Howell said as she opened the hearing.

Proponents described family peer supporters as trained parents or caregivers with lived experience who work directly with caregivers (not the child) to provide empathetic listening, connections to resources, and guidance through complex systems. Beth Ayers of Montana's Peer Network said the group's DPHHS-funded pilot produced strong self-reported results: "92% of families surveyed felt the quality of their family's life had improved," and "86% felt that the quality of their child's care had improved." Ayers…