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Peer assistance referrals rise; Texas peer assistance program for nurses adds outreach position
Summary
TPAP reported referrals rose to 176 and total cases increased to 635. Staff announced a new outreach and peer support specialist position to expand volunteer peer-support partners; funding is primarily from board renewal-fee surcharges.
At the Jan. 30 meeting the Texas Board of Nursing received its quarterly report on the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAP). Britney, the program’s presenter, said referrals for the reported quarter totaled 176, up from 118 the previous quarter, and that overall active cases rose to 635 from 603. The program is tracking increasing demand and is engaging subject‑matter experts to refine an individualized treatment and monitoring matrix for participant care.
TPAP announced creation of a full-time outreach and peer support specialist role to strengthen the volunteer peer‑support partner network and boost community outreach to employers and academic partners. The presenter said the program is a nonprofit but receives most of its operating funding from board renewal fees via a surcharge; limited external fundraising has occurred through the Texas Nurses Foundation and similar avenues but has not been a major revenue source.
Board members asked about metrics (for example, whether TPAP tracks participants as a percentage of licensed nurses in Texas). Britney said TPAP has the capacity to compute such a percentage and will explore adding it to routine reporting. Members also asked about budgetary flexibility should the program ask for additional ongoing funds; staff confirmed an exceptional item in the agency LAR captures a request for additional TPAP support and that staff will testify before budget committees in February.
Board members praised the program’s outreach work and its growth in participation.
