Casey House’s peer program integrates people with lived experience as part of our hospital’s interdisciplinary clinical team. Peers bridge the gap between community needs and clinical services by drawing from their own personal experiences to support clients. The program aims to meaningfully assist clients, develop personal and professional growth for peers, and to acknowledge the valued expertise of people with lived experience,. Working in collaboration with peers is an important aspect of Casey House’s commitment to the greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS and meaningful engagement of people living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA/MEPA).
Becoming a peer
Prospective peers must share at least one aspect of our clients’ lives, such as living with HIV, experience with substance use, mental health management, or other barriers to accessing health care, and be ready to support other folks in their journey. Many peers begin as Casey House clients, who hear about the program or interact with peers directly. Interested community members fill out an application and go through an interview process to share more about their interests, lived experience, and motivation to do peer work. Successful applicants do not have to be “perfect applicants”, as the peer program is designed to be mutually beneficial for Casey House and the peer to grow through hands-on experience during the two-year program.
Next, the onboarding process includes two full days of in-person training, online training, and shadowing with an experienced peer. Teachings include Casey House’s missions and values, service offerings, client engagement, harm reduction, active listening, multiple loss journey, and client privacy.
What do peers do?
Peers work all throughout the hospital for personal appointments or in group settings like the lunch program.
Outpatient: Peers can be found as soon as a community member walks through the doors at Casey House. They welcome people, conduct tours, outline Casey House’s services, and check in with people relaxing in the June Callwood den, which has a hot beverage and snack station. For people visiting for the first time, it helps to have a friendly face welcome them. And, for returning clients, peers touch base with them about their personal lives and health goals.
For people accessing the weekday lunch service, peers welcome them in and connect one-on-one. This is an opportunity for prospective clients to learn more about our clinical services, how to become a client, and even be introduced to some of the clinicians who are present during lunch. For community members interested in becoming a client, peers assist them as they fill out the paperwork. This guided procedure helps to take away some of the stress that comes when entering an unfamiliar health care facility.
At the supervised consumption services (SCS), harm reduction peers can be found in the SCS lounge, where clients who have used their substance can relax and enjoy snacks. They monitor clients for adverse reactions or overdose and build rapport over time. Grounded in their lived experience, peers provide judgement-free care for clients no matter their life circumstances.
Inpatient: For clients admitted to our inpatient unit, peers provide friendly visits and a social connection. Peers work in tandem with a client’s clinical care team to learn more about what they are going through and what support they may need. They may listen to their feelings, play games, go for a walk together, or even accompany them to an external medical appointment. Scheduled meetings with a peer can be comforting when a client is admitted to the inpatient unit for extended periods of time.
Blue Door Clinic: Peers anticipating a new Blue Door Clinic client will welcome them into Casey House, orient them to the space, and get them checked in. They go over what to expect in the appointment and help the client feel more at ease. They learn about what additional social assistance services the clients may need. In some cases, peers will accompany clients to the appointment and translate between the client and the provider.
Accompaniments: Across the different streams of care, peers can accompany clients offsite to different clinical and non-clinical appointments as their advocate. A client may have experienced stigma and discrimination in medical settings, so the support of a peer can make accessing care feel safer. Peers accompany clients to appointments and ask questions, take notes, and make sure the client’s needs are met. For clients whose primary language is not English, they feel confident with the peer’s translation, as it comes from someone they know and trust. Peers can also help clients navigate social services, such as government identification clinics or food banks. This can decrease anxiety for people accessing crucial services outside of Casey House.
The impact of the peer program
Peers provide an additional layer of client care grounded in lived experience, empathy, and trust. Clients can show up authentically when they know they have a peer who advocates for their needs, demonstrates understanding, and offers mutual respect. Clients frequently express how meaningful connection and support from peers are. Peers spend additional time with each client, gradually tailoring the relationship to a much more detailed level of care that traditional health care providers often cannot offer. In the case of translation, having culturally accessible care is essential for client comfort, particularly for clients who have endured discrimination and stigma, having a peer guiding them through the health care system can be a healing experience that restores their resiliency.
Peers often express a sense of fulfillment and purpose derived from peer work. Practically, the peer program also provides an opportunity for people to build skills applicable to social service work and health care positions later.
“A client came to the Blue Door Clinic for the first time and was supported by a peer with similar lived experience who spoke the same language as him. The client was so happy and grateful for the tailored support the peer provided. He shared he had never felt so supported and safe in a health care setting. The client and peer then had lunch together at Casey House, and I witnessed the way they interacted with each other, with such attention and care. To me, this really highlights the innate care the peers possess and how it translates into every interaction with clients.”
— Sofia, peer program coordinator.
Ultimately, the peer program is a ground-breaking approach to care that focuses on the holistic elements of health care. Peers and clients develop a relationship grounded in humanity and respect. The peer-client relationship produces better health outcomes that empower clients in the process. Casey House is grateful for the skills, expertise, and time that peers commit to clients so that they can feel safer and seen.
March 5, 2026
The peer program at Casey House
Casey House’s peer program integrates people with lived experience as part of our hospital’s interdisciplinary clinical team. Peers bridge the gap between community needs and clinical services by drawing from their own personal experiences to support clients. The program aims to meaningfully assist clients, develop personal and professional growth for peers, and to acknowledge the valued expertise of people with lived experience,. Working in collaboration with peers is an important aspect of Casey House’s commitment to the greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS and meaningful engagement of people living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA/MEPA).
Becoming a peer
Prospective peers must share at least one aspect of our clients’ lives, such as living with HIV, experience with substance use, mental health management, or other barriers to accessing health care, and be ready to support other folks in their journey. Many peers begin as Casey House clients, who hear about the program or interact with peers directly. Interested community members fill out an application and go through an interview process to share more about their interests, lived experience, and motivation to do peer work. Successful applicants do not have to be “perfect applicants”, as the peer program is designed to be mutually beneficial for Casey House and the peer to grow through hands-on experience during the two-year program.
Next, the onboarding process includes two full days of in-person training, online training, and shadowing with an experienced peer. Teachings include Casey House’s missions and values, service offerings, client engagement, harm reduction, active listening, multiple loss journey, and client privacy.
What do peers do?
Peers work all throughout the hospital for personal appointments or in group settings like the lunch program.
Outpatient: Peers can be found as soon as a community member walks through the doors at Casey House. They welcome people, conduct tours, outline Casey House’s services, and check in with people relaxing in the June Callwood den, which has a hot beverage and snack station. For people visiting for the first time, it helps to have a friendly face welcome them. And, for returning clients, peers touch base with them about their personal lives and health goals.
For people accessing the weekday lunch service, peers welcome them in and connect one-on-one. This is an opportunity for prospective clients to learn more about our clinical services, how to become a client, and even be introduced to some of the clinicians who are present during lunch. For community members interested in becoming a client, peers assist them as they fill out the paperwork. This guided procedure helps to take away some of the stress that comes when entering an unfamiliar health care facility.
At the supervised consumption services (SCS), harm reduction peers can be found in the SCS lounge, where clients who have used their substance can relax and enjoy snacks. They monitor clients for adverse reactions or overdose and build rapport over time. Grounded in their lived experience, peers provide judgement-free care for clients no matter their life circumstances.
Inpatient: For clients admitted to our inpatient unit, peers provide friendly visits and a social connection. Peers work in tandem with a client’s clinical care team to learn more about what they are going through and what support they may need. They may listen to their feelings, play games, go for a walk together, or even accompany them to an external medical appointment. Scheduled meetings with a peer can be comforting when a client is admitted to the inpatient unit for extended periods of time.
Blue Door Clinic: Peers anticipating a new Blue Door Clinic client will welcome them into Casey House, orient them to the space, and get them checked in. They go over what to expect in the appointment and help the client feel more at ease. They learn about what additional social assistance services the clients may need. In some cases, peers will accompany clients to the appointment and translate between the client and the provider.
Accompaniments: Across the different streams of care, peers can accompany clients offsite to different clinical and non-clinical appointments as their advocate. A client may have experienced stigma and discrimination in medical settings, so the support of a peer can make accessing care feel safer. Peers accompany clients to appointments and ask questions, take notes, and make sure the client’s needs are met. For clients whose primary language is not English, they feel confident with the peer’s translation, as it comes from someone they know and trust. Peers can also help clients navigate social services, such as government identification clinics or food banks. This can decrease anxiety for people accessing crucial services outside of Casey House.
The impact of the peer program
Peers provide an additional layer of client care grounded in lived experience, empathy, and trust. Clients can show up authentically when they know they have a peer who advocates for their needs, demonstrates understanding, and offers mutual respect. Clients frequently express how meaningful connection and support from peers are. Peers spend additional time with each client, gradually tailoring the relationship to a much more detailed level of care that traditional health care providers often cannot offer. In the case of translation, having culturally accessible care is essential for client comfort, particularly for clients who have endured discrimination and stigma, having a peer guiding them through the health care system can be a healing experience that restores their resiliency.
Peers often express a sense of fulfillment and purpose derived from peer work. Practically, the peer program also provides an opportunity for people to build skills applicable to social service work and health care positions later.
“A client came to the Blue Door Clinic for the first time and was supported by a peer with similar lived experience who spoke the same language as him. The client was so happy and grateful for the tailored support the peer provided. He shared he had never felt so supported and safe in a health care setting. The client and peer then had lunch together at Casey House, and I witnessed the way they interacted with each other, with such attention and care. To me, this really highlights the innate care the peers possess and how it translates into every interaction with clients.”
— Sofia, peer program coordinator.
Ultimately, the peer program is a ground-breaking approach to care that focuses on the holistic elements of health care. Peers and clients develop a relationship grounded in humanity and respect. The peer-client relationship produces better health outcomes that empower clients in the process. Casey House is grateful for the skills, expertise, and time that peers commit to clients so that they can feel safer and seen.
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