Section I: Characteristics of All Peer Respites:
1. All people in paid roles at the respite (including all those who are in direct leadership) identify as having personal experience with life-interrupting emotional distress and other significant life challenges and are willing to share some of that experience with others as a part of their work.
2. The respite’s philosophy is rooted in the idea that crisis can be a learning opportunity.
3. Focus is on values and personal responsibility rather than on assessment and risk.
4. The respite’s philosophy is rooted in values such as self-determination, mutuality and the belief that healing and growth are possible for all.
5. “Illness” is not assumed and a wide variety of ways of making meaning of distress and various unusual or difficult experiences are welcomed and may be openly discussed.
6. Routine person-specific paperwork is minimal and, where it exists, led largely by the individual seeking support.
7. Individuals working or volunteering at the respite are supported (through training, team work, co-reflection, etc.) to come from a peer-to-peer perspective.
8. Language used by people working or volunteering in the respite (and on any related paperwork) is non-clinical, everyday language that is inclusive and leaves space for a variety of perspectives.
9. There is no routine focus on psychiatric diagnosis, and it is only discussed when meaningful to a particular person or conversation.
10. There is an openness to discuss any and all healing paths and no one path (including psychiatric medications) is assumed to be the right (or wrong) one for any particular person.
11. People staying at the respite are supported to keep connected (or get connected) to their chosen family, friends and/or any providers/supporters as they desire.
12. There are no restrictions on coming and going freely from the respite (with the exception of limitations on how long someone can be gone from the respite before they lose their spot).
13. There is no required schedule of groups, bed/wake times, etc., and individuals staying at the respite take the lead in designing their stay in the way that will be most helpful to them.
14. There is openness to the idea that what often gets called a “symptom” (e.g., self-injury, etc.) can be a way of coping with difficult life experiences.
15. Avoiding the use of force (calling emergency services or police against someone’s will, etc.) is a priority, and there’s a process in place for internal review and learning should force ever be used.
16. There is an emphasis on not talking about people without them present (even when releases have been signed legally enabling someone working at the respite to do so).
17. Tasks that are likely to create or enhance power imbalances (such as handling medications or money) are avoided.
18. “Staff only” areas are minimized or eliminated altogether.
Section II: Characteristics of Fully Peer-Run Respites:
In order to qualify as a “full peer respite,” the following terms must be met, in addition to all the peer respite characteristics listed in Section I:
1. Functions independently or as a part of a larger non-clinical organization.
2. Exists in a house, apartment or other homelike space, and not in a medical building or other structure that is simultaneously being used for clinical or other purposes that would represent a potential conflict with the mission of the respite.
3. The design of the organizational Board of Directors and any other advisory boards includes a commitment to having a majority of appointees who have personal experience with psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, addictions, homelessness, and other significant life challenges.
4. There is no requirement that someone be receiving any other particular services (at a particular agency, through a state Department of Mental Health, etc.) in order to access the respite.
5. There is no formal clinical involvement, including no clinical assessments required in order to access the respite.
Section III: Characteristics of Hybrid Peer Respites:
Hybrid Peer Respites have all the qualities and characteristics listed in Section I, but do not meet one or more of the characteristics listed in Section II.
Section IV: Characteristics of Peer- Integrated Respites:
Peer-Integrated respites are not technically “peer respites.” However, they may nonetheless meet all the qualities listed in section I, with the following exception:
While most people employed to work at the respite identify openly as having personal experience with psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, etc., the design does not require people in leadership roles (and possibly others) to have and/or share personal experiences themselves.
Read more about the Peer Respite Charter in The Peer Respite Handbook