October 2026
Family and youth peer support services are a well-established component of children’s behavioral health services in many states. Our 2026 report, "I've Been There": How Connecticut Can Expand Family and Youth Peer Support Services, provides a comprehensive overview of Connecticut's family and youth peer support landscape and explores what it would take to integrate and expand these services across the state's children's behavioral health system.
This fact sheet summarizes key facts and findings from the report. Examples of how it can be used include:
- Inform policy and budget decisions: Use it as a briefing document or source of accurate figures for meetings, hearings, and testimony on peer support funding and workforce.
- Guide practice and program planning: Use it to understand where family and youth peer support fits into care, build peer partnerships, and spot service gaps.
- Align advocacy and partnerships: Use it for shared talking points, grant proposals, and outreach so everyone is working from the same facts.
This report was developed in collaboration with the Children's Behavioral Health Implementation Advisory Board, with funding from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.