How can we benefit if we already have a peer support program?

We recognize that organizations may have peer supporters and/or peer support programs in place and that’s great. Our program may or may not be a fit. We highly recommend you ask the following questions: 1) What training have our peer supporters had? 2) Do we evaluate the readiness of someone to be a peer supporter? 3) Do our peer supporters have mentors? 4) Is our organization well equipped to manage the well-being of peer supporters? 5) Would our peer supporters benefit by belonging to a community of others?

Can any person with lived-experience be a peer supporter?

No. Not all people with lived experience are well suited to be peer supporters. Some may never be a good fit for the role while others will eventually be a good fit. That’s why our application process includes self-evaluation, interviews, and references. It is critical that peer supporters be in the appropriate state of readiness before stepping into the role. Important for their well-being and important for the well-being of the person they will support.

Why is it called 'ethical' peer support?

Adjective - eth·i·cal: conforming to accepted standards of conduct. We felt it captured the essence of what we wish to achieve and that is that peer support programs in organizations adhere to a standard of practice that is beneficial to the peer and the peer supporter.

How many people will be accepted into a cohort?

We will accept 10 - 14 people per cohort.

How do I find out when new cohorts are starting?

We will post a calendar on this page.

I have a few questions - who can I talk to?

There is a lot to this program and we welcome you to contact us at EPS@voicefound.ca and someone will get back to you and schedule a call.

How do I get access to the material? And when are the live classes?

You will be provided with a link to the virtual classroom. On the start date of your cohort, you will be able to access the first module. You will have a week to complete it. The next week, you will attend a live virtual classroom with other students in your cohort (class). You will spend the time discussing what you learned and then will be provided access to the next module. This is repeated till the end of the course.

How much time does it take to complete a module?

It really depends on the person but we say to set aside 2 - 3 hours. There is some homework and journaling.

Ethical Peer Support™

Lived experience deserves more than good intentions

Across Canada, organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of peer support and lived experience. Yet too often, peer roles are introduced without the training, supervision, ethical guidance, or organizational structures needed for people to succeed.

Voice Found developed Ethical Peer Support™ to change that.

Grounded in research, lived experience, and 15 years of frontline practice, Ethical Peer Support™ provides organizations with the knowledge, tools, and implementation supports needed to integrate peer support safely, ethically, and sustainably.

We are currently offering workshops for organizations in Ontario at no cost thanks to generous funding from Women’s Economic Leadership and Legacy fund(WELL) through Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services. Click here for more information and to register.

Two Solutions. One Ethical Framework

Whether your organization supports survivors of human trafficking or individuals experiencing other forms of trauma, Ethical Peer Support™ provides structured, evidence-informed training designed to integrate lived experience safely and ethically.

Ethical Peer Support™ Foundations

Designed for organizations supporting people affected by trauma, substance use, mental health challenges, gender-based violence, justice involvement, and other complex life experiences.

Ideal for:

Mental health services
Substance use and recovery
Community services
Gender Based Violence programs and shelters
Outreach and community services
Justice and correction systems

Contact eps@voicefound.ca

Ethical Peer Support™ For Human Trafficking

Developed specifically for organizations supporting survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Includes:

Specialized human trafficking content
Survivor-led practice
Organizational readiness
Supervision framework
Ethical implementation

Available Two Ways:

Join the funded Ethical Peer Support™ Pathways project (for Ontario based organizations only)
Purchase stand-alone training.

Program Benefits

Lived experience brings invaluable knowledge to peer support. Training helps people use that knowledge intentionally, ethically and sustainably.

10 things Ethical Peer Support™ builds

Why Ethical Peer Support™

Organizations increasingly recognize the value of lived experience, but good intentions alone are not enough. Without clear role definitions, ethical boundaries, supervision, and organizational readiness, peer support can unintentionally place both peer supporters and the people they serve at risk.

Ethical Peer Support™ was developed to address these challenges by combining:

Structured training
Supervisor preparation
Organizational readiness
Practical implementation guidance
Research-informed best practices

Why Voice Found?

Ethical Peer Support™ wasn’t developed in theory.

It was developed through years of survivor-led practice, national research, implementation, and evaluation alongside organizations across Canada.

Today, Voice Found is helping shape how organizations integrate lived-experience ethically, sustainably, and with meaningful support for peer supporters themselves.

Building stronger organizations starts with supporting stronger peer roles.

Whether you’re beginning your peer support journey or strengthening an existing program, Ethical Peer Support™ provides the framework to integrate lived experience ethically, confidently, and sustainably

Explore the training that’s right for your organization.

We are currently offering workshops for organizations in Ontario at no cost thanks to generous funding from Women’s Economic Leadership and Legacy fund(WELL) through Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services. Click here for more information and to register.

FAQ’S

We recognize that organizations may have peer supporters and/or peer support programs in place and that’s great. Our program may or may not be a good fit. We highly recommend you ask the following questions; 1) What training have our peer supporters had? 2) Do we evaluate the readiness of someone to be a peer supporter? 3) Is our organization well equipped to manage the well-being of peer supporters? 4) Would our peer supporters benefit by belong to a community of practice? 5) Have we built a solid and sustainable foundation for our peer support program?
Adjective - eth·i·cal : conforming to accepted standards of conduct.
We felt it captured the essence of what we wish to achieve and that is that peer support programs in organizations adhere to a standard of practice that is beneficial to the peer and the peer supporter.
We welcome you to contact us at EPS@voicefound.ca and we will answer any questions you might have.

Testimonial

“As a survivor of human trafficking, who is now in a position to be a support to others, I feel that this HT specific Peer Support training is absolutely imperative.

While going through this program, I was able to write out my thoughts and feelings about each module and reflect on what I wish I knew back then, what I know now, and what I felt I needed when I was at that low point in my life. I thought about how often I had wished that there had been more folks with that shared lived experience of being trafficked, to walk beside me in my early journey of healing and finding my own voice, to show me that healing WAS possible, that I wasn't alone, that I was believed, and that I was worthy.

In order to assist survivors as a peer supporter, we must understand what it means to have been trafficked. Although our stories may be vastly different from one another, we all share in the passion to be there for others who are where we once were.

This program is in-depth and informative, while also showing just how necessary it is to go into so much detail.

There is ample opportunity throughout the program to journal and write about different topics in the modules, as well as the opportunity to debrief these thoughts as a group and to work through them together.”