Where do Peer Providers Fit into Newly Integrated Mental Health and Primary Care Teams? A Mixed Method Study.

Little is known about the involvement of peer providers in integrated behavioral health teams. This study asks where peer providers fit within integrated care teams in Los Angeles County. Social network analysis combined with qualitative fieldwork was used to understand the network positions of peer providers in 14 integrated pilot programs. Four programs' peer providers were highly central, while 3 programs' were on the network's periphery. Positional variation appeared to be related to the peers' mental health status. Targeted efforts are needed to support the implementation of peer providers on integrated teams at the program and system levels.