Date
8-9-2026
ESRP 9000 Professor
Sandy Underhill, Ed.D.
ESRP 9001 Professor
Sandy Underhill, Ed.D.
Executive Summary
Improving Retention Through Training to Overcome Barriers with Using Peer Support Programs: A Strategic Research Project. Larry Heller, 2026: Strategic Research Project, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: Peer Recovery Supporter, Retention, Outreach
This is a mixed methods research study. This study utilized quantitative tools such as the IFE, EFE and the QSPM and qualitative literature. I conducted a SWOT analysis. We determined that the greatest need for the agency is to improve client retention. I conducted a review of the literature and learned that both individual factors and organizational factors contribute to client retention. This indicates that NORA may be able to impact organizational factors and may therefore improve client retention.
The solution we have identified to help improve client retention is to implement peer recovery support. Clients supported by peer recovery supporters show generally higher treatment retention across a variety of settings. Our selected strategy for implementation of peer recovery support programs will involve training for all staff, including all coworkers and supervisors of our peer recovery supporters. Our research findings indicate that although the difference in total TAS scores was small, the second alternative of all staff training is the more important strategy, with a total TAS score of 4.18 (see Table 11). Our expected outcome from this training is that all employees will have greater understanding of both individual and team responsibilities and will know who is doing what and why we are doing it.
Document Type
Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
College
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice
Concentration
Organizational Leadership
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Lawrence (Larry) Heller. 2026. Improving Retention Through Training to Overcome Barriers with Using Peer Support Programs: A Strategic Research Project. Capstone. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice. (509)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_srp/509.