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Peer supporters “offer emotional support, share knowledge, teach skills, provide practical assistance, and connect people with resources, opportunities, communities of support, and other people.”
In behavioral health, peers offer their unique lived experience with mental health conditions to provide support focused on advocacy, education, mentoring, and motivation. Peer Supporters can facilitate education and support groups and help link people to services as they transition from hospitals or jails into the community. Peers can work one-on-one as role models, mentors, coaches and advocates. |
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Certified Peer Specialists
At MHATC, peer support is provided by New York State Certified Peer Specialists (CPS). A CPS models recovery, teaches skills and offers support to help people experiencing mental health challenges lead meaningful lives in the community. Peer Specialists promote recovery; enhance hope and social networking through role modeling and activation; and supplement existing treatment with education, empowerment, and aid in system navigation.
Certified Peer Specialists can do nearly everything concerning mental health from administrative tasks to crisis respite. Peer Specialists can do their work in any number of venues: hospitals, health agencies, drop in centers, and free-standing, peer-run agencies.
At MHATC, peer support is provided by New York State Certified Peer Specialists (CPS). A CPS models recovery, teaches skills and offers support to help people experiencing mental health challenges lead meaningful lives in the community. Peer Specialists promote recovery; enhance hope and social networking through role modeling and activation; and supplement existing treatment with education, empowerment, and aid in system navigation.
Certified Peer Specialists can do nearly everything concerning mental health from administrative tasks to crisis respite. Peer Specialists can do their work in any number of venues: hospitals, health agencies, drop in centers, and free-standing, peer-run agencies.
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Current Peer Led Support Groups
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NY State Peer Specialist Training
All Certified Peer Specialists in New York State need to meet specific requirements: at least 18 years of age, 18 online courses, and publicly (self-determined) acknowledgement that the individual has been in the past, or is now, using mental health services. Provisional certification as a Peer Specialist does not require having done 2000 hours of peer specialist work.
Training to be a Peer Specialist is currently available at no cost through The Academy of Peer Services.
The certification can be accomplished on your own, however, you will need a supervisor to verify your work and any hours you are stating as tasks of a Peer Specialist.
Or, you may choose to work with our Director of Peer Services at the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County.
We also have computers available and supplemental training for those seeking Peer Specialist certification on Mondays from 10 - 11 and Thursdays from 1 – 2 in our Jenkins Training an Education Center.
For more information please contact Charles Niven, LCSW at CNiven@mhaedu.org or at (607) 273-9250.
All Certified Peer Specialists in New York State need to meet specific requirements: at least 18 years of age, 18 online courses, and publicly (self-determined) acknowledgement that the individual has been in the past, or is now, using mental health services. Provisional certification as a Peer Specialist does not require having done 2000 hours of peer specialist work.
Training to be a Peer Specialist is currently available at no cost through The Academy of Peer Services.
The certification can be accomplished on your own, however, you will need a supervisor to verify your work and any hours you are stating as tasks of a Peer Specialist.
Or, you may choose to work with our Director of Peer Services at the Mental Health Association in Tompkins County.
We also have computers available and supplemental training for those seeking Peer Specialist certification on Mondays from 10 - 11 and Thursdays from 1 – 2 in our Jenkins Training an Education Center.
For more information please contact Charles Niven, LCSW at CNiven@mhaedu.org or at (607) 273-9250.
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