Peer Support: State Credentials, Continuing Education and Recruitment and Retention Strategies.
Channel: Rita Cronise
Date: 08/02/2020

Handout: 
https://virtualcommunityblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/rutgers-handout-for-national-council-webinar-020620.pdf  

Description: 
In this webinar, Rutgers faculty members Amy Spagnolo and Rita Cronise talk about peer support services both in behavioral health and peer-run organizations, funding sources, and how funding has determined the differences in peer certification in each of the 50 states. In addition to certification, they describe using requirements for continuing education as rungs on a academic career ladder either toward a first career or in career advancement. Two fully online programs were highlighted in the program: (1) an Undergraduate Certificate in Peer Support that provides support for local placement in a work related practicum that is supported by supervision and course faculty, and (2) a Masters in Health Care Management with a focus on Behavioral Health that is an ideal program for those seeking to become qualified as supervisors of peer support specialists. Finally, strategies for recruitment and retention of peer support specialists were discussed. Resources for all of the topics are available in the webinar handout (above). Slides for the webinar and additional information about the Academy of Peer Services and Virtual Learning Community are provided below. 

Webinar Slides: 
https://virtualcommunityblog.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/rutgers-slides-for-national-council-webinar-020620.pdf 

Academy of Peer Services and Virtual Learning Community

During the webinar, Rita Cronise mentioned the Academy of Peer Services, which is the online, on-demand training and testing platform used as a first step in the certification of Medicaid billable peer support services in New York State. The courses range from 2-5 hours in length, they are free of charge, and even though they were created specifically for the certification of peer specialist in New York, anyone anywhere with an interest in peer support and an internet connection can access the courses. We especially encourage supervisors who want to learn more about peer support to learn about the history, the values, and the attitudes, skills, and knowledge that are fundamental to peer support. 

https://www.academyofpeerservices.org

The Academy Virtual Learning Community is a companion site that was developed to bridge the gap between online learning and practical application by brining together communities of practice. The site includes a Job Bank, Calendar, Research Opportunities, and Resources, which are updated on a weekly basis. There is a monthly newsletter and a monthly webinar series called Faces and Places of Peer Support that is offered jointly with the New York State Office of Mental Health, Office of Consumer Affairs that highlights different peer support programs throughout the state. Additional webinars are offered in conjunction with the New York City Peer and Community Health Worker Workforce Consortium and other partners on organizational readiness for peer support services, supervision, and topics that are relevant to those who are providing or supervising peer support. All are welcome to join a free (opt-in) list to receive notifications from the Virtual Learning Community, including weekly networking and educational meetings where members share the leadership of the meetings by giving short presentations on topics of interest to the community. 

https://aps-community.org