Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 24 - Mental Health › Part 5 - DMH Peer Support Specialist Professional Standards and Requirement › Chapter Two - General Information

Current through June 25, 2024
ABOUT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL
				HEALTH
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) administers
				the public mental health service delivery system in Mississippi. DMH was
				created in 1974 by an act of the Mississippi Legislature, Regular Session. The
				statute placed mental health, alcohol/drug abuse, and
				intellectual/developmental disabilities programs into one agency. The
				Mississippi Department of Mental Health is governed by the Mississippi State
				Board of Mental Health, a nine-member board whose members are appointed by the
				Governor and confirmed by the State Senate.
More information about DMH can be found on the DMH website at
www.dmh.ms.gov
or by contacting DMH;
				contact information is located inside the document cover.
DMH Mission
- Supporting
				a better tomorrow by making a difference in the lives of Mississippians with
				mental illness, substance abuse problems and intellectual/developmental
				disabilities one person at a time.
ABOUT THE DMH PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST PROFESSIONAL
				CREDENTIAL
Section
				41-4-7
				of the
Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated
authorizes the
				Mississippi State Board of Mental Health (through DMH) "to certify/license case
				managers, mental health therapists, mental retardation (i.e.,
				intellectual/developmental disabilities) therapists," and others as deemed
				appropriate by the Board.
In September 2011, the Mississippi State Board of Mental Health
				authorized the certification of DMH Certified Peer Support Specialist
				Professionals.
DMH professional credentials are designed primarily for
				individuals who are not already professionally credentialed and who are
				employed in Mississippi's state mental health system.
Employment in Mississippi's "state mental health
				system," as defined in this document, is a mandatory requirement to apply for
				and hold a DMH professional credential.
The DMH Peer Support Specialist Professional credentialing
				program is designed to promote the provision of quality Peer Support services
				in Mississippi's "state mental health system."
Certification attests to an
				individual's:
* Educational background;
* Relevant work experience;
* Demonstration of mastery of basic knowledge of recovery and
				resiliency
* Demonstration of competencies in a set of educational
				principles and experiences needed to perform the responsibilities of Peer
				Support Specialist;
* Continued participation in relevant educational activities,
				through the continuing education (CE) renewal requirement; and, agreement to
				adhere to the
DMH Peer Support Specialist Professional Principles of
				Ethical and Professional Conduct.
DMH PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST PROFESSIONAL
				CERTIFICATION
Certified Peer Support Specialist Professional (CPSSP)
* The Certified Peer Support Specialist Professional (CPSSP)
				credential is renewable every four years, as long as renewal requirements are
				met.
* If an applicant has completed the Peer Support Specialist
				Professional Training and is not employed within one year of completion of the
				training, the applicant must repeat the assessment process.
PROFESSIONAL TITLES
The recognized professional title within the DMH Peer Support
				Specialist Professional credentialing program is:
DMH "Certified Peer Support Specialist Professional" or the
				abbreviations "CPSSP"
STATE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM
DMH professional credentials are valid only in
				Mississippi's "state mental health system."
For the purposes of DMH professional
				credentialing
,
the "state mental health system" is defined
				as:
* Programs funded and/or certified by the Mississippi
				Department of Mental Health and/or
* Programs certified/licensed by the Mississippi State
				Department of Health that are operated by the "state mental health system"
				(i.e., Mississippi Department of Mental Health).
Only individuals employed within the "state mental health
				system," as defined in this document (above), are eligible to apply for and
				hold a DMH professional credential.
UPDATES
This document is updated and revised periodically. It is the
				applicant/certified individual's (or other interested person's) responsibility
				to ensure that he/she has the most current version of this document. Affected
				persons must comply with, and are responsible for, provisions contained in the
				most current version, including utilization of current application and related
				forms.
NONDISCRIMINATION
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health does not
				discriminate because of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin,
				age, disability, or political affiliation. The Department of Mental Health
				promotes nondiscriminatory practices and procedures in all phases of state
				service administration, as well as in programs funded and/or certified/operated
				by the Department of Mental Health.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health complies with all
				aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If requested, special
				accommodations to aid in the completion of forms or related credentialing
				matters will be provided.
APPLICATION BOOKLETS
This document and the corresponding application forms are
				available online. Interested individuals should download a copy from the DMH
				website. Individuals who need a print copy should contact the DMH Office of
				Consumer Support.
www.msrecoverynetwork.org
APPLICATION TIME LIMITS
Initial applications will remain open for two years from date
				of receipt. During that time, as appropriate, applicants have the opportunity
				to rectify any deficiencies. Once this time period has passed, incomplete
				applications, applications containing unresolved deficiencies, and applications
				which did not result in a credential being awarded will be void and destroyed.
				Various timelines relating to renewal are covered more fully in the relevant
				sections of this document.
Be sure to make copies of all application forms before
				submitting the application. DMH will not return forms to you or anyone else
				once your application has been submitted.
JURISDICTIONAL LIMITATIONS
This program is limited to the issuance of professional
				credentialing through the DMH Peer Support Specialist Professional
				credentialing program. Actions of the Division of Professional Licensure and
				Certification, the Professional Licensure and Certification Review Board, the
				Department of Mental Health and the State Board of Mental Health should not in
				any way be construed as a recommendation for or against personnel
				action.
It is not the intent of DMH to monitor members of other
				appropriately-regulated professional credentials in Mississippi. Holding a DMH
				professional credential does not exempt an individual from any other
				professional certification/licensure required by state law.
FINAL INTERPRETATION
The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is responsible for
				the final interpretation of all matters pertaining to DMH professional
				credentialing, including (but not limited to) all provisions contained within
				this document. This interpretation will be considered binding on all applicants
				and DMH-credentialed individuals (unless otherwise preempted by the Mississippi
				State Board of Mental Health).
Any provisions or situations not expressly covered in this
				document will be handled on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of DMH, the
				Division of PLACE, the PLACE Review Board and, if appropriate, the State Board
				of Mental Health. Moreover, DMH reserves the right to development ancillary,
				internal policies and procedures to work in concert with this
				document.