Yes
Yes, If you are in recovery from substance use and do not identify as living with a mental health concern, please visit the website of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, who provide training for the CPS-Addictive Disease credential through their Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialist training program.
High school diploma/GED
Strong reading, comprehension, and written communication skills should be shown by answers on the application.
A disclaimer on the application reads, in part: ""This is not about right & wrong answers. It is a brief examination to assess your reading & writing skills as well as your understanding of the requirements to become a Certified Peer Specialist in the State of Georgia and your lived experience with recovery.”
Candidates must be willing to identify as a person living with a mental health condition and be willing to use their lived recovery experience to support others in their recovery.
Must be well grounded in recovery exampled by atleast one year working toward wellness and recovery.
Specific requirements for a CPS-AD, is 2 years of abstinence from alcohol and drugs.
Applicants have demonstrated experience with leadership, advocacy, or governance.
It is a 2 week training for a total of 9 days (Monday through Friday of week one and Monday through Thursday of week two), usually from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Individual
Scholarship requests are made on the application for each training. The scholarships are meant to cover the cost of the hotel lodging, do not cover the registration fee or transportation costs, and are limited in numbers.
Potential scholarship for hotel stay available through the CPS Project at the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network.
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Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network with funding and oversight from Georgia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
1990 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 100
Tucker, Georgia 30084
info@gmhcn.org
Tel 404-687-9487
Toll Free 800-297-6146
Georgia's Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
2 Peachtree Street NW.
24th Floor
ATLANTA, GA 30303
(404) 657-2252
Training Schedule: https://www.gmhcn.org/cps-training-schedule
Georgia Certified Peer Specialist Project
Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network
1990 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 100
Tucker, Georgia 30084 info@gmhcn.org
Tel 404-687-9487
After successful completion of the CPS examination, a CPS is required to have a minimum of 12 continuing education units (CEUs) per calendar year. The time frame for beginning acquisition of CEUs is the year following the year in which the CPS passed the certification exam. There are many opportunities to obtain CEU’s through workshops, webinars, and conferences.
Continuing Education Information: https://www.gmhcn.org/cps-continuing-education
No, but there is a guide which can be found here: https://dbhdd.georgia.gov/peer-support-whole-health-and-wellness
Mental health CPS, Addictive Diseases CPS, Peer Mentor, Forensic Peer Mentor
CPS-MH: Certified Peer Specialist Mental Health
CPS-AD: Certified Peer Specialist Addictive Diseases
YPS: Youth Peer Support
PM: Peer Mentor
FPM: Forensic Peer Mentor
Yes
Adult peer support specialists are paid for by a Rehabilitative Services State Plan Option. YPS are paid for through 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services Waiver.
While Georgia does not have an organization composed solely of and for Peer Specialists, the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network (GMHCN) is widely recognized as the national leader in developing and implementing peer support programs in the United States.
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Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network:
Raye Thompson, CPS Training Coordinator raye@gmhcn.org
Will Armstrong, CPS Continuing Education Coordinator warmstrong@gmhcn.org
Denise Hardy, CPS, WRAP Training Coordinator denise@gmhcn.org
Mariam Abdul Aziz, CPS Certification Coordinator mariam@gmhcn.org
Yes, GMHCN Annual Summer Conference