Tennessee
Yes
No, someone becoming a CPRS can be in recovery from mental illness, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorder
Hold a high school diploma or General Equivalency Degree (GED)
Must be at least age 18 year of age or older.
Self-identify as a person who is in recovery from mental illness, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorder as part of his or her personal recovery process.
Have demonstrated self-directed recovery for a minimum of 24 consecutive months as described in the CPRS application.
Cannot have a conservator (defined as a person appointed by the court to provide partial or full supervision, protection, and assistance) - having a conservator contraindicates certification as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist.
Complete Application Part One (for training)
Must attend and successfully complete 40-hour CPRS training. Training includes role playing, feedback, group work, self-examination, and tests. Topics covered include communication, problem-solving, values, motivation, and wellness, opioid use disorder, and ethics.
- Must be present for all 40 of the hours and be prepared to set aside time in the evenings to complete homework and reading assignments.
Training is provided free to all accepted applicants.
N/A
N/A
Yes. Peers must successfully demonstrate competency through testing and role plays with a CPRS trainer at TDMHSAS.
Must complete a minimum of 75 hours of supervised paid or volunteer work within the past year, providing peer recovery services to individuals who have mental illness, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. - No less than 3 hours of supervision (one hour for every 25 hours of service provided) from an approved supervisor.
Read, understand, and agree to the following: the CPRS Scope of Activities and the CPRS code of ethics.
Complete CPRS Application Part Two
Obtain and submit a completed Employment/Volunteer Summary by supervisor.
3 completed professional/personal references (2 may come from a Certified Peer Recovery Specialists; may not use family member, therapists, or psychiatrists as a professional reference)
All training applicants are screened against the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry and the Tennessee Abuse Registry prior to application approval. Applicants on the sex offender registry are handled on a case by case basis and can still be approved for certification in some situations.
A part of training which is free
No
Training is free but applicants are responsible for your own transportation, lodging, meals, beverages, and snacks.
Yes
Tennessee Office of Consumer Affairs and Peer Recovery Services (part of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services)
Andrew Jackson Building,
6th Floor 500 Deaderick Street
Nashville, TN 37243
[email protected]
(615) 532-6500
Our department is offering the CPRS trainings via Zoom as well as in person.
Our department is offering the CPRS trainings via Zoom as well as in person.
Training is provided by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Peer Recovery Services
CPRS must complete 10 hours of continuing education trainings, seminars, workshops, or college courses per year for renewal. All continuing education must be approved by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). To gain prior approval, contact the Peer Recovery Coordinator at [email protected]
-Online trainings are limited to 5 hours out of the 10 hours required, and a minimum of 1 hour of continuing education per year must be in ethics.
CPRS track their own CEUs and provide information to confirm successful completion of hours.
Supervisors can be experienced CPS (or a mental health professional)
To become a supervisor of Certified Peer Recovery Specialist:
-Must be a current CPRS with at least 6,000 hours of experience working as a CPRS and have regular, ongoing consultation with a mental health professional or qualified alcohol and drug abuse treatment professional.
-Complete supervision training that includes understanding how to support the role of Certified Peer Recovery Specialists
-And adhere to the core principles (trained in quality supervisory skills; understand and support the role of CPRS; understand and promote recovery in their supervisory roles; advocate for CPRS's and for peer support services across the organization and in the community; and promote both the professional and personal growth of the CPRS within established human resource standards.)
Certified Family Support Specialist - a person who has self-identified as the caregiver of a child or youth with a mental, emotional, behavioral or co-occurring disorder and who has successfully navigated the child-serving systems to access treatment and resources necessary to build resiliency and foster success in the home, school, and community.
Contact our Family Engagement Program Manager at (615) 770-1788 or [email protected]
Certified Young Adult Peer Support Specialist - self-identify as being in recovery or on a path of wellness because of their mental health condition, substance abuse, co-occurring disorder, or involvement in another child or adult-serving system (e.g. juvenile justice, criminal justice, foster care, homeless services, or child protective services)
Jules Wilson
Youth & Young Adult Coordinator
615-532-3754
[email protected]
CPRS - Certified Peer Recovery Specialist
CYAPSS - Certified Young Adult Peer Support Specialists
CFSS - Certified Family Support Specialist
Yes, CPRS can provide Medicaid-reimbursable peer recovery services in outpatient and inpatient programs under the employer's contract with the health plans. Can not offer services on their own for pay or reimbursement. Individual must be employed by an agency that is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and under the direct clinical supervision of a licensed behavioral health professional in accordance with acceptable guidelines and standards of practice as defined by the State
Policy No: BEN 11-002.
Yes, CPRS can provide Medicaid-reimbursable peer recovery services in outpatient and inpatient programs under the employer's contract with the health plans. Cannot offer services on their own for pay or reimbursement. Individual must be employed by an agency that is licensed by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and under the direct clinical supervision of a licensed behavioral health professional in accordance with acceptable guidelines and standards of practice as defined by the State
Yes
Tennessee Mental Health Consumers' Association (TMHCA)
Tennessee Association of Peer Specialists (TAPS)
Corporate Office Phone Number: 615-250-1176
Columbia Office Phone Number: 931-388-0664
Memphis Office: 901-522-2090
Jackson Office: 731-660-3275
McMinnville Office: 931-474-4053
Chattanooga Office: 423-803-5655
Murfreesboro Office: 615-849-2117
N/A
CPRS Conference is held every year to recognize CPRS. 2020 conference will be held virtually.
https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/mental-health-services/peers/cprs-c...
N/A
https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/cprs.html
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/mentalhealth/documents/CPRS_Handbook_A...
https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/mental-health-services/peers/cyapss...
https://socacrosstn.org/state-tennessee-family-support-specialist-certif...
https://www.tn.gov/behavioral-health/mental-health-services/peers/find-a...
Michelle Webster
Peer Recovery Coordinator
615-741-7693
[email protected]
[email protected]
N/A
This certification training began as the dream of a statewide team of dedicated stakeholders who participated in a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) BRSS TACS (Bringing Recovery Support Systems to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy) Policy Academy in April of 2012. Those team members included:
Ellen Abbott, Director of Criminal Justice Services, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Bob Benning, Chief Executive Officer, Ridgeview Community Mental Health Services
Rod Bragg, Assistant Commissioner, Division of Substance Abuse Services, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Anthony Fox, Executive Director, Tennessee Mental Health Consumers’ Association
Katrina Frierson, Executive Director, Mending Hearts, Inc.
Paul Fuchcar, Executive Director, Council for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services Debbie Hillin, Senior Vice President, Buffalo Valley, Inc.
Randy Jesse, Senior Vice President for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Frontier Health
Mary Linden Salter, Executive Director, Tennessee Association for Alcohol, Drug, and Other Addiction Services
Lisa Ragan, Director of Consumer Affairs and Peer Recovery Services, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Mary Shelton, Director of Behavioral Health Operations, Bureau of TennCare
Sejal West, Assistant Commissioner, Division of Mental Health Services, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Ellyn Wilbur, Executive Director, Tennessee Association of Mental Health Organizations
Our department is offering the CPRS trainings via Zoom as well as in person.
1,244 (2024)
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