Utah

Is there a state-endorsed certification process?

Yes

Does the state differentiate between Mental Health Peer Support Specialists and Substance Use Peer Support Specialists?

There are two certifications and trainings in the state of Utah: Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) and Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS). The CPSS certification is both mental health and substance use.

What are the educational requirements to apply for a peer specialist training program?

No requirement mentioned but the application does ask for "Highest level of education completed"

What are the personal requirements to apply for a peer specialist training program?

18 years of age or older "Individual in Recovery": A person who has applied for, is eligible for, or has received mental health and/or substance use services currently or in the past. Typed "essays" to cover; 1) Provide a history of your recovery journey, 2) Describe what you are doing to remain in recovery, and 3) In what ways have you assisted others using your own experience as an example?

The previous information is for CPSS and is still accurate.
FPSS:
Personal requirements: A person who has the experience of being actively involved in raising or caring for a child or family member who experiences emotional, behavioral, mental health and/or substance use challenges. Typed responses include:
1. Please describe your experience caring for a child/youth/family member with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges in your personal life.
2. Please describe any experience you have, including formal or professional experience, providing support services to others.
3. Please explain any concerns you have with sharing your personal story in a professional setting.
4. Please explain why you want to become a Family Peer Support Specialist. Professional requirements: No letters of reference required.

What are the professional requirements needed to apply for a peer specialist training program?

Two letters of reference. One should be from a clinical professional who is willing to describe where the applicant is in the recovery process.

What are the training requirements to become a Certified Peer Specialist?

CPSS: one year of sustained recovery from substance use disorder and/or mental health condition and age 18 or above. Must complete the 40 hour training and pass the exam.

FPSS: lived experience as a caregiver of a child, youth, or family member with mental health, substance use, emotional and behavioral needs. Must complete the 40 hour training and pass the exam.

What is the average cost for CPS training?

The approved vendors and contracted training providers bill $300 per trainee. This cost is covered through mental health block grant or other federal grants. There is no cost to the trainee.

Who is responsible for paying for training? (List all)

The approved vendors and contracted training providers bill $300 per trainee. This cost is covered through mental health block grant or other federal grants. There is no cost to the trainee.

Other potential funding sources.

The approved vendors and contracted training providers bill $300 per trainee. This cost is covered through mental health block grant or other federal grants. There is no cost to the trainee.

Is there a state-wide certification test?

Each training agency develops their own exam based on their curriculum. It is required that the peer support specialist passes the exam with a 70% or above to become certified. The cost of the training is funded through mental health block grant and federal grants awarded to the state of Utah and individual training agencies. There are no additional training/application fees.

What are the personal/professional requirements for certification, if they differ from attending the training?

Each individual employer will have their own requirements

Is a background check required? If so, is a criminal record a disqualification for certification?

A background check is not required for training and/or certification but each individual employer will have their own requirements.

What is the cost of the certification test?

Each training agency develops their own exam based on their curriculum. It is required that the peer support specialist passes the exam with a 70% or above to become certified. The cost of the training is funded through mental health block grant and federal grants awarded to the state of Utah and individual training agencies. There are no additional training/application fees.

Does the certification test need to be taken regularly to maintain certification?

Both FPSS and CPSS need to earn 20 hours of continuing education and submit a recertification application every 2 years.

Aside from any fees for the training or state-wide certification test, are there other certification fees/costs?

No additional costs that are required. The peer support specialists may encounter additional costs such as travel fees, conference fees, CEU fees, etc.

Is there a statewide certification body?

Certification is done through the Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.
289 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Phone: 801.538.3939
E-Fax: 385.465.6040
[email protected]
Public Information Office: 195 North 1950 West Salt Lake City, UT 84116 24-Hour Media Phone: 801.520.2777

Please provide as much information about the certification board/body as possible.

Certification is done through the Utah Department of Health and Human Services Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.
289 North 1460 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Phone: 801.538.3939
E-Fax: 385.465.6040
[email protected]
Public Information Office: 195 North 1950 West Salt Lake City, UT 84116 24-Hour Media Phone: 801.520.2777

Where can information be found for upcoming peer support trainings?

Central location to find more information: https://sumh.utah.gov/education/certification/peer-support/
Each contracted provider facilitates a minimum of 2 trainings per year or as needed. There is the option to take the training in-person or hybrid.

On average, how often are trainings held in your state?

Central location to find more information: https://sumh.utah.gov/education/certification/peer-support/
Each contracted provider facilitates a minimum of 2 trainings per year or as needed. There is the option to take the training in-person or hybrid.

Training providers (vendors) and their contact information.

Central location to find more information: https://sumh.utah.gov/education/certification/peer-support/
Each contracted provider facilitates a minimum of 2 trainings per year or as needed. There is the option to take the training in-person or hybrid.

What are the continuing education requirements?

20 hours of continuing education requirements every two years to include two hours of ethics training, six hours pertaining specifically to peer support services, one hour of suicide prevention training and eleven hours of general mental health and/or substance use disorder training.

Who tracks CEUs?

The individual must maintain records for three years after the end of the renewal cycle the CEUs were required. A printout tracking sheet can be found at the state website.

Is there a certification requirement for CPS Supervisors? If yes, provide details of requirements and relevant information.

CPSS and FPSS must be under the supervision of a licensed mental health therapist. There is no specific peer support supervision certification.

Additional specializations available for certified peer specialists:

There are two certifications and trainings in the state of Utah: Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) and Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS). The CPSS certification is both mental health and substance use.

What are the different acronyms used to distinguish peer supporters and specific peer support specialties?

There are two certifications and trainings in the state of Utah: Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) and Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS). The CPSS certification is both mental health and substance use.

Are Certified Peer Specialists services Medicaid reimbursable?

Yes, certified peer support specialists (CPSS and FPSS) must be under supervision of a licensed mental health therapist and clients can participate in a max of 4 hours of peer support services a day. §1905(a)
(13) of the Social Security Act and 42 CFR §440.130, Diagnostic, Screening, Preventive, and Rehabilitative Services.

How are peer support services paid for by the state? What specific Medicaid waivers are used, if any?

Yes, certified peer support specialists (CPSS and FPSS) must be under supervision of a licensed mental health therapist and clients can participate in a max of 4 hours of peer support services a day. §1905(a)
(13) of the Social Security Act and 42 CFR §440.130, Diagnostic, Screening, Preventive, and Rehabilitative Services.

Is digital peer support available? Medicaid reimbursable?

Yes, certified peer support specialists can offer services virtually and bill Medicaid.

Is there a statewide Peer Specialist organization?

Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)
https://www.myusara.com/ 
[email protected]
(385) 210-0320

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI Utah)
https://www.namiut.org/ 
(801) 323-9900

Utah Association of Peer Support Specialists (UAPPS)
https://www.uapss.org/ [email protected]
(801) 638-2823

Utah Peer Network (UPN)
https://www.utahpeernetwork.org/ 
[email protected]
(801) 382-9352

Latino Behavioral Health (LBH)
https://latinobehavioral.org/ 
(801) 935-4447

Multicultural Counseling Center (MCC)
https://www.mccounseling.com/ 
[email protected]
(801) 915-0350

Name of Statewide Peer Specialists Organization*

Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)
https://www.myusara.com/ 
[email protected]
(385) 210-0320

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI Utah)
https://www.namiut.org/ 
(801) 323-9900

Utah Association of Peer Support Specialists (UAPPS)
https://www.uapss.org/ [email protected]
(801) 638-2823

Utah Peer Network (UPN)
https://www.utahpeernetwork.org/ 
[email protected]
(801) 382-9352

Latino Behavioral Health (LBH)
https://latinobehavioral.org/ 
(801) 935-4447

Multicultural Counseling Center (MCC)
https://www.mccounseling.com/ 
[email protected]
(801) 915-0350

Peer Specialists Organization Website*

Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)
https://www.myusara.com/ 
[email protected]
(385) 210-0320

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI Utah)
https://www.namiut.org/ 
(801) 323-9900

Utah Association of Peer Support Specialists (UAPPS)
https://www.uapss.org/ [email protected]
(801) 638-2823

Utah Peer Network (UPN)
https://www.utahpeernetwork.org/ 
[email protected]
(801) 382-9352

Latino Behavioral Health (LBH)
https://latinobehavioral.org/ 
(801) 935-4447

Multicultural Counseling Center (MCC)
https://www.mccounseling.com/ 
[email protected]
(801) 915-0350

Peer Specialists Organization Primary Contact*

Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA)
https://www.myusara.com/ 
[email protected]
(385) 210-0320

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI Utah)
https://www.namiut.org/ 
(801) 323-9900

Utah Association of Peer Support Specialists (UAPPS)
https://www.uapss.org/ [email protected]
(801) 638-2823

Utah Peer Network (UPN)
https://www.utahpeernetwork.org/ 
[email protected]
(801) 382-9352

Latino Behavioral Health (LBH)
https://latinobehavioral.org/ 
(801) 935-4447

Multicultural Counseling Center (MCC)
https://www.mccounseling.com/ 
[email protected]
(801) 915-0350

Other relevant/helpful contacts:*

N/A

Are there conferences held in the state specifically for Peer Supporters?

Yes, the Utah Peer Conference, which happens annually in June. https://www.utahpeerconference.org/

Are there recognition or award opportunities for peer support specialists or Substance Use Peer Support Specialists?

Awards are given at the annual Utah Peer Conference.
- The Jacqueline Gomez-Arias Peer of the Year Award
- Family Peer Support Specialist Change Maker Award
- Youth Peer Specialist Award https://www.utahpeerconference.org/

Helpful Websites/ References*

https://dsamh.utah.gov/education/certification/peer-support

Additional Info*

N/A

If there are recent changes to the certification process due to COVID-19, are the changes permanent, temporary or other?

COVID-19 did not change the certification process.

Is the Certification curriculum peer-led and/or peer developed?

Each training agency develops and/or purchases their own training curriculum which must be submitted for evaluation and approval from the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health. The training is in part developed and led by peers.

Are there any potential Barriers to certification and post certification employment?

A background check is not required for training and/or certification but each individual employer will have their own requirements. & There are not any personal or professional disqualifications for individual seeking certification unless they don't meet the requirements to attend the training.

Are certification trainings offered in-person, online, or hybrid?

Central location to find more information: https://sumh.utah.gov/education/certification/peer-support/
Each contracted provider facilitates a minimum of 2 trainings per year or as needed. There is the option to take the training in-person or hybrid.

How does the state/certification body approve Peer support training vendors?

The individual trainee indicates the preferred training agency on their application. Utah decides on vendors using an approved vendor list and request for statement of qualifications. Utah evaluates the proposals using the scope of work for peer support certification. Training agencies (vendors) can be found on our website:
https://sumh.utah.gov/education/certification/peer-support/

Currently Known Issues (date found)

Peer support is growing rapidly in Utah. Further development of infrastructure and workforce is needed. In addition, a stronger Medicaid reimbursement rate is a need. & Peer support is growing rapidly in Utah. We intend to clearly define roles for state oversight versus agency responsibility. Furthermore, we will continue to develop infrastructure to support the peer support workforce. (2024)

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