Certified Peer Specialist Training
The MCB will be offering the following Certified Peer Specialist Training. These trainings are free and lunch is provided.
February 17-21 Kansas City (NW)
February 24-28 St. Louis (E)
March 9-13 Springfield (SW)
April 6-10 Jefferson City (C)
May 11-15 Cape Girardeau (SE)
June 15-19 St. Louis (E)
July 20-24 Kansas City (NW)
August 24-28 Joplin (SW)
Sept 28-Oct 2 Columbia (C)
October 12-16 Sikeston (SE)
October 26-30 Springfield (SW)
Nov 30- Dec 4 St. Louis (E)
December 7-11 Kansas City (NW)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact MBC’s office: 573-616-2300
Certified Peer Specialist Supervision Training
The MCB will be offering the following Certified Peer Specialist Supervision Training. These trainings are free and lunch is provided.
Tuesday April 21st – Kansas City, MO
Thursday June 25th – St. Louis, MO
Thursday August 13th – Springfield, MO
Thursday October 22nd – Cape Girardeau, MO
Thursday December 17th – Jefferson City, MO
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact MBC’s office: 573-616-2300
What is Peer Support?
Peer support specialists are people who have been successful in the recovery process who help others experiencing similar situations. Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Peer support services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking a successful, sustained recovery process.
Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS) is enriched by the lived experiences of people in recovery, who play key roles in BRSS TACS project leadership, development, and implementation.
- Learn about the foundational core competencies for peer workers in behavioral health services.
- Access a list of frequently asked questions about core competencies for peer workers.
- Learn more about the process of recovery.
Peer Support Role
Peer support workers engage in a wide range of activities. These include:
- Advocating for people in recovery
- Sharing resources and building skills
- Building community and relationships
- Leading recovery groups
- Mentoring and setting goals
Peer support roles may also extend to the following:
- Providing services and/or training
- Supervising other peer workers
- Developing resources
- Administering programs or agencies
- Educating the public and policymakers
Peer support workers may need to develop additional core competencies to provide services to specific groups who also share common experiences, such as family members. The shared experience of being in recovery from a mental health and/or substance use condition or being a family member is the foundation on which the peer recovery support relationship is built in the behavioral health arena.
Peer Support Resources
Use the following resources to learn more about the role that peers play in recovery. Please read the SAMHSA.gov Exit Disclaimer for more information on resources from non-federal websites.
- Value of Peers – 2017 (PDF| 2 MB) describes how peer supports advance recovery and add value to behavioral health systems: Peer Support (PDF| 2 MB); Family, Parent, and Caregiver Peer Support in Behavioral Health (PDF| 846 KB); Peers Supporting Recovery from Mental Health Conditions (PDF| 2 MB); and Peers Supporting Recovery from Substance Use Disorders (PDF| 2 MB).
- Getting Started With Evidence-Based Practices: Consumer-Operated Services – 2011 guides mental health authorities, agency staff, and others through the process of implementing evidence-based practices. It also highlights the importance of cultural competence.
- Financing Recovery Support Services at the Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network – 2013 describes recovery support services, major funding streams, and barriers to financing. The presentation also shares examples of innovative state efforts to finance recovery support services and other resources.
- SAMHSA’s Peer Support and Social Inclusion topic describes how peers bring hope to people in recovery and promote a sense of belonging within the community.
- SAMHSA’s Recovery and Recovery Support topic explains how recovery-oriented care and recovery support systems help people with mental and/or substance use disorders manage their conditions successfully.
- The Role of Recovery Support Services in Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care – 2008 describes substance use recovery support services, shares examples of recovery-oriented systems of care models, and provides tips for overcoming challenges to sustaining recovery support services.
- What Are Peer Recovery Support Services? – 2009 explains peer recovery support services designed and delivered by people in recovery from substance use disorders.