There will be a Professional Development Training Meeting May 9th at noon at the MHA, 2nd floor. The speaker will be Marily Goss talking about "Boundaries". Certificates Available.
Certified Peer Specialists Job Descriptions
“I provide recovery coaching for individuals. I assist them in establishing goals and reaching the goals that they have set for themselves in their recovery plan. I offer hope that there is recovery from mental illness by sharing my story when appropriate. I also provide support and assist with writing safety plans.”
“ I work with team members to help individuals with serious mental illness gain access to community resources so they can continue to live independently in the community. I compose progress notes daily on each client I visited that day I attend mandatory trainings as required for my position.”
“Peer Specialist services are conducted by self-identified current or former consumers of behavioral health services who are trained and certified to offer support and assistance to others in their recovery. Services are based on the principles of respect, shared responsibility and empowerment. They are voluntary and person-centered.”
“My job duties include a great deal of self disclosure to peers in order to build the rapport necessary for peers to understand the process of recovery and to have their own recoveries to come to fruition. The tool I use most often is the WRAP to assist peers to learn about themselves and find more effective ways in which to live, cope, and deal with their particular illnesses.”
The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) position provides person-centered services for adults with serious mental illness to help them gain control over their recovery and community integration processes. These services include advocacy, education, development of natural supports, and support of work or other meaningful activity of the person’s choosing. Also crisis support, wellness activities, effective utilization of the service delivery systems, service coordination and linkage to other service providers.
• Recovery education. Provide hope and encouragement for integration into the community.
Providing a model of recovery by appropriately disclosing struggles and successes with mental health issues demonstrating that recovery is possible. Help to educate professional staff about the recovery model.
• Promote self-advocacy. Help recovering persons to find their own voice to express areas of need. Referring individuals to professional resources as needed.
• Communicate community resources (community-based mental health organizations, education, vocation, social, cultural, spiritual, resources) that are in line with the person’s individual goals and needs. Take the person to community events.
• Facilitate peer mentoring and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) groups in order to create a transition to a self-directed Recovery Plan.
• Complete required documentation for recovery goal planning, encounters, progress notes, and daily service records for billing purposes.
Works for Me is a FREE resource that can direct you to agencies and programs that help people with disabilities in Pennsylvania who want to work, and improve their financial security. You can work without losing your financial security or health care benefits. Works for me is here to help answer your questions about working!
Sept 6th through 10th is Suicide Prevention week. Check the MHA main page under "Regional" for sites for suicide prevention and depression screening. It could save a life.
There are 2 monthly meetings for CPSs held at the Mental Health Association on the second floor. One, which is held the second Wednesday of every month at 12 noon, is a Professional Development Training meeting for which CPSs can gain CEU credits. CPSs need 18 credits per year to be recertified as a CPS. This meeting provides professional trainings to meet those requirements.
The second meeting is held the 4th Tuesday of every month at 5pm and it is a "Meal and Support" meeting where food is shared as well as good conversation and support. The main food is supplied by MHA with everyone bringing some other food to share. Hope you can join us for one or both of these meeting. Individual WRAP sessions are also available to all CPSs. Contact: Kate Bender 814-452-4462 ext.132
There are 49 Certified Peer Specialist in Erie County. They have all been in trainings for the Certification that promotes the recovery culture. Some work in various settings such as: Center Team (MHA) Housing Team (MHA),Consumer Employment Outreach Coordinator (MHA), Consumer/Family Satisfaction Team (MHA), Peer Support to individuals in the Community (Stairways BH), Youth in Transition (Stairways BH), ACT (Stairways BH), Customer Representative (Stairways BH),Personal Care Home (Stairways BH), Fairweather Lodge, (Stairways BH), Peer Support in Crisis and Outpatient (Safe Harbor BH), Director of Advocacy and Recovery (ECCM). CPS work to help people see their inherent rights and responsibilities and advocate for respectful and professional treatment from the rest of a person's treatment team. For more information about becoming a Certified Peer Specialist or to join a WRAP group or create a personal one-on-one WRAP. contact: Kate Bender - 814-452-4462 ext. 132
The National Association of Peer Specialists, Inc. (NAPS), is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to peer support in mental health systems. We are a group of dedicated peer specialists seeking ways to improve the effectiveness of the mental health system through the hiring of other peer specialists.
National Association of Peer Specialists
This site registers you with the MHAPA forum and puts you on a listing of CPSs looking for CPS positions. Click Register for CPS positions for further information.
You can now apply for Non-Civil Service State Jobs online at Non-Civil Service State Jobs
PA Peer Support Coalition Discussion Board
People in recovery from psychiatric disabilities, researchers and others from around the country gathered in Philadelphia in July 2006, to create a new national trade association , named the Peer Specialist Alliance of America (PSAA). The purpose of this association is to promote the emerging profession of Certified Peer Specialist.See peerspecialistallianceofamerica.org