Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Training

➡️➡️➡️  Click to Sign-Up Here for January 2025

Sign up now to express your interest in SHARE! Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification training. There may be a waitlist due to high demand.

This is a $1,600 course for which scholarships are available for those who want to work in the public mental health system. To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must attend 10 self-help support groups by Saturday, January 4, 2025 before the training starts (Download Peer Scholarship Form Due 1.4.25)

➡️ Agencies/providers: please contact training@shareselfhelp.org to arrange training for your Peers (in-person or online).

Those who meet the criteria will be invited to register for the training in person at SHARE! Culver City in 2025 on alternate Friday and Saturdays on Friday and Saturdays on January 10 & 11, 24 & 25; February 7 & 8, 21 & 22; March 7 & 8, 2025. On Fridays the training is 11 am to 5:30 pm & on Saturdays it is 9 am to 3:30 pm.

If you are not volunteering/working in the peer workforce, you will be invited to a mandatory orientation.

• 80 hours of training, attendance at 20 self-help support groups, assessment
• Learn the evidence-based best practices for Peer Services
• Learn the 12 Tools of the SHARE! PeerKit
• Get prepared for California Peer Certification exam
• CalMHSA-approved training entity

Continuing Education & Specialization Trainings

SHARE! is authorized by CalMHA to offer 40 hours of training in four specializations:

• Parent, Caregiver, Family Member Peer Specialization
• Peer Services for Unhoused
• Peer Services for Justice Involved
• Peer Services in Crisis Care
• Continuing Education

Applicants must be certified California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists and working in the peer workforce. The cost is $1,600.

➡️➡️➡️  To express interest in 2024 Continuing Education and Specialization trainings, click here.

What is a Peer Support Specialist?

A Peer Support Specialist is an individual having lived experience with the process of recovery from mental health or substance use concerns, or both, either as a consumer of these services or as the parent or family member of the consumer.

Applicants who are not working in the peer workforce must attend a Training Orientation — details will be sent to those who submit an Expression of Interest.

What is it like in the peer workforce? To explore job opportunities, salary levels and job descriptions in the peer workforce in your area, go to indeed.com and search “peer support specialist.” (https://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=peer+support+specialist&l=california&vjk=7411f2d41301e7a0)

What is Medi-Cal Certification?

Peers certified as Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialists are recognized as a Medi-Cal Provider type and therefore are permitted to provide Medi-Cal services reimbursable to the Medi-Cal certified program. To learn more about the implementation of the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification bill, please see the Peer Certification page (https://capeercertification.org)

This training does not prepare organizations to bill Medi-Cal. If your organization would like to become a Medi-Cal fee-for-service health care program provider, please refer to the Dept. of Health Care Services https://mcweb.apps.prd.cammis.medi-cal.ca.gov/

If you are not from California, please check with your local Department of Behavioral Health or Mental Health for trainings which meet your state’s requirements.

Who is eligible for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification training?

• California members of the peer workforce (defined as having lived experience with the process of recovery from mental health issues, substance use, or both, either as a consumer of these services or as the parent or family member of the consumer)
• Those who would like to work in the peer workforce in such roles as Mental Health Peer Advocates, Peer Partners, Peer Specialists, Peer Support, Peer Partner, Art Therapy Peer Specialists, Substance Use Disorder Advocates, Drug Court Mentors, Parent Partners, Forensic Peer Specialists, Peer Employment Specialists, Peer Housing Specialists, Sober Living Specialists, Homeless Outreach, Peer Bridgers, Recovery Coaches, Sober Coaches, Wellness Outreach Workers (WOW), Community Workers, Promotoras as well as other such positions.

Contact information

Trainers Libby Hartigan, Jessica Miller

To earn certificate, students must attend training sessions, attend self-help support groups, complete an internship/work experience and pass a final assessment.

Questions? E-mail training@shareselfhelp.org or call (310) 305-8878 x214 (Mon.-Fri from 1 to 6 pm)

This notice was prepared as part of work sponsored by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) but does not necessarily represent the views of CalMHSA or its staff except to the extent, if any, that it has formally been approved by CalMHSA.

Scholarships for Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist training are offered through the support of HCAI.

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