Office of Consumer Affairs
Certified Peer Support and Wellness Specialist Training

 
 

Mission:
 
To identify, equip, train, certify, and further educate peers with the skills required to provide relationship building and trauma informed peer support for people utilizing behavioral health services.
 
Peer Support is an evidence based practice. People with lived experience with mental health, substance abuse, and/or gambling conditions provide mentoring to others in recovery and wellness skills. This mentoring is a shoulder to shoulder process where both parties, the mentor and mntee, learn and grow from the experience.
 
The Certified Peer Support and Wellness Specialist Training grew out of a Transformation Transfer Initiative from SAMHSA or TTI Grant in 2009. This grant allowed us to purchase training from Focus on Recovery United, which included Heather McDonald of FOR-U, Chyrell Bellamy of Yale University, and Shery Mead and Chris Hansen of Shery Mead Consulting. A curriculum for the State of Nebraska’s Office of Consumer Affairs was purchased that focuses on trauma-informed Intentional Peer Support.
 
A group of 9 facilitators were trained that included Ken Timmerman, Judie Moorehouse, Dan Powers, Tami Walden, Cindy Sullivan, Roni Wilder, Susan Hancock, Susan Hopson, and Paige Hruza. These facilitators along with the Office of Consumer Affairs have added curriculum in advocacy, self-advocacy, and Nebraskan specific history.
 
The Office of Consumer Affairs conducts one to two Peer Support and Wellness Specialist (PSWS) trainings per year. Regions co-host trainings with the Office of Consumer Affairs also for their specific region in Region 1, 5, and 6. PSWS’s work in hospitals, addiction treatment facilities, outpatient care facilities, hospital diversion services, police departments, emergency rooms, support groups, and mental health programs.
 
All persons that take the 40 hours of any Peer Support training are invited to sit for a statewide exam to become Certified Peer Support and Wellness Specialists. Traditionally, only 74% of folks pass the exam; we encourage folks to consider this before taking the exam. To keep one’s certification in Active Status a person must maintain quarterly co-supervision and 6 hours of continuing education annually. The Living Well curriculum offered through public health (www.livingwellne.org ) and attending the Statewide Behavioral Health Conference (www.nebraskastateconference.org) will provide 6 continuing education credit hours. 
 
DOCUMENTS
 
Peer Support Training Brochure
Peer Support and Wellness Specialist Code of Ethics
Peer Support and Wellness Specialist Job Description 
 
TRAINING
 
Subscribe to this web page or check back for announcements for the 2013 training offering.
 Friday Series- June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26, 2013- Lincoln, NE
   
An application for training is necessary and click on the link above for appliaction and instructions.
 
As of March 1, 2013 there are 100 Certified Peer Support and Wellness Specialists in Nebraska.
 
 
Certification quiz for Peer Support and Wellness Specilist with 40 hours or more of training March 2013
 
SATISFACTION
 
2012 Report on the employment of Peer Support and Wellness Specialists and what participants say about the training.
 
 
 
For more information contact:
Carol Coussons de Reyes,
​carol.coussonsdereyes@nebraska.gov
Certified Peer Specialist, MS
Administrator Office of Consumer Affairs
Division of Behavioral Health
 
Mail Address:
PO Box 95026
Lincoln NE 68509-5026
 
Physical Address:
301 Centennial Mall South 3rd Floor
Lincoln NE 68508
 
402-471-7853 (office)
800-836-7660 (Consumer Help Line)
402-471-7859 (FAX)