During last year's Global Peer Support Specialist Celebration Day, we spoke to Scott Loder, CPSS, who works at the DHHS Lincoln Regional Center as a Recovery Program Specialist. Scott battled addiction and now helps others who are in the recovery process and encourages others in their recovery journeys.
In recognition of Global Peer Support Celebration Day, the Division of Behavioral Health, Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) invites you to participate in a virtual event to recognize, reflect and celebrate our peer supporters and highlight the impact and contributions they make to supporting others in their recovery journey.
The old adage “you can't understand someone until you walk a mile in their shoes" seems tailor-made for October 19, which is Global Peer Support Celebration Day (GPSCD). GPSCD is an annual celebration of peer supporters, peer support services, and recognizing their work in helping their peers. Peer supporters work with individuals with mental health, substance use, and or trauma-related challenges as they move forward along the continuum of recovery and inclusion.
If you would like to help celebrate the value of peer supporters, please use the form below to submit your personal message to recognize a peer supporter who has made an impact in your life, to share the value you find in being a provider of peer support, or to highlight the value of peer support service delivery.
All entries must be received by Thursday, October 12, and will be shared on DHHS social media platforms.
Nebraska Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSS) are required to go through a 60-hour CPSS Core Curriculum training program and pass the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Peer Recovery (PR) exam. CPSSs are required to complete 20 continuing education hours within the 13 Core Curriculum domains that are aligned with the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) core competencies for peer support. Six of those hours must be in ethics.
If you are interested in more information on becoming a CPSS, you can email the Office of Consumer Affairs at dhhs.dbhoca@nebraska.gov or you can look at the Division of Behavioral Health Office of Consumer Affairs website.
*Please do not include any personal identifying information in your message beyond your first name. We are unable to include any messages that include any inappropriate or offensive language.
