(Credit: Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services)
Following this training and at the start of their work, they will each help to reduce stigma, promote self-advocacy, and inspire individuals to realize and achieve their goals
Just a few short weeks ago, 16 excited individuals gathered with their peers, friends and family, and County and Health & Human Services leadership to celebrate an outstanding accomplishment in their personal and professional growths.
On this day filled with joy, triumph, and hope, these individuals were able to stand in front of a group and pronounce their dedication to supporting their peers' and future acquaintances' journeys to recovery while upholding their commitments to their own.
This dedicated, hard-working, and compassionate group makes up the 28th graduating class of Certified Peer Specialists. Each one of them has a story to tell and a journey that is only starting to unfold.
The impact that these professionals will have on their community is immeasurable. The journey to becoming a CPS is no easy feat. It involves rigorous training, skill development, and an unwavering commitment to growth.
Following this training and at the start of their work, they will each help to reduce stigma, promote self-advocacy (internally and externally), and inspire individuals to realize and achieve their goals--even though many of them had likely been promoting these messages already, whether intentionally or not, for some time.
Again, congratulations to the 28th class of Certified Peer Specialists on this amazing accomplishment, and we thank you for believing in yourselves and others.
What is a Certified Peer Specialist?
A Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) is an individual with personal, lived experience in their own recovery who works in the mental health field. By offering insight into the recovery process based on their own experience, peer specialists are able to provide a unique perspective while providing peer support services. At its core, the role of a CPS is to walk alongside individuals as they navigate the obstacles, offering strategies and suggestions that stem from their authentic experiences.
CPSs can work in a variety of locations, ranging anywhere from mental health centers to hospitals, community organizations, or recovery-focused programs. Because of the diversity of services and programs within each of these locations, they often work on multidisciplinary teams, collaborating to offer the best quality care for each individual circumstance. On a day-to-day basis, they can provide one-on-one peer mentoring, facilitate support groups, assist individuals in creating personalized recovery plans, and help navigate systems of care, such as access to community resources, housing, employment, or mental health services.
Montgomery County has the highest number of CPSs of any county in the state of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania has more CPSs than any other state in the U.S.
Montgomery County sponsors two Certified Peer Specialist trainings every year. CPS training is a free opportunity that provides skills and employment for those with experience in recovery.
Are you or someone you know interested in becoming a CPS? Email Tracey Riper-Thomas for more information at [email protected]
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