Program Description:

In the Mental Health Peer Support Specialist Certificate, students will use their personal experiences with sustained recovery with mental illness and/or substance abuse in conjunction with knowledge of human services topics including: relapse prevention, motivational interviewing, and harm reduction to develop skill supporting mental health and/or substance abuse clients. In this program students also learn important employability skills related to written communication and engage in a 150-hour internship placement in a human service organization. This program has embedded the SAMHSA competencies for Peer Support Workers.

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Career and Transfer Outlook:

Peer support specialists are a form of Community Health Worker. Community health workers promote wellness by helping people adopt healthy behaviors. Community health workers are employed in a variety of settings, including hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Most work full time. According to the US Department of Labor in 2021 Community Health Workers earned an average of $48,860 per year or $23.49/hour. Overall employment of health education specialists and community health workers is projected to grow 12 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/health-educators.htm

Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the Mental Health Peer Support Specialist Certificate are prepared to:

• Describe the resources and required eligibility of the current treatment options of the substance-abuse and mental health treatment systems;
• Demonstrate effective communications skills, including group and individual counseling skills, oral and written communications, and computer research proficiency;
• Identify and practice ethical standards as well as all competencies for Peer Support Specialists as determined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA);
• Acquire and demonstrate an understanding of relevant theory and research as it applies to clinical practice and service delivery;
• Apply program knowledge and skills in  the context of working with clients, their families, and collaterals dealing with persistent mental illness, substance use disorders, and/or trauma.