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Certification - Peer Mentoring - CEUs - Peer Support Jobs
In looking at other state plans for peer services, Montana’s Peer Network quickly identified the need for standardization of peer services in Montana. That’s when the “Montana Peer Support Task Force was born. In 2012, The Addictive and Mental Disorder Division and Montana’s Peer Network collaborated to form the task force with the aim “to support and enhance the professional field of peer support for people in the process of recovery from substance use, other addictions, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders.” The task force was able to achieve its mission and goals and Governor Bullock signed Behavioral Health Peer Supporter Certification on March 31, 2017.
The standardization of peer services ensures the following key qualities:
- Public Safety concerns are addressed such as professionalism
- Standardized training, supervision and continuing education for all peer workers
- Workforce development
- Establishment of a recovery-oriented curricula for peer supporter and behavioral health providers
- Peer Services are considered a resiliency factor for healthier communities
- Paradigm shift to “recovery-oriented” service delivery which positively impacts the human, social and financial consequences of untreated serious mental illness and substance use and or addiction
Additional information about Montana state certification is available from the Board of Behavioral Health.
Click here to access forms related to CBHPSS Certification and Licensing.
To apply for certification, you must:
- Complete a 40 hour peer support education program. The program must include an exam and verification must be sent to the Board by the training provider. You can get your training from MPN. Find Your Trail to Certification.
- Submit the Supervisor Agreement and Supervision Plan.
- Attest that you have a behavioral health disorder.
- 2 years in recovery with no hospitalizations or incarcerations.
- Submit a Legal and Health History Content Form
- Provide a narrative that outlines the recovery program from the behavior health disorder.
- Complete the fingerprint/background check process (includes a fee of $27.25 to the Montana Department of Justice).
- Pay a licensure fee of $125.
Certification must be renewed yearly and expire on December 31 each year.
Renewal requirements:
- Complete 20 hours of continuing education and submit proof of completion. (May be less if certifying after July 1.)
- Maintain clinical supervision documentation.
- Attest to continued recovery (no periods of incarceration, hospitalization, or inpatient admission related to behavioral health disorder).
- Pay licensure fee.
It can be advantageous to carry individual professional liability insurance, especially if you are working independently instead of as part of an organization. The National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC.org) offers a discounted rate for individual professional liability insurance plans. NAADAC members are able to access insurance that is offered through American Professional Agency, Inc. (Memebrship in NAADAC is $94.00 a year, with additional discounts for students and retired and military individuals.) Insurance rates start at $32 and increase depending on the amount of coverage. You can call American Professional Agency, Inc. by phone at 1-800-421-6694 x 2265 or email at mentalhealth@americanprofessional.com. NAADAC.org includes the program highlights of the CBHPSS coverage. You can also apply for the insurance right from the website. It is easy to navigate. It is a great way to invest in yourself and the recovery movement and increase your professionalism!
A person must be certified by a VA approved peer support certification not-for-profit organization or a state approved certification organization.
It is important to remember that just meeting a state’s certification training requirement without also having the state peer specialist certification is insufficient to be approved for VA. The law says must be certified by –
- a not-for-profit entity engaged in peer specialist training as having met such criteria as the Secretary shall establish for a peer specialist position; or
- a State as having satisfied relevant State requirements for a peer specialist position.
Also, if a peer specialist is certified by a state entity, if that state requires periodic recertification, the peer specialist must comply with that requirement and have documentation that they are current with their certification. Not maintaining certification could result in a change of duty assignment to non-patient care or loss of position. Montana’s Peer Network’s PS 101 course is approved by the VA and the state for certification purposes.
Peer Mentoring
Mentoring programs are used by 70% of Fortune 500 companies and about a quarter of smaller companies. Mentoring benefits the mentor, mentee, and the organization as a whole. Studies show that mentoring programs improve diversity of organizations, increase employee retention and satisfaction, and improve organizational environment. Below are just a few benefits of mentoring.
Benefits of being a Mentor
- Improved communication skills
- Development of leadership skills
- Reinforcement of skills and knowledge
- Added sense of purpose
- Expanded professional network
Benefits of being a Mentee
- Increased skills and knowledge
- Learning from the experience of others
- Increased personal and professional confidence
- Increased communication skills
- More effective goal setting
Benefits to the organization
- Increased employee retention
- Demonstrated investment in employees
- Reduction in training costs
- Development of high-potential leaders
- Creates a collaborative and inclusive environment
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
MPN offers various training opportunities for people looking to become Peer Recovery Coaches or Certified Behavioral Heath Peer Support Specialists. We also offer an array of trainings eligible for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for CBHPSS.
Peer Support Jobs
Montana’s Peer Network does not necessarily endorse any jobs listed. The information is provided to help our members find positions.
If you would like us to post a job announcement, please email Andi.
Peer Support Specialist-Big Sky, MT
Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist (CBPHSS) encourage, motivate and support patients through sharing their own experiences and assist patients to exercise control over their lives and recovery through mentoring, coaching, and connecting patients with resources. CBPHSS ensures that the needs of the patient from a peer perspective are heard and considered in all decision making processes that would affect their treatment. Assure adherence to state statutes and rules, CARF standards, and federal regulations including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2. Positively represents the organization and promotes Rimrock’s Mission to the community.
Peer Support Specialist
PRSC will facilitate or co-facilitate groups, work individually, or in small groups with peers, and use their personal experience to enhance the relationship and mentor clients. Must be in recovery from a severe and disabling mental illness (SDMI) and/or co-occurring disorder and be willing to share experience with members. Certification is preferred, but not required. Winds of Change is willing to provide certification.
Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist
A Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist provides flexible, community-based peer support services that are designed to promote the recovery, empowerment and community integration of individuals who have severe behavioral health challenges. This is a 0.5 – .8 (20 – 32 hours per week) FTE position working alongside law enforcement and other community partners with mobile crisis response providing Peer Support services during mental health emergencies and crisis intervention. This position is also providing prevention efforts through relationship building and follow up care for individuals at risk of mental health crisis. The goal of this position is to provide appropriate care for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, that diverts individuals from the Montana State Hospital, jail or emergency department and instead de-escalates and stabilizes individuals in the community whenever possible and in the least restrictive and most supportive environment possible.
Behavioral Peer Support Specialist
Peer support specialists roles include assisting their peers in articulating their goals for recovery, learning and practicing new skills, helping them monitor their progress, supporting them in their treatment, modeling effective coping techniques and self-help strategies based on the specialist’s own recovery experience, supporting them in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services, and developing and implementing recovery plans
Certified Peer Support Specialist — in Miles City
Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center in Miles City, Montana is seeking a full time MACT Certified Peer Support Specialist. The Peer Specialist is a member of a multidisciplinary team and is or has been a recipient of mental health services for severe and persistent mental illness. Because of life experience with mental illness and mental health services, the Peer Specialist provides expertise that professional training cannot replicate. Peer Specialists are fully integrated team members who provide highly individualized services in the community and promote client self-determination and decision making. The Peer Specialist is responsible for the delivery of Peer Support services in an outpatient and community-based setting for adults with severe mental illness. The Peer Specialist embraces, develops, and implements recovery-based principles with consumers, staff, EMCMHC, and the community. Acts as a positive role model through good work ethic, fairness, flexibility, and commitment to appropriate and direct communications; demonstrates energy and enthusiasm for EMCMHC’s mission and vision. Salary: $14-$16/hr.
Certified Peer Specialist
The Peer Specialist is an active member of the Emergency Department Crisis Team and provides peer support services to patients in a behavioral health crisis. Under supervision, provides consumer information and peer support for clients in outpatient and inpatient settings. Is or has been a recipient of behavioral health services mental illness and/or substance abuse treatment. Acts as a positive role model through good work ethic, fairness, flexibility and commitment to appropriate and direct communication, demonstrates energy and enthusiasm for Bozeman Health’s mission and vision, and embraces, develops, and implements recovery-based principles with consumers, peers, and the community.
The Peer Support Specialist will through sharing their own experiences guide others through the recovery journey using mentoring, coaching, and partnering with community resources.
determination and decision making. The Peer Specialist is responsible for the delivery of Peer Support services in an outpatient and community-based setting for adults with severe mental illness. The Peer Specialist embraces, develops, and implements recovery-based principles with consumers, staff, EMCMHC, and the community. Acts as a positive role model through good work ethic, fairness, flexibility, and commitment to appropriate and direct communications; demonstrates energy and enthusiasm for EMCMHC’s mission and vision. Salary: $14-$16/hr.
Peer Support Specialist provides community-based peer support services that are designed to promote the recovery, empowerment, and community integration of individuals who have severe and chronic behavioral health challenges. Will facilitate opportunities for individuals receiving service to direct their own recovery and advocacy process, by teaching and supporting individuals. Promoting the knowledge of available service options and choices of natural resources in the community and help facilitate the development of a sense of wellness and self-worth.
This flexible position functions as a core member of the Meadowlark outreach team that involves the Home Visiting Care Coordinator and the local One Health primary care provider, licensed addiction counselor, nurse care manager and, when available, other mental health providers in the primary care clinic. The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) is responsible for providing and coordinating warm handoffs and mentoring to patients or potential patient families who are expecting or have children up to age two (2), who are impacted by SUD (substance use disorder) and in need of behavioral health services. The PSS also provides experience-based input to guide the implementation of the strategic plan for recruiting participating families to the Sacred Families Program according to the community’s unique needs.
A successful Peer Support Specialist has life experience in persistent mental illness and has participated in mental health services that led to recovery or rehabilitation. This position holds a special role on the team and in the eyes of the clients, providing supportive services to clients with severe to moderate mental illness, or co-occurring disorders. We offer various settings for a Peer Support Specialist to work in to include foster care and group home settings as well as PACT/MACT team settings which is a multi-disciplinary team providing wraparound services.
Peer Supporter will provide recovery knowledge to peers through personal learned experience, assist peers in obtaining necessary community referrals, provide transportation when necessary, and participate in wellness and recovery planning using SAMHSAS 8 Dimensions of Wellness, and other tasks.
Peer Support Pulse Blog
Radical Acceptance – A DBT Distress Tolerance Skill I Still Utilize
I have struggled with mental health challenges and substance use for most of my life. In my early 20’s I was in and out of psychiatric hospitalizations frequently. I felt everything very intensely and my 20’s were filled with misery, agony, and despair. Though I don’t look back on that time of my life fondly, my difficulties opened the door for me to participate in DBT therapy.
Hiring Peer Support Staff
Candidates often put on their best self, can embellish their credentials, and say what we want to hear. This provides us with false knowledge about a candidate and ultimately a decision which will cost the organization time, energy and dollars. Hiring the wrong person can lead to hours of retraining, coaching, and documenting an employee who will eventually be let go only to restart the process again. Then there is the shrinking workforce nationally. There simply are not as many people to fill healthcare related jobs. Getting it right the first time is important for any organization.
My Journey to Forgiveness
What is the true meaning of forgiveness? Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness.
Beyond Recovery
Early on in my recovery, I was very focused on myself, and that was necessary. I spent countless hours in treatment, in therapy, and in 12 step meetings.
Forms of Advocacy
There are many different forms of advocacy, let me take you on my journey with advocacy. My recovery began in 2007 however I was being advocated for as early as 2003.
Peer Support Specialist Committee
The Peer Support Specialist Committee was formed in 2020. It was established so that the peer support workforce had a group of people representing the workforce, willing to take on challenges and work towards finding and implementing solutions for issues.
