Training

MPN offers a host of trainings on many subjects around recovery. We have developed these to meet the needs of Montana and have drawn on information from other successful programs. Many of our trainings are free to attend and we offer them throughout Montana. You can also bring one of our trainings to your community for a fee. This is often more cost effective than sending several people to a training outside of your community. Visit our store for details. Click on the training title to read more about the training.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak all of MPN is holding all training virtually. Please visit our events page for schedule.

Jump to a training topic

General Information and Consumer Training

Click the title to open each description.

Intro to Recovery

Want to learn more about recovery or peer support? Then this is the training for you! This 4 hour training covers the basics when is comes to recovery, the concepts, guiding principles, building a wellness toolbox and the role of peer support. This introductory training is designed for those who want to know more about recovery, those who are new to recovery or want to learn more about the recovery movement.

Section 1 – Preparing for Training
Section 2 – Introduction and Expectations
Section 3 – What is Recovery?
Section 4 – Knowing your own recovery
Section 5 – What is Peer Support?
Section 7 – Maintaining your own recovery
Section 8 – Wrap up and Resources
Handouts, Homework, and Agenda

This training does not qualify for CEUs.

This training was developed in part under Statewide Consumer Networking Grant # 1H79SM062965-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Interviews, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.

Peer Leadership

Course is designed for the development and enhancement of individual and network peer leadership and advocacy skills. How do we get a seat at the table, have our voice be heard and create real change.

Developing Local Affiliates

PAL Passport eligible

Learn how to bring MPN resources to your community as an affiliate. Affiliates can share resources, coordinate efforts, provide a unified voice, and offer training and presentations. Each affiliate brings a unique focus and perspective to the organization as a whole. MPN has a solid positive reputation in the state and affiliates can leverage that.

This training does not qualify for CEUs.

Advanced Psychiatric Directives

This online training will help you understand the process for writing an Advanced Psychiatric Directive (APD) and the laws concerning them in Montana.

The form and instructions below were created by Disability Rights Montana, based on the mental health care advance directives law, Title 53,Part 13, of the Montana Code Annotated (2012). The law says any signed, dated notarized document that expresses a person’s clear intention that it serve as a advance directive form, and no person may be required to use any particular form for creating a directive. Advance Directives may be entirely handwritten and out of state Advance Directives are valid if they meet Montana legal requirements.

This training is approved for the PAL Passport Project. This training qualifies for 1.5 CEUs for CBHPSS.

Download: Advance Psychiatric Directives Document Instructions

How to be Effective on Boards and Councils

PAL Passport Eligible

Learn about the basics of how boards function, what the expectations are, and how to be a leader and advocate for the recovery movement including:

This training qualifies for .75 CEUs for CBHPSS.

Fostering Partnerships

PAL Passport eligible

It is vital to develop win-win partnerships with other organizations to find ways to meet the needs of consumers and change systems. Join us to learn how you can build partnerships as a leader and advocate. This training will cover how to find common ground, build trust, and produce win-win results.

This training qualifies for .75 CEUs for CBHPSS.

Become Trauma Aware

This 8 hour interactive training is an intrinsic approach to trauma-informed peer support. Over the course of the training, trainees will learn how to identify trauma, its effects, promote positive self-care strategies and gain an understanding of how peer support can be used in the healing process. Those with their own traumatic experiences will have the opportunity to grow their understanding of how to use those experiences to connect and support peers who are earlier in their trauma recovery journey.

Goals

Gain an understanding of trauma
Realize the effects of trauma
Develop insight to the healing and recovery of trauma
Learn strategies to exercise trauma-awareness in peer support

Emotional CPR (eCPR)

Emotional CPR (eCPR) is an educational program designed to teach people to assist others through an emotional crisis by three simple steps: Connecting, Empowering and Revitalizing.

Participants will:

Assist individuals in transforming anger and rage into passion and strength
Inspire motivation and change
Help others tap into their courage and power
Reframe crisis as opportunity
Encourage the people they serve to take steps in the direction of their dreams
Learn the importance of taking care of themselves so that they can support others
Facilitate the other persons access to inner wisdom

14 CEUs available for attending the entire training

For more information, visit our eCPR page or contact Amanda.

Recovery Talks

Montana’s Peer Network believes in the power of telling a recovery story. This training was created due to the many requests by our members to develop a simple, straight forward program to assist those in recovery in telling their story publicly.

A recovery story is very different than telling an illness-based story. A recovery story includes the celebration of overcoming, it tells of positive change and of inspiration. A recovery story is contagious to those who hear it, planting a seed of hope or a whisper of courage. In this training you will find an outline for developing your own recovery story for presentation to an audience. You do not need any previous training or experience as a public speaker. In order to tell your recovery story effectively, though, you do need to prepare. For the presenter, telling your recovery story in front of an audience can be empowering, inspiring, nerve-racking and thrilling all at the same time. Recovery stories change the lives of the listeners. Stories change the life of the presenter too.

This training includes personal reflections, educational background and an outline for telling your own story.

Naloxone General User and Master Trainer Courses

In response to the opioid epidemic, HB333 was passed into law as the Help Save Lives from Overdose Act. This act extends liability protections to public safety, firefighters, school nurses and any person who takes this class when administering Naloxone to a suspected overdose in the course of their duties.

Naloxone General User led training fulfills the DPHHS approved training requirement of the Act. this training requires and online session and a hands on classroom session.
30-90 Minute On-Line learning Module (please complete prior to attending the classroom session. Portal: narcan.bestpracticemedicine.com
90 Minute Classroom Skills Training Session

Master Trainer Course and Re-certification

Completion of Part One, the online Naloxone Master Trainer course is required prior to attending a skills training session. This access will be emailed to you upon registration for the hands-on session. It can also be obtained by emailing aolson@bestpracticemedicine.com

Completion of the Naloxone Master Trainer program authorizes individuals to conduct Naloxone Training for those eligible for liability protections when administering Naloxone to a suspected opiate overdose in Montana under the 2017 Help Save Lives from Overdose Act (HB333).

For more information or to register for training, contact Jason McNees a Helena Indian Alliance Leo Pocha Clinic (406) 443-9244.

Heartbeat of Hope, Recovering from Stimulant Use

This webinar provides a unique approach to stimulant recovery from a peer perspective, discussing what stimulant users in recovery have found most effective for their transition from chronic use to achieving long-term recovery and lasting lifestyle change. We will cover the specifics of stimulants, including statistics, traditional and emerging treatment, and the importance of perception change and a whole-person, individualized, self-directed approach that goes beyond the symptoms of stimulant use to consider and address the underlying issues that contribute to our choices and behavior.

1 CEU available

Peer Coaching Series

The Montana Peer Network has specifically created the Peer Coach Basic Training Education course (listed below) for you to learn techniques to effectively support and serve those in need.This training series is designed to introduce peer coaching, providing guidance as you move forward supporting others. You will learn about the foundation of peer coaching, how to provide effective self-directed support for others, and information on possible career-advancement as you gain time in your own recovery.These courses are designed for those who wish to increase their support skills but do not intend to become Certified Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists.

The Peer Coaching Series does not qualify for CEUs.

What is Peer Coaching

This chapter provides the basics of Peer Coaching including the 10 Guiding Principles of Recovery, making a connection through shared experiences, providing support, resources and effectively responding to those in need.

Healthy Boundaries

This chapter describes the importance of healthy boundaries, proper self-care techniques when supporting others and tips on avoiding the cumulative impact of supporting others that can even derail the strongest peer coaches.

Trauma Informed Peer Coaching

This chapter provides a snapshot of trauma, the impact of trauma on individuals, its long-term effects and strategies that can be deployed by peer coaches. The 4 R’s of trauma awareness, realize, recognize, respond and avoid re-traumatization.

Debriefing

Afterwards it is important to unpack the coaching experience to stay balance and be ready for the next mission. Includes the development of a self-care plan.

For more information about the Peer Coaching Series, please contact Amanda or Brent.

Email Amanda or call 406-224-3898

Training to Become a BHPSS or Develop Skills

Peer Support 101

Montana’s Peer Network has developed a comprehensive 40 hour training program to provide you with basic education and instruction around the most important elements of peer support work. We were the first provider approved by the Board of Behavioral Health to meet the training requirements for obtaining certification as a Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist.

Find out more about PS 101.

Peer Support 102

Peer Support 102 contains 6 standalone training modules that are offered throughout the year online. Courses with * are only available to certified BHPSS with at least six months work experience. Space is limited in each class, registration is required.

BHPSS Ethics*
Peer Leadership
Suicide Intervention*
Best practices for clinical supervision*
Advance Psychiatric Directives
Model for providing Peer Support*
Recovery Program Must Haves

Trauma informed Peer Support

MPN has been trained by the National Trauma Informed Center in Washington DC as facilitators of Trauma Informed Peer Support. This is an 6 hour interactive training that provides an introduction to and over of the key concepts in SAMHSA’s technical assistance document, Engaging Women in Trauma Informed Peer Support: A Guidebook. Although the guidebook was developed to support women, the training itself has been adapted for all trauma survivors.

The intended audience is peer support staff, those who receive peer support, anyone who works in a setting where peer support is provided and of course trauma survivors.

“Studies show that 90% of people with psychiatric diagnosis are trauma survivors.”

Training Agenda:

Visit the Events page to register.

Ethics for Peer Supporters

4 hour course explores ethics and how it is applied to the profession of Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialist. Including role plays, formation of boundaries, and best practices.

Only available to certified BHPSS with at least six months work experience.

Visit the PS 102 page for course registration.

Beyond Incarceration: Justice System Peer Specialist Training

Montana’s Peer Network is excited to launch an MPN-developed and comprehensive 24-hour (over 3 days) training program designed to equip peer supporters with the knowledge and skills necessary to support justice system-involved persons throughout the criminal justice experience. During this training, cBHPSS will have the opportunity to draw from the collective wisdom gained through lived experience in the justice system to identify and analyze barriers, ethical dilemmas, bias, the impact of trauma, and the important role that positive relationships play in the success of peer support throughout the justice system. The training will facilitate a deeper understanding of the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM), discuss the roles of peer support across each intercept, provide professional and cultural considerations when navigating and working with others in the system, and identify data collection needs pertaining to each intercept. Beyond Incarceration provides an interactive learning experience inclusive of homework assignments, role play demonstrations, group learning exercises, and collaborative group discussions designed to prepare and equip cBHPSS with the skills needed to provide forensic peer support services. Participants who attend and participate throughout the entire training and pass a knowledge assessment will receive a Certificate of Specialization.

Topics include:

Peer Support Roles in the Criminal Justice System
Sequential Intercept Model Overview
Perceived Barriers and Bias
Reframing Personal Narratives and Perception Change
Thinking Changes
Hierarchy of Needs
Addressing Trauma
Navigating Complex Relationships
Advocacy
Code of Ethics
Resources

To register for the training, please complete the application.

Special Introductory Offer over 90% off!
Only $35

Regular cost $570

Skills Shape-up

Quarterly training for paid CBHPSS members. We will cover various topics specific to CBHPSS. These are to replace our previous Speed Skills webinars. For more information, contact Bill.

2 CEUs available for each training

PS101 Followup Webinars

We are now offering follow-up webinars to those who have completed PS 101. This is to help support peer supporters in pursuing certification and careers in Montana. We will hold periodic webinars to focus on challenges or barriers with that pursuit and to assist CBHPSS candidates in completing applications and the certification process. We often get agencies reaching out to us for job offers and want to be able to help get these very important jobs filled with people who have a passion to support others. Webinars are scheduled 2-3 weeks following each PS 101 course. Contact Jim for more information.

Training for supervisors, organizations, and employers

Clinical Supervision

MPN is no longer offering Clinical Supervision training free of charge. If you are interested in this training, please contact Jim for a consultation. You can find an introductory presentation and additional information on our Resources page under the Clinical Supervision tab.

Provider/Employer Training

This half day training (4 hours) is intended for employers or providers of peer services, or those who intended to start up peer services in their organization. Such as – Managers, Directors, and Supervisors.

Peer Supporters are the newest edition to the behavioral health field. They utilized their “lived experience in recovery” to support clients in their recovery journey. Sounds simple, right? Yet, it can be a complex process. The most common question we are asked is, “What do peer supporters do?” We will explore that topic and all of those complexities of recruiting, hiring, training, supporting and maintaining peer support staff in this training.

This training explores the following:

History of peer support
Employer assessment and readiness evaluation
Peer Supporter Standards
Hiring and support for peer support staff
Clinical Supervision
Programing

Recovery Program Must-Haves

“Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Benjamin Franklin

Recovery Program Must-Haves explores best practices for recovery programs including:

This is a hands on training with in class exercises and discussion for recovery program staff to lay the ground work for success. This training includes handouts with self evaluation for each domain.

What is recovery? How does your program embrace these principles? How will you demonstrate the effectiveness of the recovery program? These are just a few of the questions we will be discussing and hopefully, answering in this training. Come prepared to work, this is not a passive training and requires attendee participation. This training can be provided virtually or in person.

Offered online at various times of the year. Free to paid BHPSS members
$60 fee for others

For more information about training, please email us.

MPN trainings and presentations have been featured at:

SAMHSA Statewide Consumer Networking Institute

Mental Health Policy Summit

BRSS TACS webinar Series

Stone Child College

North Dakota Consumer Network Conference

Peerpocolypse, Oregon

Helena College

Blackfoot College

Little Big Horn College

Primary Care Association

Crisis Intervention Team training

NAMI Mental Health Conference

Integrated Behavioral Health Summit

Eastern Montana Mental Health Conference

Board of Crime Control Annual Conference

Reentry Task Force

Eastern Montana Community Mental Health

Riverstone Health

BRSS TACS Recovery LIVE! Web Series

Alternatives Conference, Tennessee

Billings Clinic

Live Well 49

Glacier Community Health Center

Western Montana Mental Health Center

Center 4 Mental Health

Mental Health Oversight Advisory
Council

Service Area Authorities
Western, Central, Eastern

Local Advisory Councils
Big Timber, Bozeman, Butte, Glasgow, Great Falls, Helena, Livingston, Missoula, Miles City, Townsend, Virginia City