AGENDA AND CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND CPRS
Brandee Izquierdo, Director
Office of Consumer Affairs
State of Maryland BHA
AGENDA & CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS FOR THE CPRS
1 hour – Ethics * 2 hours – Mentoring & Education
EVENT TRAINING DATE:
August 21, 2015
TIME:
1-4 PM EST
LOCATION:
10007 Rhode Island Ave., College Park, MD 20740
*RSVP* SEATING LIMITED
George McElfatrick, Peer Program Coordinator
On Our Own of Prince George
Email: gmcelfat@gmail.com
INTENDED AUDIENCE – CPRS from the State OF Maryland; CPS Washington, DC; Office of Consumer
Affairs; On Our Own Prince George; Beyond Today International, other Invited community
stakeholders who are Peers working in Peer Services | Supports
The State of Maryland Office of Consumer Affairs will bring together diverse stakeholders from the
behavioral health field from across at least two (2) different regions for SAMHSA’s Region III.
This meeting will invite participation from peer support workers, representatives from state agencies,
and staff from organizations employing peer support workers in each respective region.
PURPOSE and CEU’s to be offered
1. Build a shared understanding of the diverse current and future peer provider workforce in behavioral
health.
2. Review and discuss Peer Core Competencies in Behavioral Health, an important framework in overall
US Peer Workforce Delivery;
3. Consider how national practice guidelines might be used to advance peer support workers employed
in behavioral health.
4. Develop strategies for integrating the Peer Core Competencies in Behavioral Health into the peer
provider workforce.
5. Identify opportunities for advancing the training and certification of the peer provider workforce,
including the development of sustainable funding strategies for training (e.g., Medicaid Waivers such as
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AGENDA AND CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND CPRS
the 1915i, the 1115 and Medicaid Rehabilitation Waiver Optional Carve-out and Managed Care
Organizational collaboration).
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The State of Maryland Office of Consumer Affairs expects to achieve the following outcomes:
◆ Inclusion of diverse stakeholder perspectives in the development of a strategy to advance Peer Core
Competencies in Behavioral Health.
◆ Increased awareness of emerging practices for peer workforce development, including funding
strategies, credentialing options, and support for promoting the employment and advancement of
peers.
◆ A collaborative report on findings that outline the opportunities, challenges and priorities for
expanding and developing the peer provider behavioral health workforce in the State of Maryland and
Washington, DC.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Core competencies for Peer Workers in Behavioral Health Services and Principles and Values
http://www.samhsa.gov/brss-tacs/core-competencies-peer-workers
In addition to identifying the core competencies for peer workers, the set includes a list of principles or
values that guide the way in which these competencies are to be performed by peer workers. Al
competencies are to be performed in a manner that aligns with the principles of recovery-oriented,
person-centered, non-coercive, trauma-informed and be relationship-focused supports.
1. Recovery-oriented: Peer support provides a hopeful framework for the person to envision a
meaningful and purposeful life, recognizing that there are multiple pathways to recovery.
2. Person-centered: Peer support is directed by the person participating in peer support service.
Peer support is personalized to meet the specific hopes, needs and goals of an individual.
3. Non-coercive: Peer support never involves force and participation in peer support is always
voluntary.
4. Trauma-informed: Peer support utilizes a strengths-based framework that emphasizes physical,
psychological, and emotional safety and creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of
control and empowerment.
5. Relationship-focused: Peer support centers on the affiliation between peers. Characteristics of
the relationship are: respectful, empathetic, and mutual.
ETHICS
Peer Skill Sets Points 6 and 7
#6 - Demonstrate respect for a person’s right to self-determination
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AGENDA AND CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND CPRS
#7 - Educate staff and funders about peer-appropriate record-keeping, i.e., documentation that fulfills
funding requirements without compromising peer to peer mutual relationships (Co-Optation).
MENTORING & EDUCATION
Peer Position Qualifications: The peer supporter shall meet the qualifications specified by the State of
Maryland, and/or Washington, DC’s oversight training and assistance oversight body, the core tasks
required by the job, the role, the expectations, the SKA’s and Job Description, required for the job.
These may include:
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Lived experience;
High school diploma/GED or demonstration of literacy and education commensurate with the
expectation of the position;
Background checks in which nonviolent criminal justice histories and evidence of positive life
choices are seen as potential assets rather than work barriers;
Completion of training/education requirements;
Demonstration of knowledge and skills required for the peer worker role;
Experience as a peer volunteer or as an intern where such opportunities exist.
Sponsored By
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AGENDA AND CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND CPRS
RSVP
SEATING LIMITED
George McElfatrick, Peer Program Coordinator
On Our Own of Prince George
gmcelfat@gmail.com
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