Welcome to the Peers in Recovery Mentorship Training Program, a training program created from the Children’s Mental Health System of Care (SOC) sustainability project in partnership with Central Florida Behavioral Health Network (CFBHN), Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services (PEMHS) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Pinellas. This training program prepares individuals to be proficient in all Florida Certification Board peer specialist core competencies through a combination of in-person learning and volunteer experiences.

What is the Peers in Recovery Training Program?

This program was created to enhance the recovery of individuals in treatment by linking them with individuals who have similar life experiences and have been in recovery for a minimum of 2 years. These individuals in recovery, known as Peers, will be able to establish connections, offer encouragement, empower, and inspire hope in individuals in treatment as experts in recovery with the enhanced knowledge and skill set provided through the ongoing coaching and training of this program. For the purpose of this program, a Peer’s lived experience may include mental illness, substance use disorders, or addiction, or they may be a family member of someone who experiences the same challenges. 

The Process

The mentorship process supports the various phases of recovery beginning from the first steps of engagement and connection to treatment, to the phase of professional development for the Peer Mentor. Additionally, the Peer Mentor will develop skills to facilitate groups, offer individual support, learn to effectively tell their story, connect to community resources, advocate for individual treatment, as well as learn about specific agency standards, professional boundaries, cultural competency, and more, using the Florida Certification Board (FCB) credentialing process as a platform.

As the Peer pursues the required training to participate in the Peers In Recovery Mentorship Program, they will be offered additional support from a Peer Specialist at NAMI Pinellas County FL (NPC). The NPC Peer Specialist will assist the Peer by reviewing a checklist of the documents required to apply for provisional certification as a Recovery Peer Specialist through the FCB. 

Expectations for Peers in the Program

1. Maintain open communication with the NAMI Peer Specialist and/or Mentor Coach
2. Pursue and complete FCB-required training and certification process
3. Complete all necessary paperwork and commit to the process
4. Meet regularly with a Peer Supervisor and/or Mentor Coach
5. Inform mentors and supervisors of the successes and challenges encountered during the program.
6. Maintain healthy and professional boundaries with staff and clients alike
7. Practice a personal wellness plan, ensuring individual health and wellness is a priority
8. Practice personal responsibility and self-advocate for individual needs
9. Role model recovery, self-care, and professionalism
10. Maintain an open mind and open heart, with an enthusiasm to learn and help others

Curriculum

Wellness Recovery Action Planning® (WRAP) is a 2-day self-designed prevention and wellness planning process based on mutuality, self-determination, and the premise that resilience, recovery, and wellness are limitless. WRAP® is evidence-based and consists of tools and action plans that can be used by anyone to establish a plan of wellness, maintain their plan, and use it to continue to improve their path to wellness. WRAP® is a system that provides techniques for positive personal changes in the way that participants feel and how they respond to life’s challenges. 

Individuals who use their own WRAP® report enhanced emotional well-being and quality of lives. With consistent use of the WRAP® process, users have reported that it has become easier and easier to adapt it to many situations in their lives, whether these were health management, mental health management, substance misuse, grieving loss, or other instances of crisis.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a 2-day safe, confidential space. The course provides an opportunity for mutual support and growth. Experience compassion and understanding from people who relate to your experiences. This is a place to learn more about recovery in an accepting environment. 
     helps you:

  • Set a vision and goals for the future
  • Partner with health care providers
  • Develop confidence for making decisions
  • Practice relaxation and stress reduction tools
  • Share your story
  • Strengthen relationships
  • Enhance communication skills
  • Learn about mental health treatment options

NAMI Connections Facilitator Training is a 2-day program designed to prepare individuals to lead peer-led support groups for those living with mental health conditions. The training focuses on teaching facilitators how to create a supportive environment, encourage open discussion, and manage group dynamics effectively. It covers topics such as active listening, the importance of confidentiality, and strategies for fostering a sense of community among participants. The goal is to empower facilitators to help others share their experiences, gain insights, and develop coping skills in a safe and respectful setting.

NAMI In Our Own Voice (IOOV) Presenter Training is a 1-day training prepares individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions to lead presentations that share their personal stories. The training emphasizes storytelling techniques, effective communication, and how to engage audiences about mental health issues. Leaders learn to convey messages of hope and recovery while addressing common misconceptions about mental health. The goal is to reduce stigma, promote understanding, and inspire others by demonstrating that living well with mental health challenges is possible.

 

How to apply?

If you are a person with lived experience and have been in recovery for 2 years, you can apply to the Peers in Recovery Mentorship Program by clicking on the link below:

For more information or questions, contact [email protected]


 

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