Peer-to-Peer Support
What is Peer Support?
What is a Certified Peer Specialist?
A Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) is an individual with lived mental health experience who has been trained and certified in the state of Pennsylvania on how to assist others in recovery and wellness. A certified peer specialist performs a wide variety of tasks to assist individuals to regain control over their lives and their own recovery and wellness process.
What Services do Certified Peer Specialist Provide?
CERTIFIED RECOVERY SPECIALIST (CRS)
What is a Certified Recovery Specialist?
The Recovery Specialist is an individual with personal, lived experience of their own recovery. By offering insight into the recovery process, Recovery Specialists are able to share a unique perspective with those with similar life experiences. Recovery Specialists accept and agree that their experience as a person in recovery from a substance use disorder will be known by their colleagues, individuals served, and others with whom they may share that they have achieved this credential.
The Recovery Specialist is a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator. Recovery Specialists advocate for the individual, the recovery system, recovery-oriented services and assist to identify and reduce stigma. They advocate to eliminate barriers, increase natural supports and build community. Services provided by the Recovery Specialist substantially improve an individual’s and family’s ability to sustain recovery and wellness.
CERTIFIED FAMILY RECOVERY SPECIALIST (CFRS)
What is a Certified Family Recovery Specialist?
The Certified Family Recovery Specialist is an individual who is an adult family member or loved one who has experienced their own recovery after being impacted by a loved one’s substance use disorder. The training is designed to meet the current educational requirements for the CFRS credentials set forth by the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB).
For more information on Peer Support or the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB), please visit:
Peer Support Resources in Pennsylvania |
Peer Support Groups Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (for family and person with MI)
My Life Program for Youth Ages 13 to 23
Peer 2 Peer SupportReflections Whole-Life Recovery Community - Short-term 24-hour peer-to-peer support in a homelike environment for those experiencing overwhelming distress Website for NAMI support Groups |