Certified Recovery Specialist Training

The Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumers' Association and Youth MOVE PA now offer the Certified Recovery Specialist Training!

A credential for individuals with personal, lived experience in their own substance use disorder recovery. By offering insight into the recovery process based on their own experience, recovery specialists are able to provide a unique perspective while providing recovery support services. The CRS is not a sponsor, case manager, or a therapist but rather a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator.

Please contact us at ympa@youthmovepa.org to arrange a training at your location. For further details, visit the Pennsylvania Certification Boards website at Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) | Pennsylvania Certification Board (pacertboard.org)

Youth & Young Adult Peer-2-Peer Support Training

Grounded in the philosophy of peer support services and developmental theories, peers are in an ideal position to make a difference. This training targets unique and practical ways to engage and share empathic mental health support, reduce isolation, ease developmental angsts, help clarify confusions, build practical skills and pursue life roles that meet youth’s needs in the ways that matter. Individuals, in the metamorphic identity shift from youth to adult with mental health-social emotional disorders – Raising voices, choices, and supports for a personal youth-quake! Certificate is provided.

Who Should Attend: Certified Peer Specialists (CPSs) and aspiring CPSs

Learning Objectives: Upon conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Discuss the peer -to-peer code of ethical conduct and boundaries to support positive youth development

• Define youth/young-adult growth in the context of Aces and Assets [what impacts healthy adult development and sources of strength and wellbeing

• Review guidelines, differences and strategies to offer safe and sensitive supports during crisis and emergency situations
• Examine the many facets of wellness, self-care states and strategies
• Introduce a template to welcome, engage and effectively support active participate in the recovery, resilience processes and strong adult passages  
• Develop and present an innovative 7-minute YaYA Welcoming Plan

Time: 3-Day Training or 18 Hours

Number of People: 25

• YAYA Peer-2-Peer will be held on August11th to 13th, 2025 from 8 am to 3:30 pm virtually on zoom. There is no cost associated with this training. Register Here!

WRAP Seminar 1 (Wellness Recovery Action Planning)

The Wellness Recovery Action Plan or WRAP is a self-designed prevention and wellness tool that you can use to get well and stay well. WRAP is for anyone, most age groups, any time, and for any of life’s challenges. WRAP is listed in the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. Certificate is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover your own simple, safe wellness tools
• Develop a list of things to do every day to stay as well as possible
• Identify upsetting events, early warning signs, and signs that things have gotten much worse
• Understand wellness tools and develop action plans to respond at the proper times
• Create a crisis plan
• Create a post-crisis plan

Time: may vary
Number of People: 20

Bullying & Suicide Awareness Training

While suicide awareness and bullying awareness are two unique topics, research has found that bullying is a significant risk factor for suicide. While these two topics are associated in this training module, it is important to underscore that suicide is a complex behavior that is rarely attributed to one cause. The training is eligible for Act 48 credits, and certificates will be provided. All course attendees should leave this course with an understanding of the following:

Who Should Attend: Professionals employed or contracted within school-based settings.

Learning Objectives:

Part A:  Bullying Awareness

• Definition of bullying
• Differentiating cyber bullying from physical/in-person bullying
• Identify warning signs of bullying: signs of youth who are engaged in bullying, and signs of youth who are being bullied
• Overview of bullying and its impact on youth mental health and school related outcomes
• Gain a brief overview of laws and policies related to bullying that may impact school employees
• Identify resources for youth who are experiencing bullying or engaging in it

Part B; Suicide Awareness

• Gain an overview of the pervasive myths, misperceptions, and stigma surrounding suicide
• Discover how to identify youth who may be at risk of suicide
• Learn about suicide risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs
• What to consider when responding to youth who may be at risk of suicide
• Learn how to refer youth who may be at risk of suicide
• Gain a brief overview of laws and policies related to suicide awareness that may impact school employees
• Identify national, state and local crisis resources

Time: 2-3 hours

Number of People: 25

“Let’s Talk About It” Bullying Awareness

Our "Let’s Talk About It" Bullying Awareness Curriculum aims to educate elementary-aged students and faculty on recognizing bullying, identifying warning signs, and providing support to peers in bullying situations. Students will participate in an experiential learning environment that incorporates games and activities, fostering a collaborative learning experience. The training is eligible for Act 48 credits, and certificates will be provided

Who Should Attend: This training is highly recommended for professionals working or contracted within the elementary school system, as well as for students. 

Learning Objectives:

• Students will define bullying and identify its various forms
• Students will develop an understanding of the warning signs associated with bullying
• Students will explore the different roles that children assume in bullying scenarios
• Students will engage in discussions regarding the significance of fostering a safe school community

Time: 1 hours

Number of People: 50 to 75 Students

Healing A Wounded Soul: An Exploration of Trauma

Did you ever wonder how trauma can affect your overall well-being? Are you seeking more coping mechanisms to deal with trauma? Join our interactive class to gain knowledge on how trauma impacts the brain and its functions. Furthermore, we will delve into the ACES research on health outcomes and the proactive measures you can take to combat them. Participants will have the opportunity to learn various coping skills, including mindfulness, breathing exercises, and grounding techniques, through interactive activities. We will also discuss self-care strategies and how they can help alleviate the stress of trauma. Certificate is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain a basic understanding of the structure of the brain.
• Discuss how trauma effects the development of the brain. 
• Understand what trauma is and how it affects everyone differently.
• Provide information on the ACEs/Philadelphia Study and how it effects health outcomes.
• Engage in learning exercises to develop coping skills.

Time: 2-3 hours

Number of People: 25

Trauma Sensitive Peer Support: Continuing Our Journey

As Certified Peer Professionals, we continue our healing and recovery journey every day and this workshop allows for more growth and understanding of trauma, how it applies to us as humans, how we can apply it to our professional life, and why any of that is important. Certificate is provided.

During this workshop participants will:

• Practice sharing a personal story in a way that is sensitive to the person receiving the story
• Practice receiving a person's story that may be difficult to hear in a kind and compassionate manner 
• understand the importance of body language while having difficult conversations
• learn how to control body responses and verbal responses that may be harmful 
• learn how to receive a person's story so it does not become part of vicarious trauma for the peer professional

Time: 3-day Training or 18-hours

Number of People: 25

Trauma for Youth & Young Adults

Understanding Trauma: A Safe Space for Youth and Young Adults

Has anyone ever talked to you about trauma? Whether we realize it or not, trauma can affect everyone in some form or another. Often, adults do not discuss trauma with youth, or understand its lasting impact over the course of a lifetime and how to support young adults and children. This training is designed to directly address trauma with youth and young adults and provide a safe and supportive environment to promote open dialogue and discussion. We use plain language to make this complex topic easier to understand, helping to facilitate as much learning as possible. Certificate of attendance is provided.

Who Should Attend: This training is specifically designed for youth and young adults between the ages of 16 and 29.

 

Learning Objectives:

• What is trauma?
• How can unresolved trauma impact you now?
• How can unresolved trauma impact you as an adult?
• What can a person do to resolve their trauma?
• How can you help a friend who may be struggling?

Time: 2 hours

Number of people: 25

Understanding Peer Support for Clinicians

Encouraging clinicians to see the value in Peer Support can be transformative for both clinicians and the individuals they serve. This training will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the service, along with various strategies for incorporating Peer Support into their clinical practices. By applying these methods, clinicians will gain a deeper understanding of Peer Support while highlighting the value of the service and ultimately enhance the quality of mental health care. Certificate is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• What is the role of a Certified Peer Professional?
• What is appropriate to ask about a peer's mental health recovery?
• How can patients in a clinic be identified as potential matches for a peer?
• How WRAP can enhance the work therapists are already conducting with their patients.

Time: 3 hours

Number of People: 25

Against the Backdrop of an Epidemic

Against the Backdrop of an Epidemic was created to invite conversation and self-exploration into stigma related to substance use disorder. Self-Stigma has prevented many individuals from accessing and even being successful in their recovery. In this workshop, we look to identify those stigmas, break down barriers, and crush self-stigma, giving individuals the tools to access their full potential in their recovery journey. Certificate of attendance is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• What are the stigmas associated with substance use?
• How does stigma affect me internally?
• How do we change the conversation surrounding substance use?
• What can be done to fight the stigmas that exist?
• What role do I play in that fight?

Time: 2-3 hours

Number of People: 25

"Our Turn to Talk" Community Conversation

Teenagers are putting an end to mental health stigma. To do it, they’re telling their own stories – unfiltered – in the documentary film and teen-hosted podcast series OUR TURN TO TALK. From skyrocketing rates of anxiety and depression to the impacts of racism, social media, and the pandemic, their struggles and triumphs carry a powerful message: Storytelling saves lives. In this interactive video screening, participants will critically engage with the stories and themes brought to light in this documentary through hands-on activities and group discussion.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how teens across the country are sharing their stories and speaking out about the youth mental health crisis
• Define mental health stigma and develop an understanding of its impact
• Gain knowledge of resources available to support mental wellness

Time: 1.5 hours

Number of People: 25 for ages 16-29

• "Our Turn To Talk" Workshop will be held on August 6th, 2025 from 2 pm to 3:30 pm virtually on zoom. There is no cost associated with this training. Register Here!

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)

This is a suicide prevention training where the participant learns to recognize warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to Question, Persuade, and Refer someone to help appropriately. Youth MOVE PA provides this training to professionals and youth as an emergency mental health intervention for suicide. The training is eligible for Act 48 credits, and certificates will be provided

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the warning signs of suicide
• Know how to offer hope
• Know how to get help and save a life

Time: 2.5 hours

Number of People: 25

"I Didn't Die, But..."

Trauma Talk Workshop

This workshop talks to attendees about what trauma is, how it can affect us throughout our lives, and what we can do about it. This will help participants feel more comfortable talking about their trauma. There is a skill-building portion which is to help attendees feel more confident in using the skills they are taught along with identifying what they already use to help organize their “trauma closet”. Along with the workshop, attendees will receive a participant packet and a bracelet included in the cost. Certificate is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about trauma, triggers, trauma responses, superpowers (coping skills), resilience, and post traumatic growth.
• A personal trauma story will be presented to help attendees learn about many different types of trauma.
• Attendees will learn about their triggers and how to manage them.
• The importance of being understanding when someone around you may be triggered.
• Help attendees to understand what the Flight, Fight, and Freeze responses are, why they happen, and how to handle them.
• This presentation is a different concept than most trauma trainings and we believe this new language focusing around the “trauma closet” will help attendees retain more knowledge on all of the above learning objectives. The concept of the “trauma closet” is a new way of visualizing what we do with our traumatic experiences and how to gain the tools needed to turn your “messy trauma closet” into an “organized trauma closet”.

Time: 2.5 hours (virtual) or 3 hours (in person)

Number of people:  25

Transitioning Into the Adult System | Transitioning & Aging Out

Effective Planning for Transitional Age Youth.
Planning for transitional age youth should begin long before they reach this stage, and it's important to involve multiple parties and agencies in the process. This can be challenging, but effective communication and collaboration between agencies are essential. Our training program focuses on educating youth about the potential obstacles they may encounter during their transition into the adult system, providing strategies to overcome those obstacles, and encouraging pre-planning to prepare for this complex transition. Certificate is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify barriers and challenges youth may experience when transitioning into the adult system
• Discuss interrelated domains including education, employment, housing, budgeting, and family formation
• How to plan ahead for this transition to adulthood

Time: 2 hours

Number of People: 25 

"Life Through My Lens" Workshop

The "Life Through My Lens" Workshop was created to help people see that stigma reduction starts within. If we keep focusing on how others treat us and ignore the negative ways we talk to ourselves, stigma will always win. This workshop is focused on turning the dial toward helping ourselves by not taking that type of treatment from our own internal voice! To change how others see us, we must first change the lens through which we see ourselves | #LIFETHROUGHMYLENS. Certificate is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• What is stigma?
• What is self-stigma?
• How can we change the conversation around self-stigma?
• Learn about the "Life Through My Lens Campaign"

Time: 2 hours

Number of People: 25 for ages 16-29

"Stand Against Stigma" Workshop

Exploring the "Stand Against Stigma" Workshop.
The "Stand Against Stigma" Workshop aims to empower youth and young adults in the fight against stigma. But what exactly is stigma? Learn how to overcome the stigmas that we encounter and discover ways to educate others on how to be more inclusive through their actions and words. Certificate is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn what “stigma” means
• How can stigma be damaging to ourselves?
• What can be done to fight the stigmas that exist?
• What role do I play in that fight??

Time: 2-3 hours

Number of People: 25

• "Stand Against Stigma Workshop will be held on October 9th, 2025 from 9 am to 12 pm virtually on zoom. There is no cost associated with this training. Register Here!

Social Media & It's Connection to Mental Health

Youth MOVE PA's Social Media Training: Promoting Positive Mental Health
Youth, young adults, and professionals can benefit from our Social Media training to become more aware of how social media can impact mental health. Our course teaches participants how to practice social media wellness, offers tips to manage excessive social media use, and identifies resources that can help reduce mental health conditions/risk factors. Certificate is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn statistics related to the impact of excessive social media use
• Discuss mental health conditions/risk factors tied to social media use
• Explore tips & resources for teens and children related to excessive social media use
• Learn how to make a positive impact on social media

Time: 2 hours

Number of People: 25 for ages 16-29

• Social Media and It's Connection to Mental Health will be held on July 22nd, 2025 from 12 pm to 2 pm virtually on zoom. There is no cost associated with this training. Register Here!

Youth Engagement for Professionals

Youth MOVE PA's youth engagement training offers a chance for participants to explore effective methods for attaining and retaining youth participants, enhance relationship-building skills with young individuals, and grasp the concept of empowering youth through the ladder of youth engagement framework. Attendees will also discover ways to establish leadership roles within their organizations and acknowledge the importance of youth engagement for both young individuals and communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore best practices for youth recruitment and retention
• Practice effective relationship building with youth and young adults
• Learn how to empower youth by utilizing the Ladder of youth engagement framework
• Identify strategies to develop leadership opportunities in your organization
• Discover the value of youth engagement for youth and communities

Time: 2 hours

Number of People: 25

• Youth Engagement for Professionals will be held on June 9th, 2025 from 12 pm to 3 pm virtually on zoom. There is no cost associated with this training. Register Here!

Effective Communication: A Comprehensive Guide to Being Heard

Bolster Your Communication Skills with This Training for Young Adults.

If you're looking to become a better communicator, this training is specifically tailored for young people. Effective communication helps us avoid misunderstandings, forge connections, and reach personal and professional objectives. This interactive training lets you interact with other young people and practice honing your communication and active listening abilities. Additionally, the workshop covers proper etiquette, its significance, and how young adults can follow it.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the different types of communication
• Learn tips to communicate effectively
• Outline etiquette in different social settings
• Practice communicating with peers

Time: 2 hours

Number of People: 25

"Start With Art" Workshop

The Start with Art Training for Certified Peer-Based Professionals is a specialized program designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to integrate art activities into peer support services. This training is particularly beneficial for those with lived experience in mental health or substance use challenges, aiming to enhance their ability to support others through creative methods.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the Benefits of Art Activities: Understand and articulate the various advantages of engaging in art activities.
• Assess Different Art Mediums: Analyze and determine the appropriate use of various art mediums.
• Discover the Benefits of Art Activities: Incorporate Art into Your WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)
• Design an Art Activity: Develop and plan your own unique art activities

Time: 3.0 hours

Number of People: 25 for ages 16-29

• Start with Art will be held on November 6th, 2025 from 9 am - 12 pm virtually on zoom. There is no cost associated with this training. Register Here!