Background:

Medi-Cal Certified Peer Support Specialist:

1. An individual who is 18 years of age or older;
2. Who has self-identified as having lived experience with the process of recovery from mental illness, substance use disorder, or both, as either as a consumer of mental health or substance use treatment services, or as a parent or family member of a consumer of mental health or substance use services; and
3. Who has been granted certification under a county Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification program.

Services Provided:

• Education Skills Building:
  Provide a supportive environment where beneficiaries and their families learn coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills to help beneficiaries achieve desired outcomes.
• Engagement:
  Peer Support Specialist-led activities and coaching to encourage and motivate beneficiaries to participate in behavioral health treatment.
• Therapeutic Activity:
  Structured non-clinical activity provided by a Peer Support Specialist to promote recovery, wellness, self-advocacy, relationship enhancement, development of natural supports, self-awareness and values and maintenance of community living skills to support the beneficiary’s treatment to attain and maintain recovery within their communities.

Certification Process

1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Possess a high school diploma or equivalent degree.
3. Be self-identified as having experience with the process of recovery from a mental illness or substance use disorder, either as a consumer of these services or as the parent, caregiver or family member of a consumer.
4. Be willing to share their experience.
5. Have a strong dedication to recovery.
6. Agree, in writing, to adhere to the Code of Ethics.
7. Successfully complete the training requirements for a peer support specialist.
8. Pass the certification examination.

Grandparenting Process:

Scholarship Opportunity:

• Scholarships under the grandparenting process cover the application fee and the cost of one exam attempt.
• Scholarships under the initial certification cover the application fee, training, and one exam attempt.
• Click here for a list of CalMHSA approved training vendors.
• Applications for certification are approved for 12-months.  This means the scholarship must be used prior to 12-month expiration or scholarship is forfeited.
• The scholarship shall contain a unique identification number.  The scholarship is not transferrable.
• When scholarships are no longer available for a given county, the applicant will be placed on a waitlist.
• No extensions will be granted for expiration of scholarships.