Contact: Adrienne Lightfoot (202) 671-4089
Media Inquiries only: Phyllis Jones (202) 631-3077

New Application Deadline for Winter Class is January 19, 2018

Washington, DC—The District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health is extending the deadline to apply for the Winter 2018 Peer Specialist Certification Training Program. The deadline is 12 noon, Friday, January 19, 2018. Participants will learn how to help individuals receiving behavioral health treatment develop goals, monitor their own progress, and advocate for effective services. A peer specialist is a model for personal recovery and ongoing coping skills.
 
Applications are being accepted for the core peer specialist certification training, family peer specialty training, youth peer specialty training and the peer specialist certification waiver.  Individuals may apply for any combination of certifications using the 2018 Peer Specialist Certification Application.  Applicants can also apply for a waiver of the requirements to complete the classroom work and the field practicum based upon current work experience or certification as a peer specialist or equivalent granted by another jurisdiction.
 
Managed by the Consumer and Family Affairs Administration (CFAA), the Peer Specialist Certification Training Program helps prepare individuals to qualify for available certified peer specialist jobs within the community behavioral health provider network. Under general supervision, a certified peer specialist performs a wide range of tasks to help individuals regain control over their lives and their own recovery process.  DBH encourages certified providers to include certified peer specialists in their workforce.
 
Who is eligible for the program?  The Peer Specialist Certification Training Program is for self-identified current or former consumers of behavioral health services who have the ability to support other individuals diagnosed with a mental illness and/or substance use disorder. To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must be a District resident (except for waiver applicants) and at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma, GED, or higher. 
 
How do I apply for the program?  A completed application along with a resume, proof of residency, evidence of education, and two professional letters of reference (work or volunteer related) must be emailed to Adrienne Lightfoot at [email protected], mailed, or hand-delivered to the Department of Behavioral Health Consumer and Family Affairs Administration, 64 New York Avenue, NE, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20002 (Attn: Adrienne Lightfoot or hand-delivered to a CFAA staff member).  No faxed application will be accepted. Only complete applications will be considered for an interview.  Upon review and scoring of applications, selected applicants will be interviewed for entry into the program. 

After successful completion of classroom training, an 80-hour field practicum must be completed with a provider identified and arranged by the Consumer and Family Affairs Administration. Following completion of the field practicum requirements, a certification examination must be passed. Waiver applicants are required to interview and, if selected, only pass the certification examination.   All participants will graduate in September 2018.

For an application and/or more information, please email [email protected] or go to www.dbh.dc.gov, click on consumers and scroll down to the peer specialist certification program. Participants will be eligible to apply for a transportation scholarship contingent upon availability of funds and completion of all certification requirements.