Certified Peer Specialist (CPS)
A Peer Specialist is an individual with their own mental health or co-occurring lived experience. They have found stability in their lives, and their role is to support participants in finding their own life of recovery. As individuals who have achieved and maintained their own personal recovery, they serve as constructive, positive role models who help reduce stigma and focus on empowerment.
Why a Certified Peer Specialist?
Our team of Certified Peer Specialists have completed a 75-hour training, are certified through the Pennsylvania Certification Board, and obtain a minimum of 20 CEUs each year. Many of the Certified Peer Specialists have specialized training focused on WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan), forensic support, substance use, youth & young adult, trauma-informed care, and crisis management.
Central’s CPS program supports individuals with emotional, behavioral, and/or co-occurring substance abuse challenges on their path to recovery, by collaborating on a strength-based recovery goal plan with you. These goals may include maintaining ongoing recovery, community involvement and activities, socialization, self-care or connecting to other needed resources.
Central’s CPS program supports individuals with emotional, behavioral, and/or co-occurring substance abuse challenges on their path to recovery, by collaborating on a strength- based recovery goal plan with you. These goals may include maintaining ongoing recovery, community involvement and activities, socialization, self-care or connecting to other needed resources.
CPS Generalists promote
- Self-advocacy
- Develop coping skills
- Improve relationships
- Health and Wellness
- Development of Natural Supports
- Connection to the community of choice.
- Personal responsibility
Older Adult CPS
The Older Adult CPS provides community-based support for Older Adults (60 years and older) with behavioral health issues and/or Co-occurring challenges to help create a network of natural supports and to decrease isolation.
Benefits of CPS Services for Older Adults
• Helps to create meaning in a person’s life
• Helps with health and wellness
• Fosters hope
• Helps create a network of natural supports
• Decreases isolation
• Increases activity
Referrals
Individuals eligible for peer support services have a serious mental illness with moderate to severe functional impairments in those areas supported by the team as indicated above. Referrals can be initiated by another behavioral health professional, however, a physician, psychiatrist, licensed psychologist or a licensed professional of the Healing Arts (LPC, LCSW, LFMT) will review and recommend this service for the individual. Individuals will have Magellan or County funding to participate in the service.
To learn more, contact our Main Office at 610-277-4600 or our Abington-Area Services Office at 267-818-2220.