Using Lived Experience to Assist Others in Recovery
In 2015, the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration began providing training specifically dedicated to the needs of a new behavioral health workforce, Peer Recovery Specialists. Peer Recovery Specialists are individuals who use their own lived experience to assist others in their recovery process.
In Maryland, the Peer Recovery Specialist certification (CPRS) is overseen by the Maryland Addiction and Behavioral Health Professionals Certification Board (MABPCB). One of the requirements for certification is an education component. This education component consists of 46 hours of peer-specific training within the domains of Advocacy, Ethical Considerations, Mentoring and Education, and Wellness and Recovery. After initial CPRS Certification, recertification is required every two years, with an education requirement of 20 hours within the domains, six hours being one specific Ethics training.
This training is at no cost to participants to meet the requirements to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Maryland. We also provide training for specialists to maintain CPRS certification and to continue to grow professionally.
Training Opportunities
Trainings range from two major conferences a year as well as a variety of one- to five-day training opportunities consisting of smaller classes (averaging 20-25 participants per class). These trainings focus on a variety of subject areas, such as Advocacy, Mentoring and Education, Wellness and Recovery, and Ethics.
The Behavioral Health Administration also provides additional training opportunities, such as Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Informed Care, to enhance the peer recovery specialists’ skill set.
Other training opportunities include:
- how to be an effective resource broker
- appropriate goal setting
- how to work with other peers in recovery in various settings
- how to serve unique populations to effect change for individuals and the communities in which they live
Questions Concerning Training for Peer Recovery Specialists
All notifications of upcoming Peer Recovery Training are disseminated through the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration’s Peer Recovery ListServ, administered by the Consumer Affairs Unit.
- Please contact Adelaide Weber to request to become a member of the Peer Recovery ListServ.
- To learn more about how to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Maryland, please visit the Maryland Addiction and Behavioral-Health Professionals Certification Board >