Project Return Peer Support Network

The California Association of Peer Supporters Academy (CAPS.academy) is built on the foundation of one of the oldest and best Peer Trainings in California.

Our training prepares those who identify as peers for roles in the public mental health system as employees or volunteers able to support individuals on their road to recovery through intentional and skillful use of lived experience.

The CAPS Academy is statewide joint venture between two Peer Run Agencies in California: Project Return Peer Support Network (PRPSN) and Mental Health America of California (MHAC) and is uniquely poised to be the vendor of choice.

This collaboration for the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Training is an approved vendor with CALMHSA under the umbrella of Project Return Peer Support Network (PRPSN).

Our combined experience, history, expertise and capacity meet the Peer Specialist training needs of CalMHSA throughout California.

This training includes classroom instruction, 80 hours, currently via Zoom.

During the training, participants will learn:

The Concepts of Hope, Recovery & Wellness
Confidentiality
Conflict Resolution
Co-Occurring Disorders
Crisis & Safety Planning
Cultural & Structural Competence
Digital Literacy
Documentation
Effective Peer Support
Employment Services
Group Facilitation Skills
Mental Health First Aid
Motivational Interviewing
System Navigation & Referrals
Psychiatric Rehabilitation
The Role of Advocacy
The Role of Consumers & Family Members
Self-Disclosure in the Workplace
Self-Care & Self-Awareness
Trauma Informed Care
Welcoming: The Great Equalizer

Who Can participate?

Those who identify as a Peer in recovery who are age 18 or older and who have personal lived experience with a mental illness, addiction, justice involvement and/or a close family member with lived experience.

Requirements:

Training participants must commit to attending and actively participating in 80 hours of training.
Training participants must have the technical capability and make a commitment to participate on camera during Zoom virtual classroom sessions.
Training participants must have the heart and passion to assist others on their journey.
Training participants must have access to a computer or laptop and stable internet connection

Ideal Candidates:

Are planning to take the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Exam.
Have Basic Digital Literacy skills that enables participation in the Online Courses.
Have access to a computer or laptop and stable internet connection.
Act as an agent on their own behalf.
Will positively contribute to the class as a learning community.
Can commit to the entire duration of the program.
Can create a distraction free learning environment remotely, that enables them to be fully present and engaged.

Announcement

The CAPS Academy is currently accepting applications for our June Cohort. All applicants are required to take a digital literacy assessment test. Go to www.digitalliteracy.org. Click on take assessment under Test Your Digital Literacy. Once you receive your test score, please attach it. A passing score is 85% or above. You can take the test as many times as you'd like before submitting your score.

To apply to CAPS Academy, please click here.

If you are interested in attending CAPS virtually on a Saturday, please email Georgie Sullivan at gsullivan@prpsn.org

For questions or to learn more information about the training, contact:
Georgie Sullivan, Training Assistant. (323) 772-9732 gsullivan@prpsn.org

For questions or to learn more information about the training, contact:

Georgie Sullivan, Training Assistant Cell: (323) 772-9732 E-mail: gsullivan@prpsn.org

To learn more information about the California Peer Certification process, go to: http://capeercertification.org