Peer Support Training
PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST TRAINING
CHANCE seeks to strengthen the community response to substance use disorder by providing training classes for individuals to become certified as Peer Support Specialists, a category of traditional health worker. As a Peer Support Specialist, you are able to find employment serving others struggling with addiction and help them navigate the resources available while offering support. Whether you are assisting them with health insurance, ID replacement, employment, clinical treatment, education, housing, or other things they need, you get to feel the satisfaction of guiding people down the path you have walked and showing them their own potential.
Our classes are held quarterly, and the training is for a full work week. You will be trained by qualified teachers who have served the SUD community for many years and can help you with current, actual experience. Upon completion of the class, we help students get certified with MHACBO (Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon) which is recognized throughout the state. We will then help you understand the ongoing requirements for maintaining your certification.
Peer Support Specialists must have "lived experience" dealing with addiction in your own life or the life of a close family member. This experience is vital to helping others in a compassionate and mentoring way. You may pay for the class or seek scholarships through various non-profit groups. For more information, please email kbeard@chancerecovery.org