Elective Courses
The goals of this course are to examine health and wellness in the peer community and review how the peer support Wellness Coaching model can help people improve their quality of life.
In this course, you will review the role of the peer specialist as a community organizer, defining community organizing and why it’s important to people in recovery. You will examine four community organizing approaches commonly used by peer supporters.
The course explains what community assets are, where they can be found, and how to gain access to them using the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model. After identifying and organizing key assets of the ABCD Model, you will construct a community asset map for your locality using Google Maps.
This course presents principles for reducing the negative consequences associated with substance use when supporting peers in recovery. You will analyze how and why harm reduction works in different situations when peers exhibit at-risk behaviors and will identify interventions in harm reduction consistent with the Stages of Change Model.
This course explores the people, politics, values, and roles responsible for reforming the system from asylums to permanent home addresses. The course’s focus on reformation supports the critical role of peer supporters in improving today’s mental health system.
This course describes housing programs offered through the NYS Office of Mental Health, Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HAAP) & the Department of Housing Urban Development (HUD). You will also learn about of The Fair Housing Act and how it can be used to reduce discrimination.
This course is an overview of the evidence-based practice of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Model of Supported Employment. You will explore the role of employment in supporting peer recovery and identify the eight foundational principles of the IPS Model that support peers seeking employment.
The course defines mental health parity and specifically discusses Timothy’s Law. In addition, the New York State parity law is reviewed, and activities are provided to help you better understand the types of individuals and conditions covered under parity law.
Integrated treatment is an evidence-based practice that improves the quality of life for people with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders. In this course, you will discuss the benefits and learn how integrated treatment leads to better outcomes than treating these disorders separately or in separate places.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative process wherein both service provider and peer work together on an issue the peer is experiencing. In this course, you will explore MI principles and spirit, as well as peer readiness for change and change talk.
In this course, you will learn how to identify your own cultural identities, be respectful of people with whom you work, describe successful multicultural interaction skills, and explain why the topic is important to peer services.
This course explores peer leadership by covering popular leadership theories, organizational structures, and different ways in which leaders emerge.
In this course you will learn about the prevalence of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system, laws that pertain to people with mental illness, and ways in which you can give peer support to people who are involved at various intercept points in the criminal justice system.
Building on the Introduction to Person-Centered Principles, this course shows the contrast between a traditional (system-centered) intake and assessment process and one in which the person is the focus of the process through recovery-oriented person-centered (ROPC) approaches.
This course provides foundational information about Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs) and how peer providers can work with others to make decisions about having a PAD.
Using the SAMHSA Dimensions of Wellness as a foundation, this course presents an array of resources and skills peer providers can use to assess, develop, and deepen their own self-care. It also develops peer providers’ support skills for helping others through self- assessment and consideration of strategies and activities they may choose for self-care.
This course is intended to offer ways in which peer specialists can have conversations about suicide with people who may be contemplating suicide.
Using the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Model, you will examine the role, skills, and competencies of the successful Supported Employment Specialist in assisting job seekers in finding and maintaining employment, thereby supporting them in recovery.
The goal of this course is to provide an overview of what financial wellness is, why it matters to recovery and overall wellness, and ways peers can support individuals to build their financial hope and access available services and supports to improve their financial wellness.
In this course we explore common issues faced by military families and those who have served in the U.S. military. You will learn about resources and strategies for assisting this population to overcome challenges and find greater peace at home.
The course demonstrates how using the arts has become a major source of recovery for persons who have experienced mental health challenges. It honors artists who have contributed to the history of the consumer/survivor movement and showcases the stories of current-day artists and directors of peer arts programs.
After completing this course, Peer Specialists, partnering with families, will be equipped to offer information and resources aimed at educating families on mental health and whole family health and wellness.
