Certified Peer Specialists
For application follow the link link to the right of this page.
For the CPS Frequently Asked Questions Click Here
CPS Code of Ethics
CPS Upcoming Classes
OCTOBER 2010
Framingham and
Acushnet(S.E. area)
Spring 2011
***TENATIVELY-Springfield and Fitchburg
CPS Testing will be held at:
August 24th Tuesday 9:00 am - Brockton, MA
August 25th Wednesday 9:00 am Lawrence, MA
August 26th Thursday 9:00 am Lawrence, MA
August 29th, Sunday at the Transformation Center
August 30th Monday 9:00 am - WMass RLC, Holyoke MA
To Arrange for Testing please contact Karen Brown at
617-442-4111 x313 or cps@transformation-center.org
CPS Tutoring
- Each person retesting for the CPS exam is eligible for 2 individual tutoring phone calls.
- There will be 5 tutoring teleconference calls on Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m-
July 19th, July 26th, August 2nd, August 9th & August 16th
- Group tutoring sessions:
The Transformation Center – Saturday 7/24 11 am - 1pm
NILP RLC – Tuesday 7/26 6 -7:30 pm
South East RLC – Wednesday 7/28 6 -7:30 pm
WMass RLC – Wednesday, 8/4 6 – 7:30 pm
You are eligible to participate in all group-tutoring sessions.
RSVP NECESSARY FOR GROUP TUTORING SESSIONS
To Arrange for Tutoring please contact Karen Brown at
617-442-4111 x313 or cps@transformation-center.org
New Dates will be posted for fall classes in early July, Check back for more information.
This spring, two classes completed the classroom training portion of the Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) program. They were facilitated by The Transformation Center and funded by the Department of Mental Health. The CPS training took place in Brockton and in Lawrence over a time span of 9 weeks. The training had over 50 participants and focused on training peer specialists to provide paid peer support to other peers, to carry the message of hope, and to utilize and promote effective recovery oriented practices in their work. Read the the full article Here
CPS Tutoring
Each person retesting for the CPS exam is eligible for up to two individual tutoring phone calls.
To arrange tutoring phone and to arrange a test date please contact Karen Brown at the Transformation Center 617-442-4111 x313 cps@transformation-center.org
Please call Karen Brown to RSVP for in person tutoring sessions because if there is not sufficient interest in participation, then the seminars could be canceled.
Mental Health Awareness Day/CPS Celebration
A Celebration is being planned for the hard work and the enormous success of the students who completed the CPS training classes and passed the Certification exam.
Information to follow about the celebration that will be held in late September, check back soon.
Over the next few months we will be mailing out more specific information about the CPS Celebration.
Developing a Quality Peer Workforce
Many people with lived experience of mental illness find helping others is a way to enhance their own recovery, and find that role very rewarding. One avenue to engage in peer mentoring is to become a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS). The CPS training prepares people to work in the mental health system. The CPS training course is an 8-10 day training that teaches people how to use their “recovery story” to facilitate hope and belief in recovery for people who both use services and provide mental health services. Participants also learn specific skills to help others engage and thrive in the process of change and recovery. CPS training participants receive their certification after passing both an oral and written examination.
The Transformation Center is working with the DMH, DPH and other state partners to broaden the impact of CPS & Peer Services within the mental health field in a number of ways, including:
- Advocating for dedicated funding for CPS positions in DMH facilities & other mental health agencies
- Advocating for Medicaid reimbursement for CPS services within and beyond mental health agencies
- Requesting funding and support for continuing education for advanced study in supervision, trauma, veterans issues, etc.
Several Transformation Center staff are active members of many state and national boards and subcommittees that impact policy regarding peer inclusion in the work force such as TransCom, Massachusetts Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (MassPRA), the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA), the Massachusetts State Documentation Pilot project (MSDP), The Friends Committee, Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) Consumer Advisory Council, etc. Through these efforts, we hope to see the role of peers in the mental health workforce expand dramatically over the next five years.
Sample Modules:
Role of the Certified Peer Specialist (CPS)
Dissatisfaction as an Avenue for Change
Effective Listening Skills
Power, Conflict & Integrity
Cultural Competence
Health Care Disparities
Facing our Fears
The Five Stages of Change
Psychiatric Rehabilitation
WRAP
Recovery Dialogues
Code of Ethics
- Dedicated funding for CPS positions in DMH facilities & other mental health agencies
- Medicaid reimbursement for CPS services within and beyond mental health agencies
- Continuing education for advanced study in supervision, trauma, veterans issues, etc.
Contact:
Lyn Legere
Certified Peer Specialist Program
The Transformation Center
98 Magazine Street
Roxbury, MA 02118
617-442-4111
Toll Free 1-877-769-7693
lynl@transformation-center.org