Alaska Peer Specialist Training | Learn More About Peer Support Training Offered in Alaska

40-Hour Basic Peer Support Training – 2023 Schedule

Evening Trainings (Tues/Wed/Thu for five weeks, 6-9pm)

January 3 – February 2
February 28 – March 30
May 2 – June 1
July 18 – August 17
November 7 – December 7

Saturday Trainings (9 am – 6 pm Saturdays for 5 weeks)

February 4 – March 4
April 8– May 6
June 17 – July 15
September 2 – September 30

Weeklong trainings (Monday- Friday, 9 am – 6 pm)

February 13-17
May 1-5
June 12- 16
August 7 -11
October 2-6
December 11 – 15

Submit Application for Peer Support Training

Advanced Peer Support Trainings

Train the Trainer

Training to prepare active peer support professionals to train their oncoming peer team members and active/outgoing consumers by using the state approved Alaska Behavioral Health forty-hour training. Learn how to make the class your own while holding true to the content and desired outcomes. Are you ready to take your peer strengths to the next level? Sign up for our next training.

January 9 – 10
February 6 – 7
April 6 – 7
June 19 – 20
August 17 – 18
October 19 – 20
December 7 – 8

Apply for Train the Trainer here!

Hire, Supervise & Retain Your Peers

Peer Support isn’t a new thing. But, here in Alaska’s Helping field, it is new to a lot of us. The truth is that most people in this field have lived experiences. We just don’t use them to do our jobs. Learn the do’s and don’ts of Peer Support Supervision, how to offer support without counseling, how to develop strong peers by playing on their strengths and using their skills to support the team, clients, and communities as a whole. Are you ready to confidently supervise your team’s PSPs? Sign up for our next training

January 12
March 13
May 8
July 13
September 15
November 13

Apply for Supervisor Training here

Continuing Education Classes for Peers (earn CEU’s)

Peer Support Ethics

A three-hour course designed to help Peer Support Professionals understand the unique scope of services they provide and how ethical standards are in place to protect their consumers, themselves, and their communities. This class is designed to assist in a better understanding of role specific challenges, ethical arenas, the code of ethics, and how to resolve ethical concerns when they arise through lens of the Peer Support Professional utilizing case studies and application. Tuesday, April 4^th 9am – 12pm

Confidentiality

A three-hour course designed to help Peer Support Professionals understand the confidentiality standards that are in place to protect their consumers, their private health information, their experience in recovery services, and overall privacy when it comes to working toward their recovery. This class is designed to assist in a better understanding of role specific challenges, confidentiality arenas, the proper way to maintain confidentiality under legal constraints like 42 CFR part 2, HIPAA, as well as local, state, and federal mandates as they arise through lens of the Peer Support Professional utilizing case studies and application. Tuesday, April 4^th 1pm – 4pm

Grant Writing

A three hour class to work through the uncertainties in grant writing. Learn some basic skills to support your agency and be a frontline contributor to the needs of those you serve. Thursday, April 6^th 2pm – 5pm

Apply for peer support CEU classes here

Meet our Peer Support Specialists

What is a Peer Support Professional?

Peer Support Professionals are individuals who identify themselves as in recovery: living with a mental illness diagnosis, history of trauma, and/or history of addiction. They may also be a family member of someone who meets that definition. Peer support specialists bring a different perspective when it comes to recovery and helping others through their own journeys. Being able to empathize and empower others at various stages in recovery with personal experiences is what makes Peer Support such an important part of the recovery journey and its success.

What do Peer Support Professionals do?

Partner with those they serve and represent them at the table with a treatment team
Assist consumers in understanding the process of services, forms being used, types of questions, and updates
Be present for the consumer
Provide support & encouragement
Assist the consumer in Voice & Choice (teach them self-advocacy)
Offer perspective and hope to the consumer on behalf of the treatment team
Offer insight and perspective to the treatment team on behalf of the consumer
Share personal examples
Support wellness and model recovery values
Support harm reduction as part of the recovery process
Support all stages of recovery and relapse
Offer future oriented dialogue
Be accepting, understanding, non-judgmental, empowering (voice, choice, affirmation, recognition, and advocacy)

Training Details

We provide weeklong, evening and weekend training options, in-person or via Zoom. Trainings are scheduled throughout the year and throughout the state of Alaska.

The training is provided at no cost through support from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and the State of Alaska Division of Behavioral Health. However, you will need to provide your own lunch and transportation.