This course is designed to be conducted over 50 hours.
At least 40 hours must be face-to-face. To make up the additional training hours we offer a mix of more time to the face-to-face training and pre-work and/or homework to be completed by participants on their own time to present during the face-to-face training sessions.
Our curriculum is designed as process based on the core competencies as set forth by the North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist Curriculum Program. Each module in our course builds on previous information with important core competencies often repeated several times.
The course is designed to be an active process giving you not only the information to be a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist, but also the tools that you can use in your own recovery process. It is based on the recognition that each person in this course may be in a different stage of recovery and can benefit from the additional information.
Information on mental health and substance abuse is integrated throughout the course but the main focus is on the helping relationship and peer support. This is intentional as the Peer Specialist is a supportive role, not a clinical role.
The format of the course is based on adult learning principles and includes readings, didactic information and experiential exercises for practice. It is designed to be flexible so that it can be easily adjustable and customizable for each group.
The homework for each session has been designed to give each person varying views, ideas, and information and is not exhaustive. It is designed to be informative and, at times, controversial. This gives the opportunities for discussion and exploration of various views.
Our classes begin at 8:00 a.m. and end at approximately 5:00 p.m. We break for lunch at approximately 12:00 p.m. for about an hour.
