A New Second Chance Peer Support Training

Introduction

Peer support specialists play a vital role in behavioral health systems, using their lived experience with mental health or substance use recovery to support others. But lived experience alone isn’t enough. Effective peer support depends on intentional, high-quality training. In North Carolina, as elsewhere, standardized training sets the foundation for competence, safety, ethical practice, and continued professional growth.

What Is Peer Support Specialist Training?

Training for Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSS) encompasses both core certification training and continuing / specialized training. It includes:

• Foundational courses covering recovery models, communication skills, trauma-informed care, ethics, boundaries, confidentiality.
• Practical exercises or role-plays.
• Additional training modules (e.g., crisis intervention, cultural competence, justice-involved populations, youth, LGBTQ+).
• Recertification training and continuing education to stay current.

North Carolina’s Training & Certification Requirements

Here are key components of NC’s CPSS / NCCPSS (North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist) training:

• Eligibility often requires 18 months of lived experience with a mental health or/or substance use challenge.
• Must complete a 50-hour approved peer support training: at least 40 hours face-to-face instruction; about 10 hours of pre-work/homework or other modalities.
• Additional 20 hours of training, including approved ethics / peer support boundaries training.
• Two letters of reference and signed Code of Ethics.
• Recertification every two years: includes 20 hours of additional training (with at least 3 hours in Ethics/Boundaries).

Why Training Matters

1. Consistency and Quality of Support
   Varied training programs risk inconsistent outcomes. Standardization ensures that all peer specialists are grounded in essential competencies.
2. Safety and Ethical Boundaries
   Working in peer support includes navigating vulnerability, confidentiality, dual relationships. Proper training in ethics and boundaries helps safeguard both peers and support specialists.
3. Professional Recognition & Credibility
   Certification backed by rigorous training gives legitimacy to peer specialist roles, facilitates integration into care teams, and helps with reimbursement / funding.
4. Adaptability to Specialized Needs
   Populations differ—youth, veterans, justice-involved individuals, LGBTQ+ persons, those with trauma. Training that includes specialization helps peer specialists serve diverse communities more effectively.

Challenges & Areas for Growth

• Gaps in Training Perception: Some peer specialists report that their initial training doesn’t fully prepare them for on-the-job challenges. For example, a UNC-led study (2022) found variation in how trainees felt prepared across different core competencies.
• Resource Limitations: Access to approved trainers, availability in rural areas, costs, scheduling demands can pose barriers.
• Ongoing Support & Supervision: Training alone isn't sufficient; peer specialists benefit from mentorship, supervision, peer networks, and opportunities for feedback.
• Keeping Training Updated: Behavioral health needs change (e.g. telehealth, changing substance use trends, new evidence about trauma and social determinants). Curricula must evolve.

Best Practices for Effective Training

To maximize impact, training programs should include:

• Interactive, experiential learning: Role-plays, simulations, case studies.
• Lived experience integration: Trainers who are themselves peer specialists bring credibility and deeper insight.
• Cultural humility / competence: Train for working with diverse populations (race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomics).
• Trauma-informed practices: Since many in recovery have trauma histories, understanding trauma dynamics is essential.
• Ongoing evaluation & feedback: Collect input from trainees, supervisors, and clients to identify where training is strong or needs improvement.

Case Snapshot: NC Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center

A recent UNC project, Assessing the Adequacy of Training for Certified Peer Support Specialists, surveyed peer providers across NC about how well their training programs prepared them. Key findings include:

• While many felt confident in areas like communication and basic peer support, there were noted gaps around crisis response, navigating boundaries, and working with specialized populations.
• Trainees emphasized need for more scenario-based learning and real-world practice.

Conclusion

Training is the backbone of an effective, ethical, and responsive peer support workforce. In North Carolina, the existing structure provides a solid foundation—but continuous refinement is needed to meet evolving needs and ensure every certified peer support specialist is fully equipped to make a difference. As the field grows, investing in strong training, supervision, and specialized learning will help ensure peer support lives up to its promise: partnership, recovery, and hope.