In August 2021, the Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS) and staff at Access to Independence working on the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative will be holding an online Certified Peer Specialist Training of the Trainer (CPS ToT) with a focus on members of marginalized communities.
Training dates: August 16th-18th and 23rd-25th
Hours: 9am-4pm CDT (there will be breaks and 45 minutes for lunch as part of this structure)
Trainers: Brittyn Calyx, Tara Wilhelmi, and Vic Welle
Certified Peer Specialist Trainers are Certified Peer Specialists (CPS) who go on to co-facilitate the 48-hour CPS curriculum used in Wisconsin. They are CPS with skill and experience in both the role of a CPS and adult education and group facilitation who have successfully completed the Certified Peer Specialist Training of the Trainer. They are not employees of DCTS or Access to Independence and are currently paid at a rate of $35 an hour for the prep work and facilitation of CPS trainings they contract to co-facilitate.
The following are required to be eligible to apply to this CPS ToT:
It is anticipated that 8-12 participants will be selected for this training. To be considered for selection, you must meet the basic eligibility requirements above, submit an application form, and complete a virtual interview. There is no training registration cost for participants.
What are Marginalized Communities?
Marginalized communities are those excluded from mainstream social, economic, educational, and/or cultural life. Examples of marginalized populations include, but are not limited to, groups excluded due to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, language, and/or immigration status. Marginalization occurs due to unequal power relationships between social groups. It can also take the form of systemic oppression when it is driven by institutions of the society, including education systems, health care systems, justice systems, housing systems, and financial systems, through laws, customs, or practices.
Desired skills and experience in applicants:
If you require reasonable accommodations due to disability, technology assistance, or language accessibility supports for applying or participating in this CPS ToT if selected, please reach out to Brittyn Calyx, Peer Specialist Program Communications Assistant at brittync@accesstoind.org or (608) 416-3033.
A button will appear below this section with the words “Click Here to Apply” at the time applications open. Click that button to access the application form for this training.
Applications Open: 12pm (noon) on Monday, June 7th, 2021
Application Deadline: 12pm (noon) on Monday, July 5th, 2021
This Indigenous Peoples community-specific training is the fourth in a series of various community-specific Certified Peer Specialist trainings this year.
A note on this community-specific training:
This training is not specific to a single tribe or nation, nor is it specific to only federally-recognized tribes and nations. Some tribes have hosted Certified Peer Specialist trainings specific to a singe nation or group of nations. The purpose of this training being more broad in scope to Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (also known as North America) is part of the equity and justice initiatives of the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative, striving towards access and inclusion.
Training dates: July 30th and August 2nd-6th, 9th-13th, 16th-20th (5pm-8pm all days)
Trainers: Cano Padilla & Mike Kelly
The following are required to be eligible to apply to this CPS training:
14-18 participants will be selected for this training. To be considered for selection, you must meet the basic eligibility requirements above, submit an application form, and complete an interview. There is no training registration cost for participants.
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the role of a Certified Peer Specialist before applying. Click here to learn more about the role and work of a Certified Peer Specialist.
A button will appear below this section with the words “Click Here to Apply” at the time applications open. Click that button to access the application form for this training.
Applications Open: 12pm (noon) on Friday, June 4th, 2021
Application Deadline: 12pm (noon) on Friday, July 2nd, 2021
Possible Early Closing of Applications:
A maximum of 50 applications will be considered. If 50 applications are received prior to the application deadline (see above), the application form will automatically close and no additional applications will be received.
This community-specific training for those with personal lived experience of incarceration is the third in a series of various community-specific Certified Peer Specialist trainings this year.
Training dates: June 18th, 20th-24th, 27th-July 1st, 6th-8th, 11th-12th (5pm-8pm all days)
Trainers: Oliver Johnson & Tara Wilhelmi
The following are required to be eligible to apply to this CPS training:
14-18 participants will be selected for this training. To be considered for selection, you must meet the basic eligibility requirements above, submit an application form, and complete an interview. There is no training registration cost for participants.
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the role of a Certified Peer Specialist before applying. Click here to learn more about the role and work of a Certified Peer Specialist.
A button will appear below this section with the words “Click Here to Apply” at the time applications open. Click that button to access the application form for this training.
Applications Open: 12pm (noon) on Friday, April 23rd, 2021
Application Deadline: 12pm (noon) on Friday, May 21st, 2021
Possible Early Closing of Applications:
A maximum of 50 applications will be considered. If 50 applications are received prior to the application deadline (see above), the application form will automatically close and no additional applications will be received.
This online Certified Peer Specialist training is hosted by Access to Independence and will accept applications statewide.
Note: If you live in a county that is currently scheduled as being included for a county-specific or regional training, you are encouraged to only apply for those county-specific or regional trainings that serve residents of your county.
Training dates: July 22nd-23rd, 26th-30th and August 2nd-6th, 9th-12th
Time: 12:30pm-3:30pm on all training dates
Trainers: Chris Richardson and Tara Wilhelmi
The following are required to be eligible to apply to this CPS training:
14-18 participants will be selected for this training. Please scroll down and read “Statewide CPS Training Application Process (revised)” for more information about how applications are considered. There is no training registration cost for participants.
We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the role of a Certified Peer Specialist before applying. Click here to learn more about the role and work of a Certified Peer Specialist.
A button will appear below this section with the words “Click Here to Apply” at the time applications open. Click that button to access the application form for this training.
Applications Open: 12pm (noon) on Wednesday, May 26th, 2021
Application Deadline: 12pm (noon) on Monday, May 31st, 2021
Statewide CPS Training Application Process (revised)
General, statewide, CPS trainings have reached a 50-applicant maximum extremely quickly in the past (at times in just an hour). This presented accessibility barriers related to both disability and technology access/familiarity. The following is a revised application process for these statewide CPS trainings.
This process, which includes a shorter application period, an no cap on the number of applications received, and a lottery process to determine which applications are considered by trainers, is intended to allow sufficient time for interested applicants to apply, while still honoring our trainers’ capacity in considering a maximum of 50 applicants per training. It is designed to support both accessibility and equity.
This unique application process only applies to statewide, CPS trainings not of a community-specific nature at this time. It does not apply to regional trainings, community-specific trainings, or trainings specific to a certain county or tribe.