We are happy to announce a statewide, online Certified Peer Specialist training coming in November of 2021!

This statewide, online (Zoom-based) Certified Peer Specialist training is privately-funded by Madison Area Technical College (Madison College) and supported by Access To Independence.

Training dates: November 1st-5th (Mon.-Fri.), 8th-12th (Mon.-Fri.), 15th-18th (Mon.-Thurs.) 2021.

Hours: 5pm-8:30pm CT

Trainers: Dominique Christian & Lynn McLaughlin

Training serves: Residents of all 72 Wisconsin counties (you do NOT have to be a student of MATC)

Training cost: Free for participants

When to Apply (and Deadlines/Closing)

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, September 20th, 2021

Application Deadline: 12pm (noon) on Saturday, September 25th, 2021

Statewide CPS Training Process (revised and updated as of September 2021):

As we seek to expand access to CPS trainings, while navigating a very much changed WIPSEI as impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are reviewing and revising our statewide CPS training application process based on data, feedback, and capacity.

This revised process, which includes a shorter application period, no cap on the number of applications received, and a full review of all applications received (new), is intended to allow sufficient time for interested applicants to apply (no 50 applicant cut-off/closing of applications), while still honoring our trainers’ capacity through the 5-day application window. It is designed to support both accessibility and equity.

• The application period will be five days (see “When to Apply” on event listings).
• There will be no cap on the number of applications received during the 5-day application period.
• All applications submitted will be reviewed for basic eligibility (see “Determining Eligibility and Fit” on event listings).
• Applications not meeting basic eligibility will be removed from the pool of applicants.
• All applications received meeting basic eligibility are reviewed in full by the training’s trainers with support from the WIPSEI as needed.
• Trainers review applications to invite no more and no fewer than 25 applicants to virtual interviews.
• Following interviews, trainers select 14-18 interviewees to participate in the training.

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.

Trainers will submit a roster of selected participants to the WIPSEI at least two weeks prior to the training start date. Please do not contact the WIPSEI about your selection decision during this review process, as we will not have updates for you. All applicants will be informed of their selection decision regardless of whether they were selected for a training or not.

Determining Eligibility and Fit

The following are required to be eligible to apply for this CPS training:

• Must self-identify as having navigated first-hand, personal lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges
• Must reside in any Wisconsin county
• Must have at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Must be 18 years of age or older

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.

Considerations

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.

Applying for this or any CPS training does not guarantee selection as a participant.

Applications received for review by trainers are reviewed by them in full, and a variety of criteria may determine whether an applicant is asked to interview and possibly participate in a training. These include, but are not limited to:

• Whether or not the applicant meets the basic eligibility requirements to become a Certified Peer Specialist (18 or older, possesses either a high school diploma or GED, is a Wisconsin resident, has first-hand, personal lived experience navigating mental health or substance use)
• Whether or not the applicant meets secondary eligibility requirements that are training-specific (belongs to the county, tribe, region, and/or community served by the particular training)
• Whether or not the applicant is seeking employment or is already employed in a peer support position and/or a supervisory role to CPS (trainings are intended to serve workforce development efforts as part of an employment initiative)
• Whether or not the applicant is a community member looking to use their personal experiences to support others towards recovery/wellness/meaningful living
• How well the applicant is able to demonstrate an understanding of recovery principles, especially in such a way that supports self-determination of people with lived experience
• Whether or not the applicant has experience offering peer support in a professional or personal setting

Because this training is the pre-requisite to registering for the state-approved CPS exam, and a pathway to working in a professional peer support role, applications demonstrating the following may not be given priority in the application review process:

• Applicants seeking this certification simply as a resume booster
• Applicants looking to obtain the certification but not go on to work in the role of a CPS or CPS supervisor
• Applicants looking to use this training as the “next step in their recovery”
• Applicants who show they do not support many pathways to recovery
• Applicants only seeking certification in order to bill as a CPS while providing non-CPS services

Filling Out and Submitting the Online Application

First, we highly recommend filling out and submitting the online training application form using a desktop computer or tablet and not a smart phone.

It is important that you answer all required questions  (marked with an asterisk) on the online training application form. There are also formatting requirements in regards to dates and other fields (such as email address). If required fields are not answered in the application form or the fields are entered incorrectly, it will register as an error and your application will not be submitted to us when you press the “submit” button.

This is what happens if you try to submit an application with errors:

• Applicant presses “submit” button
• Instead of being redirected to the “application submission page,” the training application form page reloads
• This page now contains language telling the hopeful applicant that some fields were entered incorrectly (applicant may need to scroll down to see this)
• Incorrectly filled out or missing fields are highlighted in red
• Applicant should fix errors and resubmit
• Upon successfully addressing errors, the application submission page with a timestamp will appear (we recommend you print or save a print screen of this page when it appears) and a copy of the application will be sent to the applicant’s email address they provided alongside an outline of next steps

Please note: If the application form or event page page reloads instead of the “application submission page,” there is something wrong with your application, and you will need to follow the instructions to address any errors.

What to Expect After Applying

We ask that you once again review our unique application process for statewide CPS trainings (click here).

Final selection decisions for this training may not be made until October 18th, 2021 (two weeks prior to the training start-date).

We are happy to announce an online Certified Peer Specialist training coming in August and September of 2021!

This U.S. Military Veterans community-specific training is the fifth in a series of various community-specific Certified Peer Specialist trainings this year.

A note on this community-specific training:
This CPS training is for those who have served any amount of time as a US military servicemember regardless of one’s character of discharge. Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria to apply as outlined below under “Determining Eligibility and Fit.”

Training dates: August 30th–September 3rd (Mon.–Fri), 8th–10th (Wed.–Fri), 13th–14 (Mon–Tues.), 17th (Fri.), 22nd (Wed.) (5pm-9pm all days)

Trainers: Oliver Johnson & Tanya Kraege

Determining Eligibility and Fit

The following are required to be eligible to apply to this CPS training:

• Must have served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces
• Must self-identify as having navigated personal lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges
• Must reside in any Wisconsin county (this training is open statewide to U.S. military veterans regardless of character of discharge)
• Must have at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Must be 18 years of age or older

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.

Considerations

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.

When to Apply (and Deadlines/Closing)

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, July 5th, 2021

Application Deadline: 12pm (noon) on Monday, August 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.

Apply to become a Certified Peer Specialist Trainer in Wisconsin!

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

What are Certified Peer Specialist Trainers?

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.

Determining Eligibility and Fit

The following are required to be eligible to apply to this CPS ToT:

• Must be a Certified Peer Specialist with active Wisconsin certification or attain certification as a peer specialist in Wisconsin by July 28th, 2021
• Must reside in any Wisconsin county
• Must identify as a member of a marginalized community
• Must be willing and able to facilitate a minimum of 2 CPS trainings per year
• Must be able to facilitate online trainings and arrange for travel for facilitation of in-person trainings

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:

• Demonstrated skill and experience in supporting adult education, community building, group facilitation, effective communication, and skill development
• Experience in supporting equity, accessibility, and inclusion in communities, programs, training spaces, or workplaces
• Clear understanding of and experience related to the role of a Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist and peer support principles and frameworks
• Experience with online meeting platform facilitation for events (especially Zoom)
• Bilingual or multilingual fluency a plus, especially in English/Spanish, English/Hmong, English/Indigenous languages spoken by Wisconsin Tribal Nations, English/ASL

Reasonable Accommodations and Accessibility Support

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.

When to Apply (and Deadlines/Closing)

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

We are happy to announce an online Certified Peer Specialist training coming in August of 2021!

This online Certified Peer Specialist training is hosted by Independence First.

Training dates: August 10th-12th (Tues.-Thurs.), 14th (Sat.), 17th-19th (Tues.-Thurs.), 21st (Sat.), 24th-26th (Tues.-Thurs.), 28th (Sat.)

Time: 5pm-9pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays / 9am-1pm on Saturdays

Trainers: Phillip Corona and Susie Austin

Determining Eligibility and Fit

The following are required to be eligible to apply to this CPS training:

• Must self-identify as having navigated personal lived experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges
• Must reside in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, or Waukesha County and be a Wisconsin resident
• Must have at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Must be 18 years of age or older

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.

Considerations

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.

When to Apply (and Deadlines/Closing)

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 Tuesday, June 15th, 2021

Application Deadline: 12pm (noon) on Tuesday, July 13th, 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.