Webinars

“Certified Peer Specialist Program in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections” with Tracy Johnson & Allyson Eparvier – August 2023 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice

August 2023 CPS & CPPS Community of Practice

“Certified Peer Specialist Program in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections”
with Tracy Johnson & Allyson Eparvier

August 17th, 2023 from 1:30 – 3:00 pm CT

Facilitators:
  • Dr. Tracy JohnsonDr. Tracy Johnson is a Certified Peer Specialist and a Licensed Psychologist who has 26 years of experience working for the Wisconsin DOC. She has held positions as Psychologist, Psychology Supervisor, and she is currently the Psychology Manager for the Division of Juvenile Corrections. She assisted in implementing the first pilot peer mentoring program in the Wisconsin DOC in 2016 and she became a Certified Peer Specialist State Trainer in 2017. Dr. Johnson has co-facilitated all of the Certified Peer Specialist trainings in the DOC, since the program began in 2017. She is currently a Co-Director for the Certified Peer Specialist Program in the Wisconsin DOC. Dr. Johnson is inspired by the commitment and dedication of the Certified Peer Specialists in the DOC, and she is grateful and honored to be a part of the CPS Program. 
  • Dr. Allyson Eparvier
    Dr. Allyson Eparvier has worked in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) for the past 11 years. Prior to that, she worked in corrections in both Colorado and California. She is currently a Psychological Associate at Dodge Correctional Institution (DCI) where she is the Psychological Services Liaison for the Restrictive Housing Unit. In addition, she is the Co-Chair of the Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) Program at DCI and also a Co-Director for the CPS Program for all adult institutions within the DOC. Dr. Eparvier has a wealth of knowledge about the utility of the CPS Program within a correctional setting and is passionate about supporting individuals through their rehabilitative journey.
Description:

Receive an overview of the CPS program in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

This will include:

  • Information regarding the history of CPS in the Wisconsin DOC, dating back to the first CPS training in 2017
  • Program implementation and expansion across the prisons and custody levels
  • An overview of partnerships with Access to Independence and DHS
  • Barriers, challenges, and strengths of the program
  • Positive contributions and impact on peers, the CPSs, the prison environment and culture
  • Future direction of CPS in the DOC

Learning Objectives:

  • General understanding of how CPS in the Wisconsin DOC began and has evolved
  • Challenges, strengths and benefits of CPS in the Wisconsin DOC
  • Future direction of CPS in the Wisconsin DOC

 

Feedback Survey/CEH Information:

We invite you to please fill out the evaluation survey link (click here) if you attended this community of practice gathering or if you watch the recording. The survey will close at 4:30pm on Thursday, August 31st. Certificates of Participation will be sent to those completing the evaluation form by 4:30pm on September 7th, 2023. No evaluation surveys will be accepted for CEH credit after the evaluation survey’s closing date/time.

This website is managed and maintained by staff at Access to Independence working on the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative. The words, views, and values presented herein are not necessarily representative of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Join Our Email List for Information on Training, Jobs, and Continuing Education Opportunities

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.