Evaluation of the DBSA Peer Support Certification Training Program

With the increasing recognition of the value of mutual assistance and peer support for recovery from mental illness, training and certifying peer providers has become an important topic. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, along with other experts in peer services , have developed a Peer Specialist Certification Training Program. This Program prepares individuals to work with their peers on self-directed recovery and employment, with the ultimate goal of a meaningful life in the community for all participants.

An evaluation of this Peer Specialist Certification Training Program was conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s National Research and Training Center on Psychiatric Disability. The evaluation found statistically significant increases in participants’ knowledge about the mental health system, supportive counseling skills, and peer-to-peer service provision. In addition, participants in the training program expressed high levels of satisfaction with the training, and overwhelmingly agreed that they would recommend it to others. Find out more about this training program and how it was evaluated.

Download Final Report [PDF, 15 pages, 183k]

Peer to Peer Resource Center Web Site
http://www.peersupport.org/

Depression and Bipolar Alliance (DBSA) Web Site
http://www.dbsalliance.org/

CMHSRP Project Staff

Judith Cook, Ph.D.
Jane Burke-Miller, M.S.
Jessica Jonikas, M.A.

DBSA Project Staff

Susan Bergeson, Vice President
Lisa Goodale, ACSW, LSW, Peer Services Director