1. The Certified Peer Specialist Service in Franklin/Fulton Counties Getting Started…

2. Step One The Franklin/Fulton (F/F) County Administration will send out an RFP for agencies to respond to.

3. Step Two The Planning Team and the County Administration will select an agency to oversee the CPS service.

4. Step Three The selected agency will hire a CPS Supervisor.

5. Step Four The selected agency and the planning team will develop job descriptions. –Job descriptions will be develop based on consumer needs in the area. –Technical assistance is available- contact Gina Calhoun, Certified Peer Specialist Trainer or Pam Howard, Mont. Co. CPS program director.

6. Step Five Jobs will be advertised Applications will be accepted Interviews will be conducted Agency will select candidates to participate in training. –Candidates recommended by agency will have first priority.

7. Step Six Applications to participate in the CPS training will go out. –All candidates, including those recommended by agency must fill out a training application. –Applications will be reviewed by two members of the planning team and two State Certified Peer Specialist Trainers. Applications are submitted to the planning team and/or The Institute for Recovery; these applications are not reviewed by the agency.

8. Step Six, continued The first training is a combined training with York/Adams Counties. –Nine people will be chosen from F/F Counties.

9. Step Seven The F/F CPS supervisor will receive 12 hours of training. –This training is offered by The Institute for Recovery and endorsed by the State Plan Amendment.

10. Step Eight Upon completion of the CPS training selected candidates will be hired. –Other candidates will be Certified and available for hire when the service grows.

11. Step Eleven A CPS support group will be established. A regional CPS support will also be available. The F/F CPS supervisor will join with the four-five CPS supervisors in Y/A Counties for a support group.

12. Considerations While the primary site of the CPS will be at one agency, the CPS will serve his/her peers as a link/connection to other services and the community.

13. Considerations/Examples A CPS can offer support to individuals in crisis by being a friend during emergency room waits. A CPS can be a companion on first visits to doctors and programs. A CPS may run small group WRAP and PADS workshops within the agency awarded the bid.

14. Considerations/Examples The CPS will encourage community integration. –He/she can be a friend to go shopping with, participate in social activities with… –He/she can plan activities to occur within the agency…i.e., dances, workshops of interest, etc…

15. Considerations The CPS will model the recovery concepts within the agency they are employed, with their peers and in the community agencies they have contact with. The CPS will have the support of the other CPS because they are all employed at one site. Medicaid reimbursement will be less complicated because the supervisor and the CPS are at one primary site.

16. The Certified Peer Specialist Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.

17. The Certified Peer Specialist Doing for someone is not the same as being with someone.