The Core Recovery Curriculum should give the trainees the following competencies:

They should have a working knowledge of:

• the difference in focusing on the symptoms of the illness and the impact of the illness
• the basic structure of the state Mental Health System (MHS) and how it works
• the Peer Specialist’s job description within the state MHS
• the difference in services that focus on stabilization and those that focus on recovery
• the meaning and role of peer support services
• the difference in treatment goals and recovery goals
• the basic five stages in the recovery process and what is helpful and not helpful at each stage
• the role of peer support services at each stage of the recovery process
• the basic definition and dynamics of recovery
• the difference in an illness story and a recovery story
• the difference in agency environments that promote recovery and those that do not
• the meaning of Trauma Informed Services
• the five steps of PICBA as a problem solving process
• the five steps in Igniting the Spark of Hope
• the concept of Shared Decision Making
• the dynamics of power, conflict and integrity in the workplace
• the three steps in the Process of Effective Communication

They should be able to:

• use their own recovery experience to help a peer recover
• articulate what has been helpful and what has not been helpful in their own recovery
• identify beliefs and values a peer holds that works against recovery
• discern when and how much of their recovery story to share and with whom
• be able to discuss their own tools for taking care of themselves
• facilitate a Recovery Dialogue
• use questions to help a peer get in touch with the life they want
• use a person’s dissatisfaction as an avenue to setting recovery goals
• use the PICBA problem solving process with a peer
• use questions to help a peer identify and move through their fears
• use the Catch it! Check it! Change it! process to help a peer combat negative self-talk
• use the Shared Decision Making process to help a peer prepare for a doctor’s visit
• teach peers to advocate for the services that they want

*Each day starts at 8:30 and ends at 4:30.  Each session is one hour, followed by a 15 minute break.  There is a one-hour lunch scheduled from 12 – 1.

*While it is not a part of ACG’s Core Recovery Curriculum, it is highly recommended that Peer Support Specialists be able to teach other consumers to create their own Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and have an understanding of Cultural Competency.  WRAP training must be taught by a Copeland Center certified trainer.  There are usually local trainers who can teach cultural competency.