Reentry Peer Specialist Training

Reentry Peer Specialist training is an eight-day, 64-hour training that was developed by Via Hope to train formerly incarcerated individuals with a history of mental health and/or substance use challenges to address the issues of becoming a “whole person,” which will ultimately reduce recidivism and barriers to reentry into the community through a recovery-oriented peer led strategy. This training is designed to directly address the significant barriers to becoming a whole person that many people face after release from incarceration and will provide participants with an understanding of what it means to be a reentry peer specialist supporting individuals who have been incarcerated. The emphasis on the trauma individuals experience before, during, and after incarceration is a significant distinction from other training models.

Some skills acquired through this training include: 

• recidivism intervention
• recovery storytelling
• recovery capital and community resource development
• group facilitation
• being a change agent
• supporting individuals in the development of a fulfilling life

Click HERE to learn more about Via Hope’s Reentry Peer Specialist Training.

This training is required to become a Reentry Peer Specialist in Texas. The training is followed immediately by an online knowledge assessment. Once certified, a Reentry Peer Specialist must earn at least 20 CEUs every two years to maintain their certification. The certification program is administered according to the policies in the Texas Certification Board Policy Standards for Reentry Peer
Specialists. 

Via Hope training content is provided via Zoom through an online learning platform. Participants will be required to have an active internet connection and be on camera for the majority of the training. Individual computer access is required; participants will not be able to log on in a group environment.

Two days of this training will be provided through an eLearning platform (Litmos). The purpose of using this platform is to maximize the content to be covered but keep the number of days a person would need to be physically present to a minimum. The content contained in this curriculum requires a great deal of interaction and covers topics that require face to face facilitation; however, there is content that can be provided in a safe environment that is created with the security of an eLearning platform.

Pre-requisites: Core Training (View Via Hope Calendar)
Eligibility: Formerly incarcerated adults (18+) with a history of mental health and/or substance use challenges 
Cost: $950
CEUs: N/A

Registration: February 9–March 7