HRSA Training Grant

Breaking new ground

September 2021 Via Hope officially announced the launch of a four year pilot program! This pilot is funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Health and Human Services. This Behavioral Health Education and Training (BHWET) grant has allowed for the creation of the Via Hope Peer Specialist Training Program. Via Hope will train and place certified peer specialists in non-traditional settings and create the first registered apprenticeship program for peer specialists in Texas. The overall goal is to improve health outcomes for people served in primary care, criminal justice, and homelessness service settings,

The data collection and evaluation is being performed by the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health. TIEMH focuses on improving the social, emotional, and behavioral health of Texans and is housed in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at the University of Texas Austin. TIEMH is also known for their national peer support evaluations here.

Applications are opening for the HRSA Peer Specialist Training Program!

Via Hope’s applications for our fourth cohort will open in the Autumn of 2023. The Via Hope Peer Specialist Training Program is funded through a federal Behavioral Health Education and Training Grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It trains and places certified peer specialists in non-traditional settings, with an overall goal of improving health outcomes for people served in primary care, criminal justice, and homelessness service settings.

Peer Specialist Experiential Learning Program

Over a period of 9 months those who are selected for the experiential learning program will:

Take the Core training, a prerequisite for MHPS, RSPS, and RPS certification
Take the training for Mental Health Peer Specialist, Recovery Support Peer Specialist, or ReEntry Peer Support certification
Take five skill-building trainings
Receive placement for their 250 field hours to complete certification, which includes a stipend
Ability to participate in a year-long apprenticeship program

Partner Site locations

Field hours will take place in one of the following locations. Please explore the links provided before making a selection on the application (Texas RioGrande Legal Aid is not an option for the Fall 2023 cohort):

Travis County Mental Health Public Defender Office (Austin, TX)
Travis County Jail (Austin, TX)
H.O.M.E. Center of the Texas Homeless Network (San Marcos, TX)
Building Promise USA (Austin, TX)
Capital Area Private Defender Service (Austin, TX)
Restoring Justice (Houston, TX)
Austin Area Urban League (Austin, TX)
Hutchinson County United Way (Hutchinson, TX)
Open Door of the Texas Homeless Network (Lubbock, TX)
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (Beeville, TX, Rio Grande City, TX & Harlingen, TX
Downtown Women’s Center (Amarillo, TX)
FREED Texas (San Antonio, TX)

Supervision provided by: Austin Mental Health Community

Qualifications

Applicants are required to:

Have lived experience in mental health, substance use, and/or incarceration. Lived experience with homelessness is also required for the Texas Homeless Network placement.
Attend virtual orientation
Commit to attending all trainings
Complete 250 field hours over 6 months
Have a high school diploma, or GED (for initial certification)
Pass an FBI background check (for initial certification)

Introductions

Here are some of the people you’ll meet:

Dr. Sandra Smith, Program Director
Christina Carney, Program Coordinator

Application Link

Applications for cohort 4 will be open October 20-November 13, 2023.

Have more questions? Check out the Via Hope Peer Specialist Training Program FAQ here!

You can also reach out to Christina at christina.carney@viahope.org