Certified Peer Specialist Advisory Council - Mental Health

Peer Specialist Advisory Committee

The Peer Specialist Advisory Committee provides advice and guidance to Via Hope staff on issues related to Via Hope’s programs, including the training of peer specialists throughout Texas and the provision of technical assistance to behavioral health organizations.

The Advisory Committee is comprised of up to fifteen (15) experienced peer specialists who are currently employed or volunteering. The Advisory Committee members work in a diverse set of mental health and substance use organizations, including peer-run organizations, community mental health centers, state hospitals, other private mental health providers, and Veterans’ organizations. In order to best represent the Texas peer specialist workforce as a whole, the Advisory Committee maintains a diverse membership in terms of ethnicity, age, geographic location, rural or urban setting, length of experience, and participation in other Via Hope initiatives. A member of the Advisory Committee also serves on the Via Hope Recovery Stakeholders Committee.

Members serve for staggered three-year terms. Individuals nominate themselves for membership and Via Hope staff conduct a competitive application review process. If you are interested in serving on the Peer Specialist Advisory Committee or have additional questions please contact us by emailing info@viahope.org.

Peer Specialist Advisory Committee Charter

The 2019 Peer Specialist Advisory Committee Members are (in alphabetical order)

Randie Benno

Larry Diaz

Dorsen “Red” Gilbert

Emmanuel Gonzalez

Stephanie Jack

Meredith Jones

Nikki Prince

Annie Powell

JoAnna Rodgers

Abraham Samaniego

You can access the meeting minutes our Archive page.

Via Hope Certified Peer Specialist Endorsement Trainings.

Via Hope offers the following trainings for Mental Health Peer Specialist continuing education:

Community Reentry
Two and half day endorsement training for Mental Health Peer Specialists and Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist who are working with people re-entering the community from being incarcerated. – View Training
Co-Occurring Challenges
Two day training designed to educate Mental Health Peer Specialists and Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist about the philosophies, issues, and practices underlying each other’s work. – View Training
Intentional Peer Support
participants learn the principles of IPS, examine assumptions about who they are, and explore ways to create relationships in which power is negotiated, co‐learning is possible, and support goes beyond traditional notions of “service.” – View Training
Peer Specialist Whole Health and Resiliency Training
Two day PSWHR training teaches Mental Health Peer Specialists the relationship between physical and mental health and the importance of treating the whole person, not just their mental health. – View Training
Recovery to Practice Next Steps
Four day highly interactive training designed for advanced MHPS to gain new skills and experiences, learn with and from each other, and come to a common understanding of recovery through some of the current best practices in peer support. – View Training
Texas Trauma Informed Peer Support
Two and a half day training designed to educate peers on the impact of trauma across the lifespan and to support those they are working with to address trauma in an intentional and informed manner. – View Training

Peer Specialist Advisory Committee

Peer Specialist Advisory Committee

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