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Due to the current COVID-19 crisis Via Hope is temporarily offering trainings online through August 31st. We will resume in-person offerings as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. While the content of the training will not change the delivery method will vary. This means that the content will be provided via Zoom technology, through online discussion threads, chats, polls, and short interactive breakout sessions.

    Reentry Continuing Education

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    Reentry Continuing Education

    Like all professions, Reentry Peer Specialists benefit from learning new information after their initial certification training to best support themselves and the people they work with. Because we are committed to serving Reentry Peer Specialists, Via Hope provides many opportunities for quality continuing education!

    What is a CEU? How many CEUs do I need? How long do I have to receive them?

    A Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a unit of credit equal to one hour of participation time in an approved training event that provides knowledge or skills to support a peer specialist in their daily work.

    A Reentry Peer Specialist Certification is valid for a period of twenty-four months (two years) from the date the certification is issued. During that period, a peer specialist is required to acquire a minimum of twenty (20) Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

    How can I receive CEUs specifically for Reentry Peer Specialists?

    Reentry Peer Specialists can receive CEUs by attending a number of different approved events for peer specialists. These approved events may take the form of conferences, webinars, classroom style training, or Via Hope continuing education trainings (called Endorsements).

    What is a Via Hope Endorsement training?

    Via Hope offers a number of different continuing education trainings, or Endorsements, for Peer Specialists throughout the year. Here are some of our basic offerings:

    Community Reentry. This training provides a grounding in the knowledge, skills and tools needed by a Certified Peer Specialist to effectively support a peer’s transition from a community of confinement and incarceration to a community of choice. 16 CEUs

    For more information on Community Reentry training.

    Co-Occurring Challenges. This training is designed for both Mental Health Peer Specialists and Peer Recovery Support Specialists to give an overview of how to provide peer support to people experiencing substance use and mental health challenges. 14 CEUs

    For more information on Co-Occurring Challenges training.

    Intentional Peer Support. This training teaches participants about the tasks and principles of Intentional Peer Support and ways to create mutually supportive relationships. This training is facilitated by the national trainers with Intentional Peer Support. 37.5 CEUs

    Advanced Intentional Peer Support. 3-day Advanced Training to take IPS practice a step further, play out the principles and tasks using real-life scenarios, heighten self-reflection, enhance ways of building mutual connections, and sustain the practice. The Advanced Training is for anyone who has completed the initial IPS Training and is interested in going further with IPS.

    For more information on Advanced Intentional Peer Specialist

    Peer Specialist Whole Health & Resiliencedity. This training offers a foundation in Whole Health concepts and planning tools for Certified Peer Specialists to use as part of their daily work. 8.5 CEUs

    For more information on Peer Specialist Whole Health & Resiliency training.

    RTP Next Steps. This is a highly interactive training designed for advanced peer specialists 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. 32 CEUs  

    For more information on RTP Next Steps training.

    Trauma-Informed Peer Support. This training is designed to educate peer specialists 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. 20.75 CEUs

    For more information on Trauma-Informed Peer Support training.

    Group Facilitation. A Peer-Based Approach for anyone who currently facilitates peer-led groups or those who would like to facilitate peer-led groups (i.e. groups where the facilitator has shared lived experience with the group members). 13.5 CEUs  

    For more information on Group Facilitation

    Healing-Centered Peer Support. This training provides participants with a foundation for understanding what trauma is, how trauma impacts people and communities, what healing looks like, and how peers can use these concepts and their own lived experience to best support people who are navigating trauma and/or exploring healing. 19 CEUs.