What is Peer Support? - BE THE CHANGE CONSULTING SERVICES

What is a Peer Recovery Specialist?
A Peer Recovery Specialist “PRS” is a self-identified person with lived experience with a mental health condition and/or substance use disorder who is in successful and ongoing recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorders.

Peer Support Services and Family Support Partners use their lived experience to support another person’s exploration of recovery based services that can help them overcome the impact of mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

What is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist?
Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) provide non-clinical, person-centered, strengths based, wellness focused, and trauma-informed support while helping to ensure the person’s wellness-recovery plan reveals the needs and preferences of the person being served to complete their measurable and personalized goals. Certification is not mandatory for employment in Virginia. Certification is mandatory to register with the Department of Health Professions Board of Counseling. Registration with the Board of Counseling is required for billing Medicaid. Certification from any National or State certification body that meets Virginia standards is recognized for the purposes of Registration.

To Learn More about Peer Recovery Services:
- www.vacertboard.org/cprs
- virginiapeerspecialistnetwork.org/getting-started/
- dbhds.virginia.gov/office-of-recovery-services/
- www.dhp.virginia.gov/counseling/counseling_RPRS.htm