Peer Support skills training is continually advancing and evolving, and strengthening our specialized peer skills is important. On this page, find upcoming training opportunities, recorded trainings you can watch anytime, and other training-related resources for Peer Support Specialists.
Peer Support Specialist Core trainings are held over the course of 40 hours while Peers learn the core competencies of delivering peer services. During this training, Peers learn many wonderful things such as but not limited to boundaries and ethics, using their recovery story intentionally and healing-centered support. It is also a wonderful opportunity for supervisors of Peer Services to join and learn more about the value of their role’s within agencies and how beneficial Peer Services are.
Peer Support training is 40 hours long, over the course of 5 days. Full attendance is required for successful completion of Peer Support Training. For all upcoming trainings we utilize an application process to offer priority to those who have a current or pending position at an agency that would benefit from attending. Please note, the application does NOT register you for the training. As applications are processed, you will receive notification of next steps.
For individuals traveling from over 60 miles to an in-person training, we will be offering hotel accommodations and travel reimbursement dependent on successful completion of the training.
Who should attend?
- Individuals who publicly identify as a person in recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, brain injury or combination thereof
- Individuals supervising Peer Support Specialists
- A family member of an individual living with a mental health condition, substance use disorder, brain injury, or combination thereof
May 13-17, 2024
This class will be held in-person in Fargo, ND.
Please note, applying for the training does not guarantee you a spot in the training. We offer application priority to those who have secured a job offer that is dependent upon Peer Support training and those whose current role benefits from attending the training. If you have a job offer, or are currently employed somewhere, please be sure to enter your place of employment on the application.
This application is now closed.
Please reach out to peersupport@nd.gov or any questions.
August 12-16, 2024
This class will be held in-person in Minot, ND.
Please note, applying for the training does not guarantee you a spot in the training. We offer application priority to those who have secured a job offer that is dependent upon Peer Support training and those whose current role benefits from attending the training. If you have a job offer, or are currently employed somewhere, please be sure to enter your place of employment on the application.
This application will open on May 27, 2024.
Please reach out to peersupport@nd.gov or any questions.
Peer Support Supervision Training Opportunity
Peer support supervisors play a key role in the successful integration of peer supports within the behavioral health system. This training will address the following topics:
- Overview of Supervision Specialists
- Recognizing Peer Drift
- Supervision is a Peer Relationship
- Job Descriptions
- First Meeting
- Supervision Models
- Development Models
- Evaluations
- Professional Ethics and Standards
- Relationship with the Agency
Each training is approved for a total of 12 CEUs by the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners, the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners, and for North Dakota Certified Peer Support Specialists. This training meets criteria for North Dakota peer support supervision.
Register to attend one of the two virtual workshops. Training is free.
April 25th and 26th from 8:30am-4:30pm CT, each day
Register Here
Please reach out to peersupport@nd.gov for any questions.
Are you working as a Peer Support? Are you interested in learning more about Brain Injury?
The North Dakota Brain Injury Network offers online training designed to meet your training needs. These five separate courses can help peer support specialists learn more about brain injury.
- Introduction to Brain Injury
- Cognitive and Behavioral Consequences
- of TBI in Adults
- Primary Care and TBI
- Pediatric TBI
- Substance Use and TBI
These courses are approved for CEUs for Certified Peer Support Specialists.
Each course is $25. Sign up for five courses and receive one for free!
North Dakota residents will receive a promo code discounting their courses 100%. Email Carly Endres (carly.endres@und.edu) for the promo code.
Military service is a unique experience that has lasting impacts on many Veterans,
military family members, and caregivers, including feelings of social connection in their
communities. Peer Support Specialists have a unique opportunity to offer an
intentional space for Veterans to connect and offer support as they navigate their post-service
journey.
Developed by PsychArmor, this training aims to educate peer support specialists and
provide a deeper understanding of the military culture. This peer support training is
available to North Dakota Peer Support Specialists and offers 1 CEU.
This training plan includes:
- 15 Things Veterans Want You To Know (17 mins) - This is the cornerstone course for
PsychArmor and was created to educate anyone who works with, lives with, or cares for
our military Veterans. PsychArmor asked hundreds of Veterans what they wanted civilians,
employers, educators, healthcare providers, and therapists to know about them. These
comments were used to create the topics of this course, including 5 Questions You Should
Always Ask Veterans, 1 Question You Should Never Ask Veterans, and 15 Facts that
promote greater understanding of our Veterans.
- Military Culture Series (40 mins) - Want to learn more about the US military and Veteran
population? Here’s where you start. Our new Military Culture course series takes a deeper
dive into four defining aspects of daily life in the military: Service, Values, People, and
Transition. Expanding on ideas presented in our foundational course, 15 Things Veterans
Want You To Know, this series introduces six characters who made the choice to serve
their country.
Please reach out to peersupport@nd.gov for more information.
We are beyond excited to launch reoccurring, supportive, online meetings for Peer Support Specialists, as well as supervisors of Peer Support Services! These groups will be help separately to give us an opportunity to offer insight, education, and support to both realms as best as possible.
Below are the dates for upcoming meetings, as well as the link to join. You do not need to pre-register. If you have any questions, or topic ideas, feel free to reach out anytime! Peersupport@nd.gov
North Dakota Peer Support Specialist Connection
Meetings coming soon!
Peer Support Refresher
Peer Support skills training is continually advancing and evolving, and strengthening our specialized peer skills is important. This training will provide the opportunity to review our core peer skills and introduce updated enhanced skills. 4 CEUs with be offered that fulfill re-certification qualifications for Certified North Dakota Peer Support Specialists I and II.
At the end of this webinar training, a link will be provided to a Microsoft forms survey. Upon completion of the survey, you will be emailed a certificate of attendance.
Workshop Objectives:
- Examining Our Unique Skills
- Five Stages in the Recovery Process
- Effective Listening
- Peer Specialist Skill Evaluation
- Self-Care
Who should watch?
- Individuals recently hired by organizations to offer Peer Support Services who have not yet attended Peer Support training
- Individuals interested in attending Peer Support training
- Individuals who have previously attended Peer Support training
- Certified Peer Support specialists
- Supervisors of Peer Support Specialists
- Individuals interested in the role of a Peer Support Specialist in the workplace
Peer Support Ethics and Values in the Workplace
In this pre-recorded training, we discussed practical applications of ethics and boundaries to everyday peer-to-peer interactions. It will assist in enhancing critical thinking skills in ethical situations, clarify our own values as persons providing services, and foster learning opportunities while working within community agencies.
Workshop Objectives:
- Understand how ethics and boundaries lead to the delivery of quality services.
- Strengthen knowledge of ethics and how they apply to the individuals served by your agency.
- Learn how core recovery values are used as guiding principles and practices.
Who should watch?
- Individuals interested in attending Peer Support training
- Individuals who have previously attended Peer Support training
- Certified Peer Support specialists
- Supervisors of Peer Support Specialists
- Anybody interested in the role of a Peer Support Specialist in the workplace.
Watch Peer Support Ethics and Values in the Workplace
Integration and Supervision of Peer Support Services in the Workplace
The integration and supervision of peer services is one of the most vital pieces to sustainability of peer support services. We no longer offer a this as a pre-recorded option, however have a lot of great opportunities coming soon!
If you are a 1915i provider, and need access to the previously recorded ‘Integration and Supervision of Peer Support Services in the workplace”, please email peersupport@nd.gov
The North Dakota Behavioral Health Division welcomes other Peer Support trainings that could potentially qualify you for certification.
Current Division Approved Peer Support trainings and credentialing:
- Minnesota Recovery Academy
- CCAR/Center for Addiction Recovery training
- Federation of Families credentialing
- IPS/Intentional Peer Support
- North Dakota MHA Peer Support Training
For more information regarding MHA Peer Support Training contact: hdemaray@mhanation.com
The North Dakota Behavioral Health Division welcomes other Peer Support trainings that could potentially qualify you for certification.
If you are curious about a certain curriculum not offered by North Dakota, please email peersupport@nd.gov.
Peer Support Training Opportunity
To receive a New American and Foreign-Born Immigrant (NFI) endorsement you must attend BOTH sessions. Registration is not necessary.
Learn how to identify common pathways of forced displacement, identify the impacts of displacement on children, families and individuals, and describe approaches to services that support wellbeing.
Who should attend: Any peer support specialist working in North Dakota.
Each training is approved for 2 CEUs for North Dakota Board Peer Support Specialists.
April 11th from 10am-12pm CT
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April 25th from 10am-12pm CT
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Please reach out to peersupport@nd.gov for any questions.