Recovery Innovations

Peer Training & Employment

Recovery Innovations of California believes that every person who wants to work can succeed in developing a meaningful career of their choice. Peers in the workforce help transform the mental health services delivery system with their unique skills and "been there" experience. Recovery Innovations of California trains and seeks to employ peers to work as recovery educators, peer counselors, recovery coaches, in-home crisis workers, and much more. Recovery Innovations of California can help your agency make the step to incorporate peer support services into your system.

Those who wish to become Peer Support Specialists begin with an intensive 75-hour Peer Employment Training (PET) program that teaches people who have received services in the mental health system the skills and techniques of peer support. Students completing the class and passing the competency tests may be eligible to receive college credits, apply to become Certified Peer Support Specialists and may seek employment providing recovery education and peer support in various mental health programs. PET includes training in recovery and peer support principles, communication skills, cultural diversity, ethics and boundaries, substance abuse, trauma and resilience, conflict resolution, and much more. Click here for more information on the content of the training. It is a competency-based curriculum; students will demonstrate their proficiency in the skills they learn.

The course is offered several times a year with various class schedules. A participant must have a high school diploma or GED and complete a personal WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) in a Recovery Innovations class setting. Recovery Innovations, California offers the WRAP classes throughout the County. Click here to see a schedule all of the classes. The Wellness Recovery Action Plan book can be found at, http://www.mentalhealthrecovery.com/shop/index.php#8. There are three versions: for veterans (purple cover), for dual diagnosis (blue cover), and the general one (red cover). A person may choose the version that suits them. There is also a self-directed online tutorial that will assist an individual in completing a WRAP. It can be accessed at http://meeting.networkofcare.org/wrap.

Employment Coordinator

Graduates from the Peer Employment Training are eligible to receive assistance in job placement in themental health field in various positions including peer support specialists, recovery educators, peer counselors, recovery coaches, peer liaisons to peer employment specialists. Recovery Innovations has an Employment Coordinator who partners with other community mental health agencies and assists apllicants with employment preparation including resume building, etc.

Please be aware, in order to work in the mental health field in California, sometimes a person must be able to pass a criminal background check with no felony convictions. Potential employers will conduct a background check before hiring.