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A newsletter of the Washington State Health Care Authority Office of Recovery Support. |
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The PEER Support Act, a bipartisan bill that promotes peer support specialist, was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate and ratified for 2025. The Providing Empathetic and Effective Recovery (PEER) Support Act is meant to address the behavioral health workforce shortages through support for Peer Support Specialists and other needs.
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We've certified 1,294 new peers since July 1, 2024!
Certified Peer Counselors who work as crisis responders were legislatively directed to receive Crisis Awareness and Communication in Peer Support training before Tuesday, July 1, 2025. HCA recognized that there were barriers that made getting this training by the deadline difficult.
HCA has extended the deadline for Certified Peer Counselors/Specialists to complete the Crisis Awareness and Communication in Peer Support training to Thursday, January 1, 2026.
HCA will add additional Crisis Awareness and Communication in Peer Support training to the training calendar for the next fiscal year.
Priority will be given to peers working as crisis responders or who have job offers as crisis responders.
Poetry is a great avenue for self-expression and community-building. Every month, we feature poetry written by peers in the community.
To be considered for publication in the newsletter, submit a hopeful, resilience-inspired poem to Marie Marchand, our peer support training coordinator, before the twentieth of the month.
This month's featured poet is Julie Bradley.
On Thursday, April 3, 2025, the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) hosted a listening session concerning the changes to peer support credentialing.
Expert panelists Maureen Bailey, Shelly Shor, and Amanda Polley (HCA peer program leads), with the Department of Health’s Ted Dale, led the discussion. The slides used in this presentation are now available.
Please check back at this link after July 1, 2025, for additional options available. CPCs have until the end of 2026 to complete the Gap Training. The new Peer Specialist credential will become available through the Dept. of Health after July 1, 2025.
The Gap Training is only for Certified Peer Counselors (CPCs) interested in transitioning to Certified Peer Specialist credential. The Gap Training Part Two will be available twice a month until December 2026, which is the deadline for the transitioning of the credential.
Part One of the Certified Peer Specialist Gap Training is a self-paced virtual class available now. Go to Talent LMS, our online learning management system, to create an account or log in and access the training. During this training, you will have the opportunity to learn about the enhancements made to the standard peer training curriculum. Once you begin, please try to finish within two weeks so that we have enough space to accommodate all the online learners. Be sure to save your certificate of completion as you’ll need it when it comes time to register for Part Two later this summer. Again, CPCs have over a year to complete the Gap Training.
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Operationalizing Peer Support (OPS) training
HCA’s Operationalizing Peer Support (OPS) program supports Peer supervisors, administrators, organizations, and agencies who want to begin offering or enhance their current peer programs.
Through our virtual training, monthly webinar series, and technical assistance support, we equip agencies, organizations, or individual providers with the knowledge and resources to help develop, manage, and grow their peer support programs.
OPS Training
This virtual training consists of evidence-based knowledge and leading practices that are essential for peer support supervision and administration. It also provides opportunities for an open dialogue, in a safe environment.
OPS training dates
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Tuesdays May 13 and May 20: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch
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Thursdays May 8, May 15, May 22, and May 29: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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Tuesdays June 3 and June 10: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a 30-minute lunch
Attendance will be tracked for those required to complete the OPS training and those who would like to receive a certificate of completion.
To sign up, email OPS with your preferred dates.
OPS Monthly webinars
Join us for an engaging and interactive monthly webinar series that combines the best of book club with professional development starting April 2025! Each month, current administrators and supervisors of Peers will read one module from the new 80-hour Certified Peer Specialist training before our live session.
* Pre-registration for the webinars is required.
OPS webinar dates
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Tuesday, May 27: 11 a.m. to noon. Module 2: The CPS role
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Wednesday, June 25: 11 a.m. to noon Module 3: Bringing the hope -- Creating Peer partnerships
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Wednesday, July 30: 11 a.m. to noon Module 4: Ethics and boundaries in Peer Support
For questions, email OPS.
Quarterly OPS trainings for administrators and supervisors of Peer Specialists
If you are currently a supervisor of Peers or on a track to supervise Peers, take our new training developed for people who are supervisors of Peers or who are on track to become supervisors of Peers. The first two trainings occurred in April; see below for remaining upcoming dates and topics.
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Monday, May 5: 8 to 10 a.m.: How to Create a Culture of Recovery and Resilience
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Tuesday, May 27: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Supervision Fundamental Principles and Core Competencies
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Monday, June 2: 8 to 10 a.m.: The Five Functions of Supervision and Documentation
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Monday, June 23: 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Ethics and Boundaries
If you are interested in attending any of the above, please contact Crystal at OPS for the login information.
Train the trainer
Feeling like you're ready to train future Peers? We have multiple "train the trainer" opportunities for a variety of trainings. Take the next step by becoming a trainer!
Supervisors of Peers
If you are currently a supervisor of Peers or on a track to supervise Peers, take our new training developed for people who are supervisors of Peers or who are on track to become supervisors of Peers.
This year, Peer Pathways celebrates its 10th anniversary! The event will occur Wednesday, August 13, and Thursday, August 14, 2025, at the Lynnwood Event Center. This year's theme: Staying Peer in an Expanding Workforce.
The call for presentation proposals is currently open, as is the call for artwork for the brochure.
Early registration began Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Please visit the conference website for details and registration. The Washington State Health Care Authority’s Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) is pleased to sponsor this transformative and uplifting gathering hosted by The Rainbow Makers and Jones Community Solutions.
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May's Peer Blend topic: Youth Peer Support training in Washington State ESD, featuring speakers Carolyn Cox and Wendy Brzezny.
Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 9 to 10 a.m.
Need support with your organization's peer support program?
Drop in to the Operationalizing Peer Support (OPS) office hours: weekly Mondays from 1 to 2 p.m.
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This free training, hosted by Washington State Community Connectors, is brought to you by the HCA through the System of Care grant in an effort to create better communication between families, youth, and the system partners who serve them. Sign up using the QR codes on this flier.
Four dates available: May 20, 22, 27, 29, 2025.
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Washington Peer Network open peer support hours
The Washington Peer Network (WPN) is launching peer support hours.
Launched in February, WPN will host an open, one-hour long virtual meeting every weekday!
This will be a space for peer supporters to network, connect, and will be a safe and supportive space for peers to receive the support they need.
The meetings are daily from 9 to 10 a.m.
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Live event captioning available
Communication Access Real-time Transcription (CART) services, or live closed captioning, are available for events, on demand. Scheduling CART services requires a three-week lead-time.
To request this accommodation, please submit a request as soon as possible to Amanda Polley.
If you make your request less than a week in advance of the event, our language access manager cannot guarantee that a CART writer will be available.
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Washington peer jobs database
The Washington Peer jobs database is an online platform dedicated to connecting individuals in the behavioral health and substance use recovery fields with employment opportunities.
This database
- Provides a centralized resource for peer support roles.
- Offers listings for job seekers and recruitment tools for employers.
- Aims to enhance workforce development by promoting careers in Peer support, ensuring that individuals with lived experience can contribute to recovery services and support others on their journeys to wellness.
Featured employment opportunities
Telecare is hiring remote Certified Peer Recovery Coaches. Learn more here.
Dads MOVE is hiring a Family Certified Peer Specialist. Learn more here.
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New certified Peer specialist FAQ
Have questions about the changes related to the new legislation about certified Peer specialists?
Washington Peer Network
The Washington Peer Network provides comprehensive and accessible training and support for peer counselors across our state.
Department of Health Peer Specialist licensing
Are you interested in knowing more about what the Department of Health (DOH) is doing to support the efforts of recent Peer legislation (SSB5555) and moving forward with our Washington State Legislators and the future of licensing for Peer services?
Problem gambling
When gambling causes problems with life, relationships, financial situation, job, or school, help is available.
Call, text, or chat the Problem Gambling Helpline in Washington at 1-800-547-6133. Family members can also receive help.
Medicaid (Apple Health) now covers problem gambling treatment, and the State Problem Gambling Program is a low-barrier program that provides free treatment.
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Do you know a CPC or Peer-run organization who you think deserves a little extra kudos? We want to highlight them in an upcoming newsletter!
Please email Amanda Polley as much information as possible:
- Name of person/organization
- Their location
- Why are you highlighting them?
- Their picture (optional)
A message from HCA's Office of Community Voices and Empowerment (OCVE)
Hello Everyone!
It is truly an honor to be sharing my heart with you and to share my thoughts with such a dedicated and compassionate group of individuals—our Peer Support Specialists. You are the backbone of so many people’s journeys toward recovery, wellness, and hope. I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible work that you do, as well as remind you of the power and impact you have in the lives of others.
As Peer Support Specialists, you represent something profoundly important. You are living proof that recovery is not only possible but that it is a journey we can walk through together. Your lived experiences make you uniquely qualified to support others. You understand the struggles, the triumphs, and the small moments of victory that often go unnoticed. Through your work, you offer the one thing that’s truly transformative: hope.
You are not only professionals; you are mentors, guides, and fellow travelers on the road to healing. When someone is at their lowest, you show them that they are not alone. You offer your empathy, your encouragement, and your shared experiences to help them rise up. You help others not because you have all the answers, but because you have walked the path they are on and can walk beside them as they move forward.
There is incredible strength in vulnerability, and each time you share a part of your story, you give others permission to embrace their own truth. Your authenticity is a beacon of light for those who might feel ashamed, isolated, or hopeless. You remind them that they are worthy of support, that they are capable of change, and that their voice matters.
But I also want to take a moment to acknowledge something equally important—you matter too. The work you do is challenging. It requires patience, resilience, and unwavering dedication. It requires you to show up, day after day, even when the road is tough. And because of this, it’s vital that you take time to care for yourselves as well. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and your well-being is just as important as the well-being of those you support.
Remember, peer support isn’t about fixing someone’s life or offering quick solutions; it’s about walking alongside them. It's about creating a safe space for growth, healing, and change. It’s about helping others to see the strength and potential they may not even realize they have within themselves.
Each one of you is a bridge between hope and recovery. You bring humanity into the clinical, warmth into the cold, and compassion into the sometimes-sterile world of mental health and substance use treatment. You offer understanding that is unique and powerful because it is rooted in experience, not just education.
So, let me remind you of the impact you’re having, even on days when you don’t see it. You are changing lives. You are making a difference. You are showing others that their journey is not defined by their past, and that the future is still unwritten.
I want to leave you with this: Never underestimate the power of your presence, your words, and your support. There will be times when it feels hard, when the weight of the work seems overwhelming, but know this: you are exactly what someone needs at the right moment.
Keep showing up. Keep sharing your light. Keep being the hope that others desperately need.
Thank you for all you do, and for the incredible difference you make every single day.
You are enough. You are important. You are a catalyst for change.
In unity,
Dakota
Dakota Steele, OCVE Senior Administrator
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