果冻传媒

The NH Peer Support Specialist Core Curriculum prepares students to enter Peer Support roles and earn a Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) credential. Designed for adults 18 and older with lived experience in mental health and/or co鈥憃ccurring substance use recovery, the program emphasizes the power of shared experience to foster hope, resilience, and meaningful connection.

Offered through 果冻传媒, River Valley Community College, and White Mountains Community College, the curriculum reflects New Hampshire鈥檚 statewide definition of a Peer Support Specialist and highlights the essential role Peer Support Specialists鈥攅specially those pursuing or holding CRSW certification鈥攑lay in behavioral health settings. Through training aligned with SAMHSA core competencies, students learn to empathize effectively, de鈥慹scalate crises, support recovery planning, and help individuals navigate community resources.

The curriculum includes built鈥慽n assessments, weekly Community of Practice sessions, and opportunities to apply peer support principles across settings such as community mental health centers, healthcare facilities, crisis teams, hospitals, peer support agencies, supportive housing programs, and community organizations. Accompanying the core curriculum is an independently facilitated and managed Community of Practice that meets virtually each week to discuss course content and apply the peer support specialist definition to real-world situations.

Prerequisites

Any person aged 18 or older who self鈥慽dentifies lived experience in mental health and/or co鈥憃ccurring substance use recovery may enroll.

Prerequisites for employment typically include:

• A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for Peer Support employment.
• Individuals needing a high鈥憇chool equivalency may earn it through the NH High School Equivalency (HiSET) program, formerly GED.
• A college degree, while sometimes preferred, is often not required to remove barriers to entry into the peer support field.
• Many students pursue or later apply for the CRSW (Certified Recovery Support Worker) credential, and the curriculum supports this pathway.

Minimum Computer Requirements

• You will need a computer or laptop with a camera to participate in the theory portion of the course and the virtual interactive sessions.
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Program Outcomes

The NH Core Curriculum is aligned with current national model standards for Peer Support Certification and core competencies for peer workers in behavioral health services as released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The nine sessions will cover discussions on:

• Roles and Settings
• Behavioral Health Recovery
• Person-Centered Support
• Recovery Planning
• Shared Living Experience
• Crisis and Crisis Support
• Suicide Prevention
• Co-occurring Substance Misuse
• Ethics and Boundaries

Career Opportunities for Certified Peer Support Specialists

Employment opportunities for Certified Peer Support Specialists are diverse and available across the behavioral health system. Graduates may work in:

• Community Mental Health Centers: Provide ongoing support services and offer professional development and CRSW-related training.
• Community Health Centers and Primary Care Offices: Help individuals access recovery services, treatment, and essential support resources.
• Mobile Crisis Teams: Deliver immediate, person-centered support in homes, schools, and community settings.
• Crisis Call Centers and Behavioral Health Urgent Care Programs: Offer real-time assistance to individuals experiencing emotional distress or crisis.
• Hospitals and Inpatient Psychiatric Programs: Support stabilization, discharge planning, and recovery engagement.
• Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs (PHP/IOP): Assist individuals transitioning between levels of care and maintaining recovery progress.
• Peer Support Organizations: Provide recovery coaching, system navigation, and advocacy services grounded in peer support principles.
• Supportive Housing Programs: Help residents maintain stability, independence, and long-term recovery.
• Volunteer and Community Organizations: Offer meaningful opportunities to gain experience while supporting recovery-focused initiatives.

Pathway to Advanced Credentials

Many students pursue the CRSW (Certified Recovery Support Worker) credential after graduation. The program curriculum is designed to support this certification pathway. Credit for Prior Learning Opportunity: By obtaining your CPS credential, you may be eligible to receive Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) toward completion of the Behavioral Health 果冻传媒 program at WMCC.

In this asynchronous online training, students will complete learning modules online at their convenience following a structured 9-week course schedule The format includes:

• Online learning modules that introduce core peer support concepts, crisis support, recovery models, and ethics.
• Weekly 75鈥憁inute virtual Community of Practice sessions where students deepen their learning through discussions, role鈥憄lays, guided practice, and case鈥慴ased application of peer support skills.

The Introduction to Peer Support and Community of Practice courses are currently grant-funded and free to NH students.

Tuition for eligible students is supported by HRSA funding awarded to Lakes Region, River Valley, and White Mountain community colleges from September 1, 2025 鈥� August 30, 2029, as part of a $399,917 annual grant.

Students can complete both the online course (40-46 total hours) and the 75-minute weekly Community of Practice in 9-10 weeks. Those who successfully finish all course modules, which include built-in assessments, and participate in Community of Practice sessions will be eligible to receive a formal Certification from the State of NH, along with the title “Certified Peer Support Specialist.”

These elements ensure that students not only learn peer support theory, but also practice the real鈥憌orld interpersonal and advocacy skills needed to support individuals through recovery, self鈥慶are, crisis stabilization, and community navigation

Upcoming cohorts are:

• March 30-June 7, 2026
• June 8-August 17, 2026 (registration opens on May 18^th)
• September 14-November 23, 2026

Students who successfully complete all modules and Community of Practice sessions will receive a formal State of NH Certification and the title Certified Peer Support Specialist.

The Peer Support Specialist programs are run by Lakes Region, River Valley, and White Mountain community colleges.

Each Peer Support Specialist course is managed by one of three community colleges, 果冻传媒, RVCC, or WMCC. If you have questions regarding a specific course, please reach out to the college running that course.

果冻传媒: Steve Tucker

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 603-366-5229

River Valley Community College: Dan Osborn

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 603-542-7744 x5347

White Mountain Community College: Annette Cole

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 603-342-3062