In 2023, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration established a primary national goal: Accelerate the universal adoption, recognition and integration of the peer mental health workforce across the nation’s healthcare system. GMHCN began preparing for this unique opportunity and partnered with DBHDD to host six regional listening sessions to gain insight from the behavioral health workforce on how well the current training curriculum and continuing education program serve the needs of the CPS workforce and the providers who employ them.

GMHCN is continuing its long-standing partnership with the Georgia Council for Recovery in the design and execution of the listening sessions, coming at a very pivotal moment. We are not only being challenged to meet new national standards released by SAMHSA earlier this year, we are also charged with growing the CPS Workforce and Forensic Peer Mentor Workforce to meet the increasing need and demand for behavioral healthcare by Georgians. Together we plan to find out what providers and Certified Peer Specialists need from us as we develop the tools and trainings that will empower the next generation of the Georgia peer workforce.

Clinicians and administratrors who work alongside CPSs will gather on December 7 at 10am prior to their listening session, which will last from 10:15am-11:15am.

Certified Peer Specialists will gather on December 7 at 1:30pm prior to their listening session, which will last from 1:45pm-2:45pm.

The sessions will be held in Albany, Georgia. The exact location of the sessions will be emailed out at least 72 hous prior to the listening sessions, and will most likely be at an Aspire BHDD Services location.

Thanks for all you do to support mental health and substance use recovery!