CPS-P Training Application 2025

Please complete this application in its entirety, and be sure to answer all questions. We ask that you fill out all information to the best of your knowledge. Before submitting your application in be sure to fill out all required sections and attach all required documentation.

Georgia Parent Support Network and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and consumer leadership have worked collaboratively over the past 20 years to build a lived experience workforce supporting Recovery for individuals living with a mental health condition and/or with a substance use disorder.

This lived experience workforce of Certified Peer Specialists for mental health and addiction has not only changed thousands of lives, but it has also impacted the culture of the behavioral health system, infusing respect, recovery, wellness and empowerment throughout the system.

GPSN and DBHDD is now invested in expanding this highly valued workforce to include Parents of youth living with Mental Health Conditions, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or Co-Occurring Behavioral Health (BH) disorders. The goal is to similarly impact the youth-serving systems by supporting family journeys to recovery and wellness.

Georgia Parent Support Network is now accepting applications from parent or guardian enrollees who meet the lived experience expectations and meet the following criteria:

A.Candidates must be the parent or legal guardian of a child or adult living with a mental illness, substance use, and/or co-occurring diagnosis (a mental health condition must be the primary diagnosis) and one of the following:

1. Currently employed doing Peer Parent Support; or
2. Currently employed in the public sector Behavioral Health system as a paraprofessional and havethe desire to distinguish themselves as a Parent CPS-P; or
3. Have related experience serving youth and families through participation in community volunteering, support groups, family organizations and/or advocacy.
4. Have access to a laptop or desktop computer (cell phones or tablets will not be accepted). You will not be able to take the test at the end of each day on a phone or tablet.

It is a requirement for cameras to be on at all times during the training with no exceptions.

Priority will be given to those who are currently providing parent peer support services and those who currently work in that role.

If you answered yes, please answer the following:

Emergency Contact

 

B. Provide a short paragraph of your lived experience making sure you address these areas: 

1. Raising a child who has a Serious Emotional Disorder (SED), Substance Use Disorder(SUD) or Co-Occurring Disorder (this excludes youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder,unless there is also a co-occurring SED, SUD diagnosis). Please list names of diagnosis.

1. Experience navigating & accessing complex public health & child service systems.
2. An attestation that you are serving in a parental role as either:

• The biological parent and caregiver for a child living with a SED, SUD or co-      occurring diagnosis.
• The legal and permanent guardian for a child living with an SED, SUD or co- occurring diagnosis for at least 2 years (please provide documentation).
• * This excludes foster parents.

C. If you are a Behavioral Health professional who does not intend to provide the service of Parent Peer Support (PPS), please provide details regarding how you intend to use the information gained from this training in your professional practice.

 

GUIDELINES AND RULES

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us at

cps-p@gpsn.org

All applications must be recieved by Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 5:00 pm. 

By signing below, I certify that I have completed this application on my own, and that the information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge.