Choose Your Future:

PROVIDE EDUCATION ON WELLNESS & RECOVERY: Facilitate peer-to-peer evidence-based practices to best establish and maintain a peer relationship based on mutuality rather than a hierarchical relationship; partners to facilitate recovery dialogue and evidence-based and best practices methods.  Facilitate non-clinical peer to peer recovery education and wellness coaching through group activities or one on one in topics such as stress management, healthy leisure activities, alternative treatment options, self-affirmation, recovery, wellness, etc. 

COMMUNITY INTEGRATION: Once they have completed the Peer Support Specialists (PSS) or Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPRS). They are equipped to provide community networking and linkage with social, recreational, spiritual, volunteer, educational or vocational resources. They assist a client in identifying traditional and non-traditional community-based support that sustains a healthy life- style. They provide their clients with opportunities to practice socialization, interaction, and engagement abilities in the community. 

Peer Specialists support, encourage and enhance the development of natural support systems and independent choice and participation.  They assist in the development of a community integration plan that sets milestones for an increased independent community involvement, showing a decrease of dependency on the CPRS. Peer Support Specialists teach clients day to day problem solving related to integration/ reintegration into the positive community of choice. At the same time, they assist other behavioral healthcare service providers in identifying program and service environments that are conducive to whole health management, including recovery from addictions.   

While lived experience of having mental health challenges or substance use disorders are one of the requirements for working in this field, the following characteristics should also be present:

Self-aware and connected to their authentic selves. Open-minded and accepting of themselves and others.  Respectful.  Flexible and adaptable.  Empathetic.  Responsible.  Willing to grow and continue learning.  Self-empowered.  Honest. Mindful and able to be in the present.

The PRS Certification Training is the same for both: "Courage to Change" (Your Life) based on (US DHHS SAMHSA:  Action Planning for Prevention & Recovery (APPR) Level I (16 hours), plus Level II Facilitator (24 hours), provide comprehensive competency skills for implementation with clients. It is a total of 40 hours US DHHS SAMHSA APPR Facilitator credential for Peer Support Specialist (PRS). 

We also provide Virginia Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) a 72 hour curriculum credit (PRS), plus VA requires 500 hours of Peer supervised services in 5 Core Competencies in order to take a VA State final exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, Peers receive VA State, National Reciprocity, and IC&RC international reciprocity credentialing.

Our PRS/CPRS are referred to as Peer Navigators as 'Military Culture Experience'. Our Peer Coaches are 'Civilian Culture Experience'. Everyone is trained in military culture dynamics. As you complete Levels I-II-III (total 112 hours) behavioral health training with Beacon Institute, we provide both Navigators & Coaches with additional services such as internships, apprenticeships, or independent contractor positions with us or assist other employers with their Human Resources personnel.