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RCPS Needs Volunteer Peer Support Providers to help support those in our community.
Welcome to the RCPS comprehensive training course.
Our training course is still in development, and we are working adamantly to have all course content complete as fast as we are able. In the meantime, new staff members will be working one on one with their assigned course trainer for the completion of their staff training.
Course Overview
Course Overview
Our current training model is hybrid encompassing:
Independent learning of training content at your own pace (but do not rush)
Watching YouTube videos, audio clips, and other media
Completing short quizzes for each topic
Doing independent activities
Practicing the skills, that you have learned on your own and with others
Communicating with other trainees and course facilitators consistently to discuss the training material, practice skills with others, and ask questions.
Completing a final evaluation after each module to summarize what you have learned
We recommend that you have some helpful tools while working on the course including: headphones when listening to video or audio content, a notebook or other source to take your own notes, a safe and stress-free learning environment, and snacks and hydration.
Additionally, after you have completed the training course, you will be trained independently with team staff member for practical use of skills and knowledge.
We also encourage you to study and practice these skills as often as you can, and you may refer to them even after you have completed this course.
If you have questions about the training material or need clarifications, please write them down and save them for your course facilitator during weekly training collaboration check ins.
RCPS Staff Members will be required to review our training course once a year and complete additional trainings as necessary to ensure that we all stay up to date with relevant peer mental health support knowledge, skills, tools, and resources.
We encourage everyone to review relevant training material as often as needed and especially if you are in doubt or need to strengthen your skills in particular areas.
Course Content: What We WiIl Be Learning
Course Content: What We WiIl Be Learning
In Module 1: Orientation and Cultural Humility we will be learning an overview of who we are as an organization and what we do, and we will learn concepts and practices focused on cultural humility and intersectionality. This module will typically take 1 week to complete.
In Module 2: Peer Support Fundamentals Part I we will be learning an overview of what peer support is, and the peer support recovery model. This module will typically take 1 week to complete.
In Module 3: Peer Support Fundamentals Part II we will be learning peer support counseling and mentoring skills and practices and when to use them and when not to. This module will typically take 1 week to complete.
In Module 4: Understanding Mental Health Challenges in the Peer Support Recovery Model we will be learning about the most common mental health challenges people experience such as Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Substance Use, Bulimia/Anorexia, Non-Consensus Reality, and Bipolar etc. in the perspective of peers with the assistance of evidence-based practices for supporting people who live with these mental health challenges. This module will typically take 2-4 weeks to complete.
In Module 5: Suicide Risk Assessment and Crisis Intervention we will be learning about Suicide, skills and tools used for assessing someone who may be or is experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings, crisis intervention skills and tools to support those individuals, and emergency procedures we will utilize as a last resort to support those individuals experiencing a suicidal crisis. This module typically takes 2 weeks to complete.
In Module 6: Mandated Reporting and Tarasoff we will be learning about our practice of Mandated Reporting in which we are required to by law within the scope of our work as Peer Mental Health Specialists, our obligation to report to appropriate agencies any information that is shared with us about the physical, mental, sexual, or financial abuse or the neglect of minor children, elderly individuals, and disabled dependents. This module typically takes 1 week to complete.
In Module 7: Client Engagement (Working with our Clients) we will be learning best practices for how and when we engage with our clients within the scope of our roles within our organization, this will include more specific information pertaining to what a peer mentor does, what a support group or community education facilitator does, what a peer counselor does etc. This module typically takes 1 week to complete.
In Module 8: Self-Care and Community Care we will be learning about how we can best care for and support ourselves and each other as the work we do can impact our own mental health, as we often will experience vicarious trauma, we can become activated by other peoples' experiences, and we can potentially experience burn out. As an organization, our first priority is ensuring that we all have the care and support we need to fulfill our work and provide exceptional peer support to our clients. This module typically takes 1 week to complete.
A note on course completion time: The actual time to complete the training course material at a standard pace is a lot less that 12 weeks. And we may alter our time completion expectations as we grow and as the need arises. However, we want everyone taking the course to thoroughly learn the content and have a firm understanding of the knowledge and concepts, and the skills you learn and will use. The knowledge and tools provided in the course are not only for your benefit, but to benefit those that you support and work with.
Please click on the first module below to get started.
Comprehensive Training Course Curriculum
Comprehensive Training Course Curriculum
Version 1.0
Module 1 Orientation and Cultural Humility
1.1 Welcome video/audio
1.2 Why language matters
1.3 What is cultural humility
1.4 Cultural humility video/s
1.5 Cultural humility exercise
1.6 What is Intersectionality
1.7 Intersectionality video/s
1.8 Intersectionality handouts - Gender, Sexuality, Culture, Background
1.9 Intersectionality exercise
1.10 Bias and challenging our own biases
1.11 Project Implicit Tests Exercises (Optional)
1.12 Module 1 Evaluation
1.13 Module 1 Feedback Survey
Module 2 Peer Support Fundamentals Part I
2.1 What is Peer Support and Why it is Important?
2.2 What is the Peer Support Recovery Model
2.3 What does effective Peer Support look like?
2.4 What does ineffective Peer Support look like?
2.5 Peer Support exercises
2.6 Trauma Informed Care
2.7 Trauma informed care exercises
2.8 Understanding Equality versus Equity
2.9 Equality versus Equity exercises
2.10 Understanding Stigma - Self, Social, Systemic/Structural
2.11 Stigma exercises
2.12 Understanding barriers for accessing equitable and sustainable mental health support and care
2.13 Barriers for access exercises
2.14 Module 2 Evaluation
2.15 Module 2 Feedback Survey
Module 3 Peer Support Fundamentals Part II
3.1 An overview of peer support and counseling skills
3.2 What is Active Listening
3.3 Active listening exercise
3.4 Overview of A ROSE
3.5 Affirmations
3.6 Affirmations exercises
3.7 Reflections
3.8 Reflections exercises
3.9 Open Ended Questions
3.10 Open ended questions exercises
3.11 Empathy
3.12 Empathy exercises
3.13 Module 3 Evaluation
3.14 Module 3 Feedback Survey
Module 4 Understanding Mental Health Challenges in the Peer Support Recovery Model
4.1 Intro and reflection of the peer support recovery model
4.2 People often live with more than one mental health challenge
4.3 Mental health challenges exercises
4.4 Life challenges and how they impact our mental health
4.5 Life challenges exercises
4.6 Self-Harm and Self-Injury
4.7 What is Harm Reduction?
4.8 Self-Harm and Harm Reduction exercises
4.9 Understanding Depression
4.10 How we can support those experiencing depression
4.11 Depression exercises
4.12 Understanding Anxiety
4.13 How we can best support those experiencing anxiety
4.14 Anxiety exercises
4.15 Understanding Post Traumatic Stress
4.16 How we can best support those experiencing post-traumatic stress
4.17 Post-traumatic stress exercises
4.18 Understanding Mania and Manic States (Bipolar)
4.19 How we can best support those experiencing Mania
4.20 Mania and Manic States exercises
4.21 Understanding Bulimia and Anorexia
4.22 How we can best support those experiencing Bulimia/Anorexia
4.23 Bulimia/Anorexia exercises
4.24 Understanding Non-Consensus Reality (Schizophrenia)
4.25 How we can best support those experiencing non-consensus reality
4.26 Non-consensus reality exercises
4.27 Understanding Substance Use
4.28 How we can best support those who use substances
4.29 Substance use exercises
4.30 Understanding Insomnia
4.31 How we can best support those experiencing insomnia
4.32 Insomnia exercises
4.33 Understanding the relationship between Physical Health and Mental Health
4.34 How we can best support those experiencing both physical and mental health challenges
4.35 Physical and mental health challenges exercises
4.36 Understanding Manipulative Behavior (People Trying To Get Their Needs Met)
4.37 How we can best support those who may be manipulative
4.38 Manipulative behavior exercises
4.39 Module 4 Evaluation
4.40 Model 4 Feedback Survey
Module 5 Suicide Risk Assessment and Crisis Intervention
5.1 Intro and Overview of Suicide, Suicide Risk Assessment, and Crisis Intervention
5.2 Non Suicidal Crisis
5.3 Non Suicidal Crisis Intervention
5.4 Non suicidal crisis and intervention exercises
5.5 Suicide is a Sensitive and Sometimes Taboo Topic
5.6 Suicide exercises
5.7 High Risk Groups for Suicide
5.8 High risk groups exercises
5.9 Risk factors for Suicide
5.10 Risk factors for suicide exercises
5.11 Risk Assessment Overview
5.12 Desire (Assessing the Intensity of Suicidal Thoughts and Feelings)
5.13 Desire exercises
5.14 Capability (Assessing Risk Factors and Means)
5.15 Capability exercises
5.16 Intent (Assessing Immediacy of Desire and Capability)
5.18 Intent exercises
5.19 Exploring Buffers and Ambivalence
5.20 Buffers and ambivalence exercises
5.21 Using the Risk Assessment Scale
5.22 Risk assessment scale exercises
5.23 Safety Planning
5.24 Safety planning exercises
5.25 Crisis Intervention and Emergency Procedures
5.26 Crisis intervention and emergency procedures exercises
5.27 Module 5 Evaluation
5.28 Module 5 Feedback Survey
Module 6 Mandated Reporting and Tarasoff
6.1 Intro and Overview of Mandated Reporting and Tarasoff
6.2 Why We Report and Who Do We Report To
6.3 General Types of Abuse (Physical, Mental, Verbal, Sexual, Financial)
6.4 Types of abuse exercises
6.5 Child Abuse
6.6 Child abuse exercises
6.7 Elder Abuse
6.8 Elder abuse exercises
6.9 Dependent Adult Abuse
6.10 Dependent adult abuse exercises
6.11 Reporting Procedures
6.12 Reporting procedures exercises
6.13 Tips and Best Practices for Collecting Information
6.14 The Tarasoff Case
6.15 Assessing Homicidal Intent
6.16 Assessing homicidal intent exercises
6.17 Reporting Homicidal Intent
6.18 Reporting homicidal intent exercises
6.19 Module 6 Evaluation
6.20Module 6 Feedback Survey
Module 7 Client Engagement (How We Work with Our Clients)
7.1 Intro and Overview of Client Engagement
7.2 In Person Client Engagement
7.3 In person client engagement exercises
7.4 Telephone and Video Call Client Engagement
7.5 Telephone and video call client engagement exercises
7.6 Text and Chat Client Engagement
7.7 Text and chat client engagement exercises
7.8 Working with Abusive and Help Rejecting Clients
7.9 Working with abusive and help rejecting clients' exercises
Specific to RCPS Volunteer Staff
7.10 An Overview of our Programs and Services
7.11 Peer Mentorship Program
7.12 Peer mentorship program exercises
7.13 Community Education Program
7.14 Community education program exercises
7.15 Peer Support Groups Program
7.16 Peer support groups program exercises
7.17 Peer Counseling Program
7.18 Peer counseling program exercises
7.19 Hospital Follow Up Program
7.20 Hospital follow up program exercises
7.21 Mobile Crisis Team Program
7.22 Mobile crisis team program exercises
7.23 Module 7 Evaluation
7.24 Module 7 Feedback Survey
Module 8 Self-Care and Community Care
8.1 Intro and Overview
8.2 Vicarious Trauma
8.3 Vicarious trauma exercises
8.4 Compassion Fatigue
8.5 Compassion fatigue exercises
8.6 Caregiver/Supporter Burnout
8.7 Caregiver/Supporter burnout exercises
8.8 What Is Self-Care? And Why is Self-Care Important?
8.9 Self-Care Practices and Tips
8.10 Self-care exercises
8.11 Community Care
8.12 Community care exercises
8.13 Module 8 Evaluation
8.14 Module 8 Feedback Survey
8.15 Congratulations You Completed the Comprehensive Peer Support Training Course
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