Peer Certification Stakeholder Advisory Council
The California Mental Health Authority Services Authority (CalMHSA) is pleased to announce a Peer Services Stakeholder Advisory Council (Stakeholder Advisory Council) and is accepting applications for membership on this Council.
Purpose
Within its role as an advisory body to CalMHSA, the Stakeholder Advisory Council assists CalMHSA in providing feedback and insight into the development and implementation of the Peer Support Specialist Certification (PSSC) program for counties represented by CalMHSA.
The Stakeholder Advisory Council seeks to maintain the values and best practices of peer support throughout the peer certification process.
The Stakeholder Advisory Council provides the insight of the people who will be most directly affected by peer certification and peer services as they grow throughout California counties.
The Stakeholder Advisory Council provides recommendations on the PSSC to better service those eligible for and served by Medi-Cal, with a focus on those historically impacted by inequities in the behavioral health systems, particularly for specific racial, cultural, and rural communities.
The Stakeholder Advisory Council provides subject matter expertise on the various aspects of the peer certification process, from training to marketing.
Membership Composition
The above perspectives of the Stakeholder Advisory Council is essential as its members are people directly affected by peer certification in California, including people with lived experience as adults (including transition age youth and older adults) with mental health and/or substance use conditions, parent/caregivers of children with emotional disturbances, and family members of adults with mental health and/or substance use conditions; the ethnic and cultural diversity in California, particularly of those served and underserved in the public mental health system; and subject matter experts in peer and auxiliary services.
CalMHSA seeks a subject matter expert from each of the following peer certification and auxiliary services:
- Recipient of peer services, particularly in the behavioral health system (public mental health and substance use disorder)
- Provider of peer services
- Peer run organization representative
- Peer (including peer supervision) training provider
- Mental health/substance use provider
- Crisis worker
- Workforce development or employment specialist
- Human resource officer
- Disability rights advocate
- Educational institution official
Because of a conflict of interest, CalMHSA members and agencies/individuals who are peer training applicants or vendors cannot serve as a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Council.
Member Responsibilities
- Be available for biweekly meetings (initially) and later monthly meetings for up to three (3) hours
- Be willing to serve on a work group of the Stakeholder Advisory Council, when appropriate
- Serve as a member for two years
- Have access to virtual meeting equipment for meetings
- Request necessary accommodations in advance of meetings
- Commit to regular attendance with no more than two consecutive meeting absences without cause
First round applications are due October 1, 2021. Applications submitted before October 1st, 2021 will be reviewed first. The application process will remain open until membership has been established. CalMHSA may choose to reopen or extend the application process.
The first meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Council will be October 15, 2021.
Medi-Cal Peer Certification Stakeholder Advisory Council Virtual Application
Medi-Cal Peer Certification Stakeholder Advisory Council PDF Application
CalMHSA is pleased to announce a Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ) for Peer Support Specialist Certification Training. Proposal supporting documentation must be submitted to the CalMHSA e-procurement portal located here: https://calmhsa.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/49986
CalMHSA is seeking responses from organizations who are interested in providing training that leads to Peer Support Specialist Certification on behalf of multiple California County Mental Health Plans (MHPs). This RFSQ’s reference to Peer Support Specialist Certification (PSSC) is in alignment with the Peer Support Specialist Certification Program Act of 2020 with the intent of increasing the number of Peer Support Specialists as Medi-Cal providers and bill for services under the Medi-Cal program. Counties being represented by CalMHSA will range in size from small/rural to large counties and are located throughout California. Although the Peer Support Specialist Certification standards set forth by the Department of Healthcare Services (DHCS) are uniform for all counties and/or organization implementing a Peer Support Specialist Certification program, the training content and delivery of training may vary.
The goal of this RFSQ is to determine organizational qualifications and interest in a project of this scale and scope. Peer Support Specialist trainings covered in this RFSQ should meet the required standards and be accessible across counties or geographic regions to individual’s interested in taking training towards becoming a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist.
Due to the open procurement, CalMHSA staff is unable to answer any questions regarding the RFSQ. Any questions may be submitted using the Bonfire e-procurement portal, noted above. In addition, an RFSQ timeline is included below:
| EVENT | Key Dates |
| RFSQ Issued | 8/13/21 |
| RFSQ Questions Due | 8/20/21, 5:00 pm PST |
| RFSQ Questions Answered | 8/25/21 |
| Deadline for RFSQs to be Submitted | 8/31/21, 5:00 pm PST |
All proposals must be submitted to the CalMHSA e-procurement portal located here: https://calmhsa.bonfirehub.com/