Peer Certification

For details on training, certification, examination, applying and more, visit capeercertification.org.

In behavioral health, Peers are individuals who have lived experience with mental health conditions or substance use disorders, or family members of those individuals.

 

California passed a law in 2020 (Senate Bill 803) that makes it possible for certified peer support specialists to be eligible for Medi-Cal reimbursement through county mental health plans and substance use disorder plans (behavioral health plans).

 

This important step in the delivery of behavioral health care values the experience that peers can provide and expands counties’ capacity to provide care.

CalMHSA’s Role as Certifying Entity

County behavioral health plans selected CalMHSA to implement a single, standardized Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification program. This was done in recognition of the need for a uniform process across the state — one that does not require peers to obtain multiple certifications in multiple counties, supports quality and application of standards, creates efficiency for counties, and adds credibility to the peer profession in California. Key program activities include:

  • Creating and implementing the certification program, approving training entities, certifying individuals, conducting investigations and collecting data
  • Administering and disbursing scholarships
  • Monitoring program activities, evaluation and quality assurance; processing complaints and appeals

For more information visit www.capeercertification.org. Questions or comments can be sent to [email protected].

Program Details

Lead Staff:

Lucero Robles, LCSW

Director of Quality Assurance

Email: [email protected]


Participating Counties:

Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Siskiyou, Shasta, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter/Yuba, Stanislaus, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo

News and Updates
  • RAND Publishes Study of Early Implementation of Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Program: To inform continual improvement of the program and help design future comprehensive evaluations, CalMHSA asked RAND to conduct an evaluation of the early implementation of the program. Researchers found several positive outcomes for Peer specialists and offered recommendations for further development.

  • Spanish Version of Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Exam Now Available: We are thrilled to announce the addition of a Spanish version of the certification exam. This development will ensure we reach a wider audience and foster an even more diverse community of certified professionals in the behavioral health workforce. To ensure a smooth experience for eligible candidates opting for the Spanish version, the process is as simple as selecting the “Spanish” option on the screen when scheduling the exam. The Spanish version is made possible with funding from the Department of Health Care Services.

Please note: Due to a lower than anticipated number of scholarship applications for specific areas of specialization, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is exploring the possibility of reallocating scholarship funds to other program areas. These may include the development of Spanish curriculum and offering fee waivers to eligible peers who are seeking certification. As a result, scholarships are currently unavailable for application until final decisions are made. CalMHSA remains committed to working closely with DHCS on the funding details and will provide timely updates to the community as needed.

Program Overview
Core Competencies

Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist

Parent, Caregiver, Family Member Peer Competencies (specialization)

Crisis Care (Specialization)

Justice-Involved (specialization)

Persons Unhoused (specialization)

Supervision of Peer Workers

Please note: Specialized training to support individuals who are unhoused, justice-involved, or in need of crisis services, and for parent/caregiver/family member peers is not required for certification as a Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist.

Stakeholder Advisory Council

Medi-Cal Peer Certification Stakeholder Advisory Council

Recognizing the need for input from peers and other stakeholders to implement a Peer Support Specialist certification program, CalMHSA established a Stakeholder Advisory Council that makes recommendations on behalf of a variety of stakeholder groups. The development and selection of the Advisory Council members was conducted in collaboration with the California Association of Mental Health Peer Run Organizations on behalf of DHCS. Advisory Council members were selected through an application process, and the membership reflects the Medi-Cal populations served by the county specialty plans. Wherever possible, Advisory Council members represent underrepresented or difficult-to-engage communities. CalMHSA values continuous quality improvement; the Advisory Council will serve as an avenue for ongoing feedback during the implementation phase and beyond.

Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meetings

Date
Time
Webinar Links
Dial-In Information
Downloads
Friday, January 19, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Dial-in: 1-669-900-9128 Webinar ID: 895 6617 3539
Friday, April 19, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Dial-in: 1-669-444-9171 Webinar ID: 895 6617 3539
Friday, July 19, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Dial-in: 1-669-444-9171 Webinar ID: 895 6617 3539
Friday, October 18, 2024
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Dial-in: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 895 6617 3539

Council Member Information

Council Member
Organization
County
Region
Represented Counties
Provide Feedback
2nd Story
Santa Cruz
Bay Area
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, and San Francisco
San Joaquin County
San Joaquin
Central
Alpine, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter-Yuba, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo
Yolo County
Sacramento
Central
Alpine, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter-Yuba, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo
Cook N Up Excellence Collective LLC
Fresno
Central
Alpine, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter-Yuba, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo
Sycamores
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Tri-City
Alter Health Group
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Tri-City
WINLA.org & LACDMH
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Tri-City
Orange County
Orange
Southern
Imperial, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Reaching New Heights Foundation
San Bernardino
Southern
Imperial, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
RTimeCo
Orange
Southern
Imperial, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Clubhouse Expansion Program
San Bernardino
Southern
Imperial, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Peer Voices of Orange County
Orange County
Southern
Imperial, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Lake County Behavioral Health
Lake
Superior
Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity
This powerful dashboard of the Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification program illustrates how peers are making a difference in and for their communities: