The Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) designation is an entry-level credential for persons who use their professional preparation in combination with their lived experience to help others achieve and maintain recovery from substance use and/or mental health conditions.  This is a five (5) -day training for a total of 40 hours providing practical and experiential training on how to work as a peer specialist. There are three different endorsements of lived experience that certified professionals can add to the credential:

• CRPS-A: Applicant attests to lived experience as an adult who has been in recovery for a minimum of 2 years from a substance use or mental health condition.
• CRPS-F: Applicant attests to lived experience as a family member or caregiver to another individual who has or is in recovery from a substance use or mental health condition.
• CRPS-V: Applicant attests to lived experience as a veteran of the armed forces who has been in recovery for a minimum of 2 years from a substance use or mental health condition.

LSF Health Systems developed a CRPS Apprenticeship Program.  To be considered for this opportunity, students must complete level 1 training.  The apprenticeship program is level 2 and focuses on: 

   i.      A 12-month apprenticeship program 
  ii.      A total of 2,000 hours of experiential field training 
  iii.      A minimum of 144 hours of classroom training 

Attached you will find the link to complete the peer application. It will take time to complete in its entirety and in order to avoid duplicate applications, we ask that you only submit the application once. The survey does not allow you to save work, so please be sure to set aside time, at least 1 hour, for this process in order to answer each question thoroughly.

Peer application link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OIFSP

This workshop provides innovative and transformative methods that can be used during the child therapeutic process to facilitate the exploration of fears, tap into strengths and process traumas. Learn innovative Solution-Focused, Person-Centered, and Cognitive-Behavioral child therapy techniques that can be applied while working with children.

Gain understanding of the field of child welfare and the ability to navigate and work within the Child Welfare System. Learn strategies to apply information learned towards client readiness in order to successfully meet goals. Participants will be able to learn how to discuss information on cases and how to work in partnership with systems integration. Participants will also learn to utilize the Access to Care line as a

caseworker/case manager, child protective investigator or family support specialist.

(CIT) Crisis Intervention Team is an eight (8)- hour training that provides updated information on the Memphis Model for Law Enforcement Personnel.  Participants learn strategies to resolve crisis calls that place officers face-to-face with complex issues relating to mental illness. Community CIT programs are a collaborative effort bringing together the police and community to address common goals of safety, understanding, and service to individuals who have a mental illness and their families.

Explore the essentials of compassion fatigue – a normal consequence of working in a helping field. 

 After taking this course, you will: 

• Understand the difference between compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and burnout 
• Learn what professions are at-risk for developing these “occupational hazards” 
• Assess your own level of compassion fatigue 
• And develop strategies to help you reduce your level of stress. 

Focuses on awareness, knowledge, and understanding of diversity in our communities.  At the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Define and describe health disparities in behavioral healthcare.
• Learn to identify the stages of minority identity development model.
• Understand how to communicate effectively with patients from different cultures.
• Learn to apply strategies for cultural competencies in practice.

This training will provide attendees with verbal de-escalation and conflict resolution tactics and strategies to utilize with someone who is in crisis. Participants will learn skills to effectively communicate with people in a crisis to reduce the possibility of physical intervention. The training will include techniques to handle crisis’ and understanding mental health crisis. Participants will engage in real life role plays to practice learned skills and assess safety and professional boundaries.

In this training, participants will learn signs that identify someone who may be a victim of domestic violence, how to talk to someone about the violence and how to prepare a safety plan with a victim. They will also learn the harm of victim-blaming and where to refer a victim for help. Statistics will be provided as well as an overview of common myths.

Training will vary slightly for Law Enforcement, Medical Personnel and Social Services as they each play a different part in identifying warning signs and engaging in safety planning.

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training course designed to give members of the public key skills to assist someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.  Just as CPR training helps a layperson without medical training assist an individual following a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid training helps a layperson assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis. The various customized modules include; higher education, elderly, veterans and law enforcement.

The evidence behind Mental Health First Aid demonstrates that it makes people feel more comfortable managing a crisis situation and builds mental health literacy – helping the public identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness. Specifically, studies found that those who trained in Mental Health First Aid have greater confidence in providing help to others, greater likelihood of advising people to seek professional help, improved concordance with health professionals about treatments, and decreased stigmatizing attitudes.

Mental Health First Aid certification, which must be renewed every three years, helps trainees:

• Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs for a range of mental health problems, including: depression, anxiety/trauma, psychosis and psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury.
• Use a 5-step action plan to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional help.
• Understand the prevalence of various mental health disorders in the U.S. and the need for reduced negative attitudes in their communities.
• Apply knowledge of the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help someone with a mental health problem treat and manage the problem and achieve recovery.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training course that teaches members of the public key skills to assist an adolescent who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.  The 8-hour course covers a range of common disorders and potential crises such as helping a young person who is having a panic attack, contemplating suicide or struggling with substance abuse.

Youth Mental Health First Aid certification teaches participants to:

• Recognize the potential risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including: depression, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavioral disorders, and substance use disorders.
• Use a 5-step action plan to help a young person in crisis connect with appropriate professional help.
• Understand the prevalence of various mental health disorders in youth within the U.S. and the need for reduced negative attitudes in their communities.
• Apply knowledge of the appropriate professional, peer, social, and self-help resources available to help a young person with a mental health problem treat and manage the problem and achieve recovery.
• Assess their own views and feelings about youth mental health problems and disorders.

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based approach to promoting positive behavior change. Years of research has shown Motivational Interviewing to be a well-established approach across a wide range of settings, problems, and populations. It is most effective for clients ambivalent about changing or initially not even considering making changes.

Level 1: Application in Diverse Settings

This 2-day training introduces MI theory and research, including how and why behavior changes. Learn the basic practice elements of MI and the fundamental processes of engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning with clients. We also contrast MI with other methods of behavior change. Through discussion, videos, and experiential exercises, you begin developing your MI skills.

Learning objectives

• Identify the elements of practice
• Identify change-talk as an active ingredient of MI
• Observe MI and begin developing person-centered Open-ended questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening and Summary skills

To address the national and regional opioid epidemic, LSF Health Systems provides training on opioid use and misuse to contracted providers and non-providers in the Northeast Florida region. Training covers how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose by using intra-nasal naloxone (Narcan). Naloxone is a prescription medication that is used to reverse an opioid overdose. The two-hour courses are free and open to the public.

Learning objectives

• Learn how Opioids work to affect the body
• Recognize signs and symptoms of opioid overdose
• Apply techniques and strategies to reverse opioid overdoses
• Learn how to supporting the overdose patient in the community with local resources.

QPR is an evidence-based emergency mental health intervention for suicidal persons created in 1995 by Dr. Paul Quinnett.  As part of the “chain of survival” this course is designed to identify and interrupt the crisis and direct that person to proper care. Through discussions, experiential exercises and videos, participants learn:

• How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal
• How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide
• The common causes of suicidal behavior
• The warning signs of suicide
• How to get help for someone in crisis

Participants will understand the definition of Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue and Secondary Trauma. They will learn warning signs of burnout and prevention techniques they can use on a daily basis, as well as strategies that can be used while on the job.

Participants will understand the effects of sexual assault on a victim and on family members and how a mind in crisis may show a fragmented story.  Participants will learn how to prepare a safety plan with a survivor of sexual assault as well as how to talk with them. Statistics will be provided as well as an overview of common myths.

This course trains case managers to effectively assist eligible individuals in applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

Learning objectives:

Gain an increased understanding of the SOAR Model of applying for SSI/SSDI including:

• SSI/SSDI application process
• eligibility criteria for applicants
• types of benefits
• application requirements
• common application errors
• common reasons for denial

Gain an increased understanding of the following elements of service:

• working while receiving benefits
• principles of empowerment and self-determination
• whether or not the applicant should file

Learn the process, procedures and criteria for state mental health treatment facilities.

This workshop provides strength-based engagement interventions that can be used when working with challenging dynamics within individuals and families. This workshop addresses how to intervene, document and make a meaningful impact when encountering avoidance, aggression, dependency and obsessive dynamics. This workshop introduces the value of behavioral health documentation and commonly used documentation formats.

• Define and describe the strength-based intervention approach and quality documentation.
• Discuss the value of quality behavioral health documentation.
• Apply B.I.R.P, S.O.A.P and D.A.P. documentation formats.

This course helps participants learn and recognize common indicators, signs and symptoms of substance abuse; provides practical steps to identify a psychoactive substance and those that are most common in communities; addresses cultural factors related to substance abuse in youth; and teaches strategies to prevent and respond in a community setting.

Targeted Case Managers must continually review and adhere to applicable state and/or federal rules, regulations, and contractual requirements. This eight (8-12) hour training covers the majority of topics required for new targeted case managers working in the behavioral healthcare field:

• Provides an overview of the Florida Medicaid Child Health Services Targeted Case Management Coverage and Limitations Handbook.
• Improves knowledge about Provider Qualifications and Responsibilities.
• Increases understanding of Covered Services, Limitations & Exclusions and Targeted Case Management Service Components.
• Improve compliance with Florida Medicaid policy.

This workshop provides an introduction to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), including mechanisms of TBI as well as signs, symptoms, severity levels, and rates of TBI in civilian and military populations. Recommendations for assessing, managing, and treating TBI are reviewed. The overlap between TBI and PTSD are discussed and the importance of care coordination strategies, resources, and services available to patients with TBI and their families are reviewed. This course is intended for mental health providers or medical professionals interested in gaining competency in working with individuals (military or civilian) who have sustained a TBI. The training hours vary for this course depending on audience needs.

Learning Objectives

• To identify signs, symptoms, severity levels and types of TBI as well as rule-outs for disorders with symptom overlap.
• To recognize neuropsychological screenings and tests for TBI and describe treatment options based on severity.
• To learn care coordination strategies and available resources for TBI patients and their families.

Introduction to Screening, Brief, Intervention, Refer, and Treat (SBIRT) (5 hours)

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based practice used to identify, reduce, and prevent problematic use, abuse, and dependence on alcohol and illicit drugs. This five (5) hour training addresses:

• Identifying main components of SBIRT
• Explaining research and support for SBIRT rationale
• How to use motivational strategies to implement SBIRT effectively
• Using the CRAFFT and ASSIST measuring instruments

Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is an organizational structure and treatment framework that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. It emphasizes physical, psychological and emotional safety for both consumers and providers.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will be able to recognize the importance of trauma-informed practices in achieving safety, permanency, and well-being for children and families in the child welfare system.
• Participants will be able to define the Essential Elements of a Trauma-Informed System.
• Understand how traumatic experiences affect brain development and memory.
• Understand how cultural factors influence how children may identify, interpret, and respond to traumatic events.
• Practice strategies for psychological safety among children and families.
• Identify practical solutions to overcome barriers to partnering with other agencies and systems that interact with children and families.