In recent audits and provider reviews, it has become clear that there is need for clarification on requirements for Peer and Family Supports in Arizona. This course will focus on increasing organizational compliance and effectiveness with peer and family supports.

• Understand AHCCCS policy related to Peer and Family Support (AMPM 963 and 964)

• Explore supervision requirements and best practices

• Understand requirements for CEU’s

• Recognizing the value of peer and family supports as evidence based practices

• Increase clarity on Peer and Family Support reporting the AHCCCS and Health plans

This course will dive past the normal question of "what happened to you" to exploring other necessary questions, impact of our words and how to provide trauma informed care in the real world.

Trauma is common in the community, and it has major impacts on our health and wellness. It is essential as peer and family support specialists we have the knowledge and tools to provide support to individuals who may have experienced trauma. This course will dive past the normal question of "what happened to you" to exploring other necessary questions, impact of our words and how to provide trauma informed care in the real world. 

• Restate the definition, prevalence and impact of trauma Discuss the paradigm shift that is critical to becoming trauma-informed

• Identify ways in which trauma informed principles can be applied in daily work

• Utilize a trauma-informed approach and language while supporting individuals

• Understand evidence based practices for treating trauma

• Recognize the important role peer and family supports play in encouraging resiliency

• Recognize secondary trauma and prepare for how to handle it in healthy ways to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue

This course will run on Wednesday April 24th from 1PM-4PM

As a lived experienced professional, we know that personal disclosure creates rapport and supports individuals seeking services, yet it can be a challenge to find the appropriate balance. This class will create self-awareness and provide practical methods for the professional Peer worker to create a balance of sharing your story as needed for the individuals benefit.

AT THE END OF THIS 3-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Identify the various benefits of sharing personal stories, including reducing stigma and providing hope.

• Gain insights into structuring a narrative that highlights personal growth and transformation.

• Review the unique boundaries and ethical risks for a lived experience professional

• Identify how to stay in scope and work as part of an integrated care team

• Ensure the members best interests are upheld while providing services

• Sharing appropriate length/content for healing 

• Gain practical tips for sharing personal stories effectively and publicly..

This course will be online from on

Tusday april 23rd from 9am - 5pm

Opioid use is at an epidemic level, and who better to answer the call of hope and support than peer and family support professionals. Opioid use has a deep and unique place in history, where it has been both romanticized and demonized. Today, we know that meaningful lives are devastated and even lost daily. This course provides an in-depth knowledge of how to support people who are living with opioid use dependency or disorder.

AT THE END OF THIS 8-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Understand the why’s and how’s of the opioid epidemic 

• Differentiate the ways the brain responds to opioid use compared to other substances 

• Use high-end cultural competencies to build rapport with people who have opioid dependence 

• Utilize the principles of trauma-informed care to support people who feel trapped by their opioid use 

• Explain the principles of harm-reduction and appreciate the role that medication can play in a comprehensive approach to treatment

• Identify signs of a potential opioid overdose and how to administer naloxone  

How do we collaborate with other health care to ensure the members wants,

needs, and preferences are honored?

• Collaborating with other stakeholders

• Lived Experience and Clinical Partnerships

• Care Coordination meetings (CFTs, ARTs, Staffings, etc.)

Tobacco use has unfairly burdened persons with mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders.

As a peer or family supporter—regardless of whether you smoke yourself—

You can become an important part of the solution to this problem. Helpers Program for Behavioral Health (HPBH) was designed at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine, and our goal is to help all behavioral health staff become better equipped to support persons who are interested in stopping or reducing their tobacco use to do so.

Pregnancy and Parenting can be an exciting time yet holds unique challenges for those with substance use disorders or mental health journeys. This can be an important time for peer and family support to understand the unique needs of parents. Together we can create healthy communities.

• Impacts in Arizona

• Stages of Pregnancy

• Maternal Wellness and addressing stigma

• Child Wellness including understanding fetal alcohol syndrome and NAS

• Embracing Evidence based practices

• How to access supports and resources

This course will be online from on

Thursday march 14th from 9am - 5pm

Opioid use is at an epidemic level, and who better to answer the call of hope and support than peer and family support professionals. Opioid use has a deep and unique place in history, where it has been both romanticized and demonized. Today, we know that meaningful lives are devastated and even lost daily. This course provides an in-depth knowledge of how to support people who are living with opioid use dependency or disorder.

AT THE END OF THIS 8-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Understand the why’s and how’s of the opioid epidemic 

• Differentiate the ways the brain responds to opioid use compared to other substances 

• Use high-end cultural competencies to build rapport with people who have opioid dependence 

• Utilize the principles of trauma-informed care to support people who feel trapped by their opioid use 

• Explain the principles of harm-reduction and appreciate the role that medication can play in a comprehensive approach to treatment

• Identify signs of a potential opioid overdose and how to administer naloxone  

Substance use is a growing problem across populations. As a helping professional, you need a basic understanding of how substance use affects and impacts the individuals you provide services to. This information will help you to provide support and resources to help members seek treatment and recovery. In this course, you will explore substance use disorders, how they develop, and their impact on individuals. The course also explains your role as a supporter when working with individuals with substance use disorders.

AT THE END OF THIS 3-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• ·Why people start taking substances and the effects of substances.

• The continuum of substance use from not using (abstinence) to a substance use disorder.

• How substances affect the brain, causing a chronic, relapsing brain disease.

• Best practices for treating substance use disorders and maintaining recovery.

• Options for Recovery Programming

This Course will take place Online using the Zoom platform

Wednesday March 13th 9am-12pm

Together we will explore the experience of individuals navigating our justice system and reentering the community. To support individuals in their journey, it can be helpful to expand our understanding of the process and experience of those we serve.

·         Increase understanding of jail and prison experiences in AZ

·         Develop knowledge of justice system processes

·         Increase understanding of justice involved culture

·         Expand our knowledge of supporting individuals as they transition to the community

Pregnancy and Parenting can be an exciting time yet holds unique challenges for those with substance use disorders or mental health journeys. This can be an important time for peer and family support to understand the unique needs of parents. Together we can create healthy communities.

• Impacts in Arizona

• Stages of Pregnancy

• Maternal Wellness and addressing stigma

• Child Wellness including understanding fetal alcohol syndrome and NAS

• Embracing Evidence based practices

• How to access supports and resources

This course will run on

March 11th from 9AM-5pM

People who have experienced justice involvement and incarceration face unique hardships and challenges in society. Research shows that the level of support an individual receives directly influences how a person navigates their path to community integration. In this immersive course, peer and/or family support professionals will gain invaluable knowledge and develop critical intervention skills to support individuals re-entering the community after incarceration.

AT THE END OF THIS 8-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Reduce recidivism by facilitating successful reentry of the individuals served

• Outline the inner workings of the criminal justice system

• Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions at various points of contact

• Analyze the unique challenges and opportunities of reentry

• Explain the relationship between trauma-informed care and justice involvement

• Formulate how to support individuals as they navigate reentry

This course will run on

March 9th from 9AM-5pM

People who have experienced justice involvement and incarceration face unique hardships and challenges in society. Research shows that the level of support an individual receives directly influences how a person navigates their path to community integration. In this immersive course, peer and/or family support professionals will gain invaluable knowledge and develop critical intervention skills to support individuals re-entering the community after incarceration.

AT THE END OF THIS 8-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Reduce recidivism by facilitating successful reentry of the individuals served

• Outline the inner workings of the criminal justice system

• Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions at various points of contact

• Analyze the unique challenges and opportunities of reentry

• Explain the relationship between trauma-informed care and justice involvement

• Formulate how to support individuals as they navigate reentry

This course will run on March 6th from 9AM-12PM

We know that stigma inhibits access to and engagement in services. Do you have the tools to talk to someone about their drug use? This course offers practical and proven-effective strategies for communication with people who use drugs to promote connection to care.

AT THE END OF THIS 2-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Define recovery and resilience

• Increase tools for effective communication and support for those who use drugs for positive rapport.

• Understand evidence-based practices including MAT and Housing First

• Harm reduction approaches including Naloxone, syringe access programs, and reducing communicable diseases.

• How to access and refer to care

This course will present a series of skills that can be used to de-escalate and manage general and specific crisis situations. Peer and Family Supports will learn the important role of communications, empathy, body language, and how avoid roadblocks in lessening intense behaviors.

AT THE END OF THIS 3-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Recognize practices of providing support before crisis or escalation happens

• Expand knowledge of skills to calm any situation

• Learn the important role of communication, empathy, and body language, and how to avoid roadblocks

• Ensure least restrictive option is provided

• Understand the required documentation needed for an incident

This Course will take place online via Zoom

Together we will learn how MI can be used at each stage of change, from pre-contemplation and contemplation, to preparation, action and maintenance. You will learn how to apply the method of MI with your own clients, by harnessing their own internal motivations to change. Motivational Interviewing is an evidence based practice which is essential for peer and family support specialists.

·    Learn an effective alternative to trying to convince clients to change

·    Help your clients find their own motivations for positive change

·    Understand how MI complements other evidence-based treatment methods

·    Learn how to use MI at every stage of change

·    Understand addiction treatment as an ongoing “primary care” process, not a discrete event

This course will provide an overview of the Strengthening Families movement and the protective factors framework and ideas for how you can apply these concepts in your work. This training is designed to be used by anyone who works with children and families – in any field. We use a mix of examples from early care and education settings, child welfare settings, and family interactions.

This course will provide an overview how to reduce isolation and increase social supports for parents and families. When parents feel disconnected from other family or close friends, their level of parental stress can become overwhelming, undermining their ability to parent effectively, and may potentially lead to abuse and neglect. Social connections lessen that isolation factor and – subsequently – lessen the likelihood of child maltreatment.  

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the value of helping parents and families connect to others

• Discuss at least three ways that you can encourage parents to make these connections.

• Create some concrete plans to assist parents in developing social connections

This Course will take place online via Zoom

Together we will learn how MI can be used at each stage of change, from pre-contemplation and contemplation, to preparation, action and maintenance. You will learn how to apply the method of MI with your own clients, by harnessing their own internal motivations to change. Motivational Interviewing is an evidence based practice which is essential for peer and family support specialists.

·    Learn an effective alternative to trying to convince clients to change

·    Help your clients find their own motivations for positive change

·    Understand how MI complements other evidence-based treatment methods

·    Learn how to use MI at every stage of change

·    Understand addiction treatment as an ongoing “primary care” process, not a discrete event

Together we are better! This networking mixer is a chance for Peer and Family Supports to connect on our shared experiences. Our goal is to build a sense of community with our Peer and Family support to support us in warm handoffs and referrals.

PFCA will be providing appetizers.

This event is intended for credentialed Peer and Family Support Specialists in Arizona.

Together we are better! This networking mixer is a chance for Peer and Family Supports to connect on our shared experiences. Our goal is to build a sense of community with our Peer and Family support to support us in warm handoffs and referrals.

PFCA will be providing appetizers.

This event is intended for credentialed Peer and Family Support Specialists in Arizona.

This course will present a series of skills that can be used to de-escalate and manage general and specific crisis situations. Peer and Family Supports will learn the important role of communications, empathy, body language, and how avoid roadblocks in lessening intense behaviors.

AT THE END OF THIS 3-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Recognize practices of providing support before crisis or escalation happens

• Expand knowledge of skills to calm any situation

• Learn the important role of communication, empathy, and body language, and how to avoid roadblocks

• Ensure least restrictive option is provided

• Understand the required documentation needed for an incident

This course will run on

Febuary 12th from 9AM-5pM

People who have experienced justice involvement and incarceration face unique hardships and challenges in society. Research shows that the level of support an individual receives directly influences how a person navigates their path to community integration. In this immersive course, peer and/or family support professionals will gain invaluable knowledge and develop critical intervention skills to support individuals re-entering the community after incarceration.

AT THE END OF THIS 8-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Reduce recidivism by facilitating successful reentry of the individuals served

• Outline the inner workings of the criminal justice system

• Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions at various points of contact

• Analyze the unique challenges and opportunities of reentry

• Explain the relationship between trauma-informed care and justice involvement

• Formulate how to support individuals as they navigate reentry

This course will be online Thursday Febuary 8th from 9am - 5pm

Opioid use is at an epidemic level, and who better to answer the call of hope and support than peer and family support professionals. Opioid use has a deep and unique place in history, where it has been both romanticized and demonized. Today, we know that meaningful lives are devastated and even lost daily. This course provides an in-depth knowledge of how to support people who are living with opioid use dependency or disorder.

AT THE END OF THIS 8-HOUR COURSE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Understand the why’s and how’s of the opioid epidemic 

• Differentiate the ways the brain responds to opioid use compared to other substances 

• Use high-end cultural competencies to build rapport with people who have opioid dependence 

• Utilize the principles of trauma-informed care to support people who feel trapped by their opioid use 

• Explain the principles of harm-reduction and appreciate the role that medication can play in a comprehensive approach to treatment

• Identify signs of a potential opioid overdose and how to administer naloxone  

This Course will take place online via Zoom

Together we will learn how LGBTQIA+ people are all ages. They come from all ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic classes and educational levels. Sexual orientation and gender identity are as unique as each individual. It is essential to create a welcoming environment for all individuals. Studies have confirmed that LGBTQIA+ youth face a range of increased risks compared with other young people. These include a greater likelihood of victimization, discrimination and violence. A range of poor health and academic outcomes are directly related to such inequities. We can make a difference by providing quality and mindful care to this population.

·    Recognizing the importance of language

·    Understanding key terms to provide respectful communication.

·    The “coming out” process as it relates to behavioral health.

·    How to make a provider organization more LGBTQIA+ welcoming.

·    Specific clinical guidance for addressing the needs of each of the LGBTQIA+ populations.

This Course will take place Online using the Zoom platform

Thursday February 1st 12pm-3pm

Together we will explore the experience of individuals navigating our justice system and reentering the community. To support individuals in their journey, it can be helpful to expand our understanding of the process and experience of those we serve.

·         Increase understanding of jail and prison experiences in AZ

·         Develop knowledge of justice system processes

·         Increase understanding of justice involved culture

·         Expand our knowledge of supporting individuals as they transition to the community