This course provides an exploration of psychosis and anosognosia, focusing on how these conditions affect perception, insight, behavior, and daily functioning. Participants will learn how to define and identify the symptoms of psychosis and anosognosia. The training will outline the elements of the L.E.A.P model to broaden the understanding of psychosis and anosognosia to assist in providing support that is rooted in purpose to inspire hope from a lived experience perspective.

In 2024, the Arizona Legislature passed a bill creating A.R.S. 36-2903.15 requiring AHCCCS to develop training for all PRSS that includes content specific to psychosis and anosognosia. This training was developed according to state statute.
 
Beginning October 1, 2025, in addition to any other qualifications, peer specialists shall
complete training that includes psychosis-specific content, including anosognosia.

Co-reflection is a process that we can use to help each other reflect on our practice (how we’re doing what we say we want to be doing). It is about us creating expertise together through a process of learn, practice, reflection. It is designed to model the peer support relationship so that we are practicing the principles at all levels of our relationships. Co-reflection leads to increased levels of personal development and to deepening relationships. The online co-reflection runs for up to 90 minutes, the sessions are interactive, for the best experience, registrants should have access to a Private Quiet Area and to a computer that has both video and sound.

Self Care is productive.

As support professionals, our job is to support people, and families as they support their loved ones, find their path to recovery and build their resilience. Sometimes we see wonderful transformations, but other times we see ongoing and devastating consequences of mental illness and substance use disorder. We know that caring for others has a high cost. This immersive course takes a deep dive into the prevention of personal and professional stress, compassion fatigue, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. We will identify the shortcomings of incomplete self-care models and gain the knowledge and skills to build resiliency in our personal and professional lives. 

• Calculate the high cost of caring

•  Categorize the danger zones when caring for others Compare the shortcomings of “pop” self-care techniques with research-based resilience building models 

• Compose a self-directed Professional Resiliency Plan that can be easily integrated into professional practice and personal life

Curso en español

El Autocuidado es productivo.

Este curso inmersivo profundiza en la prevención del estrés personal y profesional, la fatiga por compasión, el agotamiento y el estrés traumático secundario. Identificaremos las deficiencias de los modelos de autocuidado incompletos y adquiriremos los conocimientos y las habilidades para desarrollar la resiliencia en nuestra vida personal y profesional.

· Calcular el alto coste del cuidado.

· Clasificar las zonas de riesgo al cuidar a otros. Comparar las deficiencias de las técnicas de autocuidado populares con los modelos de desarrollo de resiliencia basados ​​en la investigación.

· Elaborar un Plan de Resiliencia Profesional autodirigido que se pueda integrar fácilmente en la práctica profesional y la vida personal.

training that helps participants recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them to resources who can help them in choosing to live.

Don't miss out on our End of Year Virtual Mixer

Join us for the AZ Peer & Family Career Academy Holiday Mixer! Celebrate, connect, and share joy with our amazing peer community!

and so much MORE!

If you have any questions contact hello@azpfca.org

Understanding the systems of care in Arizona can feel overwhelming for many families. Arizona Autism United (AZA United) knows that questions often arise, such as: What does DDD do? Why is ALTCS needed? How does AHCCCS fit into all of this? What about private insurance? Where does the funding come from, and how can families access the services their child needs?

AZA United’s Family Support Team is here to help. They guide families in understanding and navigating these complex systems of care, and they provide clear explanations about who pays for which services. Their goal is to ensure families feel supported, informed, and empowered every step of the way.

At the Arizona Peer and Family Career Academy (PFCA), we believe the most powerful learning comes from those who have lived it. Our trainings are designed through a lived experience lens, equipping peer support specialists, family support professionals, and emerging leaders in the integrated healthcare workforce with the tools, empathy, and understanding needed to truly connect with and support individuals across Arizona.

Many who could benefit most face financial barriers that prevent them from attending. This fundraiser will raise funds to make these trainings accessible to everyone, ensuring scholarships, bilingual materials, and resources are available so no one is left out.

Your support will also help PFCA establish a healthy foundation of diverse financial avenues to sustain our mission, expand our impact, and increase our reach across the state. Together, we can empower more people to gain the skills and confidence to strengthen recovery, resilience, and wellness in their communities, making lived experience a driving force for meaningful change.

Ethics and boundaries are essential protection for ourselves and the individuals we serve. we will navigate some professional ethics and boundaries to provide clarity in what can feel gray.

· Develop understanding of essential ethics and boundaries
· Explore how to engage in ethical behaviors and practices
· Understand how to set appropriate boundaries with members while maintaining a positive relationship
· Reducing countertransference
· Recognizing need for effective warm hand offs

NAMI y The Peer and Family Career Academy se han asociado para organizar 3 conversaciones para la comunidad latina para discutir la salud mental desde una perspectiva cultural, aprender de un profesional de la salud mental y crear un camino hacia la sanacion mental

Esta Platica esta Dividida en 3 Sesiones en la siguentes fechas :

NOVIEMBRE 5

NOVIEMBRE 12

NOVIEMBRE 19

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

FREE EVENT - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN PRESCOTT AZ

PERSONAL NARRATIVES COME TO LIFE THROUGH ART

PERFORMANCE ART, ART EXHIBIT, ART FOR SALE, L IVE MUSIC,

SILENT AUCTION AND REFRESHMENTS

Join us to STOMP out STIGMA. FREE resources Available at the event. IN PERSON EVENT we hope to see you in Phoenix AZ

It can be a truly fun and rewarding job to support youth and young people in their journey, yet it also can be filled with several unique challenges. Your ability to work collaboratively with young people is a key factor in determining their success toward achieving their own goals and growth. When you are able to lean into chaos and roll with resistance using some grit and some tenderness, you can foster health, healing, and fun.

• Learn the values and virtue of effectively engaging with young people.

• Explore creative collaboration approaches for working with young people.

• Gain an understanding of a youth advocacy model that emphasizes how youth workers can support young people’s skill development.

• Learn how to empower youth to be self-advocates and take the lead.

• Youth Involvement Protocol

The Arizona Peer and Family Coalition offer the CLD Workshop series training for the Arizona community at no cost.

Advocacy 101: Civic Leadership fundamentals and strength in sharing your story, Elevator Speech Workgroup

Behavioral Health Advocacy Training

IN PERSON TRAINING

Friday October 3rd, 10:00-12:30PM

Warriors Code

1246 E. Jefferson. Phoenix Arizona, 85034

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based approach to having conversation about growth and change.

Join us for a presentation sponsored by the AZ Peer and Family Career Academy over lunch in collaboration with Mary Dillon, MA member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers and owner of Motivational Interviewing Learning Exchange, LLC.

Questions?: mdillon@milearningex.com

QPR stands for question, persuade, and refer, three steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. The training teaches participants how to help others in their communities who may be in thinking about suicide.

QPR Gatekeepers can be anyone that wants to help save live in their communities.

As a certified QPR Gatekeeper you will learn to

• Offer hope

• Recognize the warning signs of suicide

• Increase awareness of stigma

• Understand suicide as a public health issue

• Access local and national resources

• Know how to get and provide help that can save a life

This course runs from 9:00am - 4pm. It will have pre-homework that is REQUIRED to attend.

Mental Health First Aid training is designed to give learners the key skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

MHFA training is included on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices.

MHFA Certification must be renewed every three years.

THIS Course will be online Via zoom

Join us for a course on how to provide optimal supervision for your Peer and Family Support staff that will help your program deliver extraordinary outcomes. This course is designed for supervisors; you do NOT need to be a peer or family support employee to enroll. We encourage attendance from clinicians and medical staff who oversee programs where peer and family support services are utilized.

• Clearly define the roles and expectations for Peer Support Specialist and Family Support Specialist employees

• Understand and gauge whether your Peer Support Specialists & Family Support Specialists are working within their scope of practice

• ·Articulate the uniqueness of Peer Support Specialists and Family Support Specialists as part of a team.

• Review of AMPM 963 and AMPM 964 the AHCCCS policies related to peer and family support.

• Recognize the basic requirements for supervision of peer and family support specialists including continuing training requirements..

• This includes how peer support and family support can be best used as an evidence-based practice.

• Build/enhance structure and discipline into the framework of your programs.

• Utilize coaching and supportive supervision to enhance performance.

This course is online via zoom

The course on the 8 dimensions of wellness with a focus on social determinants of health provides an in-depth exploration of various aspects of well-being, including physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, financial, occupational, and social wellness. Through this course, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of how these dimensions interconnect and impact overall health and quality of life. Additionally, the course will delve into the social determinants of health, examining how factors such as socioeconomic status, education, employment, social support networks, and access to healthcare services influence individual and community well-being. Students will learn strategies for promoting wellness across these dimensions and addressing disparities in health outcomes related to social determinants.

· Discovering wellness by looking at needs and the whole person.

· Learning the 8 Dimensions of wellness

· Understanding the cross-section of 8 Dimensions and Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

· Promoting growth with each dimension for those we support.

This course will Be virtual on Zoom.

If we learned anything from our history books, it’s these two things: we need vigilant advocacy to keep our society true to its citizens and that well‐planned advocacy works to change the hearts and minds of society.

Our story has the power to change laws, policies, and systems. Our story has the power to demonstrate all the possibilities that can be achieved through self‐advocacy.

In this course, you will explore all the different forms of advocacy and develop a deep sense of how to respond when things aren’t as they should be.

This course will take place online via Zoom

Together we will learn how Professionalism is undoubtedly critical for fostering harmony and composure in the workplace.

Regardless of your company’s unique culture, and whether you have a more formal versus more casual atmosphere, we want to be viewed and respected as professionals.

• Define workplace professionalism.

• Recognize the importance of professional image, conduct and attitude.

• Explore Consequences of unprofessional behavior.

• Identify common barriers.

This course is designed to equip individuals with lived experience- peer and family support- with tools and confidence needed to navigate the job search process successfully. Emphasizing the unique value of lived experience.

We will focus on employment skills including job readiness, resume development, interview techniques and professionalism.

• Identify transferable skills that include lived experience

• Skills to develop a professional cover letter and resume

• Increase confidence and understanding of workplace culture

This course is 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.

Primeros Auxilios de Salud Mental (MHFA) de Adultos para las Comunidades Hispanohablantes enseña a las personas a reconocer los signos de un problema de salud mental o de uso de sustancias en adultos de 18 años o más; cómo ofrecer y proporcionar la ayuda inicial y cómo guiar a una persona hacia la atención apropiada si fuera necesario. Los temas tratados son la ansiedad, la depresión, la psicosis y las adicciones.

This course is online via zoom

We know that oftentimes those diagnosed with a developmental disability are not treated equally and face many additional barriers. We must understand their abilities and differences while ensuring they are included in all aspects of their care. We need to be aware of the various resources available. We must be able to advocate, connect, educate, create opportunities and impact change for this particular population.

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

• Determine what services and supports are available in your community, including but not limited to services through the Arizona Department of Economic Security (ADES), Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

• Understand ALTCS(Arizona Long Term Care Services) and CRS (Children’s Rehabiliative Services)

• A basic overview of some system tools including a 504 plan, Individualized Education Plan, and Child and Family Team Meetings (CFT’s)

• Refine your system navigation skills and know the legal rights of the people you serve 

This course is online via zoom

Do you struggle with how to complete or manage your needed documentation? We will discuss some best practices and techniques to write quality documentation.

• Ensure awareness of legal requirements for medical records

• Understand ethical considerations for record keeping

• Recognize best practices for documentation, ISP goals, and billing codes.

• Reduce Fraud, Waste and Abuse in billing practices.

• Practice Documentation