The Colorado Peer and Family Specialist Certification September 2016
Basic Definitions 1. The Colorado Peer and Family Specialist certification is intended as a professional credential for individuals with “lived experience” in behavioral health. 2. “Lived experience” means: • The applicant has a personal history of drug or alcohol addiction and is engaged in recovery and/or • The applicant has a personal diagnosis (experience) of a mental health condition and is engaged in recovery, or • The applicant has personally provided care to a child, youth or adolescent with a drug or alcohol addiction or mental health condition.
Peer Credential Importance Benefits for peers Ability to achieve and maintain a professional credential Opportunity for skill and career development Recognition that peers are key for delivery of behavioral health services
Benefits for employers Ensures employed peers meet certain standards for experience and training Potential implications for Medicaid
Benefits for state agencies and public safety Ensures competency standards and requires adherence to ethical code Enhances accountability for public funds
Developing Colorado’s Peer Credential Behavioral Health Transformation Council Tasked the Continuum of Care Committee with development of a credential with combined core competencies Assembled a Peer and Family Work Group Goal – To develop a credentialing process that includes shared core competencies for peers in recovery from addiction, mental health disorders and family advocates
Colorado Providers Association (COPA) Already provides prevention specialist certification for substance abuse
Individual employers utilized their own criteria and trainings
Development Process Statewide stakeholder meetings (2014-2015) Research on approaches White paper Options identified Stand alone entity to administer credential National Association of Addiction Professionals (NAADAC) International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)
Peer and Family Workgroup and Continuum of Care Committees unanimously endorsed IC&RC approach Behavioral Health Transformation Council endorsed IC&RC (2015)
Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. - Henry Ford
About the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Established in 1981 Offers 8 different credentials in prevention, treatment and recovery Provides standards and examinations to 78 certification and licensing boards in 25 countries, 48 states and territories, 5 Native American Regions and all branches of the U.S. military More than 50,000 individuals hold IC&RC credentials across various disciplines
About IC&RC Credentials Credentials utilize latest research and evidence-based practices IC&RC standards for credentials updated every five years Credentials developed by people working in the field and are subjected to extensive peer review Each jurisdiction regularly audited to ensure compliance with international standards Credentials reciprocal with other jurisdictions Reciprocal to other jurisdiction that offer the same IC&RC credential Jurisdictions may set additional reciprocity standards
IC&RC Exam Development • Each exam based on formal job analysis • Each exam developed and written by subject matter experts and supported by current references • Subject matter experts assisted by professional testing company when developing questions • Each question undergoes a three-tiered review process to ensure quality and accuracy before becoming a scored item on an IC&RC exam
IC&RC Exam Administration IC&RC contracts with Schroeder Measurement Technologies (SMT) to administer exam SMT administers exams for 40 different professional credentials SMT administers more than 100,000 exams annually
Exams computer-based Multiple secure and monitored locations throughout the world and Colorado Allows flexibility in scheduling, lower cost and rapid results Improves assessment of the exam and how particular questions perform ADA accommodations available as needed
Practice exams and candidate guides available for most credentials
IC&RC’s Peer Credential Newest IC&RC credential First exam administered December, 2013 Now adopted in 19 jurisdictions
Designed for individuals with personal, lived experience in their own recovery from addiction, mental health disorders, or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders Credential development is peer driven Intended to provide credibility to the work done by individuals in recovery, members of recovery community organizations, and those who work in the substance abuse or mental health field as peer support specialists
The IC&RC Approach in Colorado International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC) Authorized Colorado Board to issue credential Provides minimum experience and training standards for a peer specialist credential Develops and administers exam Facilitates reciprocity between member Boards
Colorado Providers Association (COPA) Authorized as IC&RC’s member board in Colorado Administers the Colorado Peer and Family Specialist credential, which includes; administrative staff, insurance and management of finances
Colorado Peer and Family Specialist Certification Board Determines any Colorado specific standards Determines application process Reviews applications Issues the Colorado Peer and Family Specialist Credential
Implementing IC&RC Peer Credential in Colorado 1. Adopt the IC&RC minimum standards 2. Colorado determines: Any additional standards Any additional structures which could include tracks for peers in recovery, mental wellness and family advocates Application process Grandparenting start date Fees
3. Colorado administers credential Accepts and evaluates applications Issues a Colorado credential
Colorado Providers Association (COPA) and IC&RC About COPA A nonprofit trade association established in 1994 Represent providers in substance abuse prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery
Connection to IC&RC COPA currently hosts the Colorado Prevention Certification Board which uses IC&RC standards for the Colorado Certified Prevention Specialist II credential Colorado’s IC&RC member Board
COPA’s interest in peer credential Potential implications for billing Medicaid and other payers for services Workforce challenges More economical to administer two credentials rather than a single credential
COPA’s members voted to move forward with IC&RC in September, 2014
COPA’s Role in the Colorado Peer and Family Specialist Certification Host Houses the Board within the organization Provides administrative support Provides insurance Manages finances
Administrator Processes applications Manages website and database
Representative Promotes and markets credential Represents Colorado at IC&RC meetings
Colorado Peer & Family Specialist Timeline
COPA organized stakeholder meetings to finalize standards in 2015 Included peers and providers
Formed 11 member Peer and Family Specialist Certification Board 2015-2016 Developed an online application Modified a website portal Began outreach in September 2016 Grandparenting period begins January 9th 2017
Standards for Colorado Peer & Family Specialist (CPFS) Applicants Education
High school diploma or jurisdictionally certified high school equivalency (GED) 60 hours specific to the domains with 10 hours each in Advocacy, Mentoring, Education, Recovery/Wellness Support and 16 hours in Ethical Responsibility Experience
500 hours of volunteer or paid work experience specific to the domains The hours need to be worked over at least a 6 month period Supervision
25 hours of supervision specific to the domains which may include group and/or individual supervision The supervision will need to be provided by a documented and qualified supervisor Examination Must pass the IC&RC Peer Recovery Examination if outside grandparenting period
Code of Ethics – Each applicant must read and sign Renewal – 20 hours of continuing education every 2 years including 6 hours of ethics
Credentialing Process During Grandparenting 1. 90 day grandparenting window (Start date 1/9/17) 2. Applicant pays the initial application fee ($50) and submits a completed application through online database and pays the remaining application fee ($150) 3. Staff determines whether the application is complete and sufficient for review 4. Jurisdiction’s Credentialing Board evaluates the application and determines whether an applicant will be certified 5. Information about successful applicants forwarded to IC&RC
Credentialing Process After Grandparenting Period 1. Applicant pays initial application fee ($50) and submits a completed application through the online database and pays the remaining application and examination fees ($245) 2. Staff determines whether the application is complete and sufficient for review 3. Board evaluates the application and determines whether the applicant is eligible for the exam 4. Staff will work with the applicant to schedule an exam 5. Applicants will take the exam and either pass or fail 6. If the exam is passed, applicants are certified by the jurisdiction 7. Information about successful applicants will be forwarded to IC&RC
About the Exam Created and administered by IC&RC Computer-based exam administered around the state Applicant is scheduled for the exam after Board authorization 6 month test window Cost of initial exam included in the application fee 75 questions + 10 pre-test questions 2 hour time limit to complete the exam ADA testing accommodations will be available If the exam has not been passed, applicant may retake the exam in 60 days The exam can be taken a maximum of 4 times Each administered exam will cost $80
Costs for Colorado CPFS Credential Cost to develop and administer IC&RC already paid to develop standards and exam (Approximately $150,000) IC&RC maintains and updates the exam Infrastructure including database and website portal Dues to IC&RC Cost to applicant Determined by member jurisdiction $50 to start application $150 to complete application during grandparenting $245 to complete application after grandparenting $200 renewal (every two years) All fees non-refundable PayPal, Credit Cards, Checks and Money Orders will be accepted
Frequently Asked Questions 1. How will decisions about the credential be made? 2. Will there be a separate Peer Board and who will be on the Board? 3. What is the role of the Board particularly in relationship to COPA? 4. Is the CPFS just for COPA members or just for people in recovery from addiction? 5. Is the CPFS mandatory? 6. Are we required to use the IC&RC Code of Ethics? 7. What types of training and documentation will be acceptable on the application? 8. Other?
1) How will decisions about the credential be made? IC&RC level decisions Member Boards for specific IC&RC credentials vote on issues Administrators vote on issues Full membership votes on issues
Colorado decisions Colorado Peer and Family Specialist Certification Board By-laws determine procedures Board composition, voting process, Board authority, staff authority COPA
2) Will there be a separate Peer Board and who will be on the Board? ď‚´ Yes, the Colorado Peer and Family Specialist Credentialing Board (CPFSCB) is housed within Colorado Providers Association (COPA) but makes independent decisions about certification ď‚´ The Board is composed of 11 members including Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) staff, peers in recovery, providers, representatives from the substance use disorder, mental health disorder and family advocate fields, and representing urban and rural areas
3) What is the role of the Colorado Peer & Family Specialist Board particularly in relationship to Colorado Providers Association (COPA)? The role of the Board is determined by the by-laws. The Board has autonomy to make decisions about the credential standards, evaluates applications, markets the credential, determines issues related to ethics and makes other decisions related to the credential and particular applicants. COPA is involved when there are fiscal implications or potential liability issues for COPA.
4) Is the Colorado Peer & Family Specialist Certification just for COPA members or just for people in recovery from addiction? ďƒ˜
The Colorado Peer & Family Specialist Credential is open to anyone in Colorado who meets the standards for the credential. In all 19 jurisdictions that currently have the peer credential, it is used for peers in recovery from addiction and/or mental health disorders. COPA has been told that we could also add a track for family advocates.
5) Is the Colorado Peer & Family Specialist Credential mandatory? ď‚´ The Colorado Peer & Family Specialist Credential is not mandatory. However, everyone benefits if it is widely accepted.
6) Are we required to use the IC&RC Code of Ethics?
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Colorado enhanced the IC&RC code of ethics and adherence to this code of ethics is required
7) What types of training and documentation will be acceptable on the application? ďƒ˜ Qualified trainings and documentation will be determined by the Board and staff
Other questions?
Links to Additional Information Application, and Progress Indicators http://co.certflow.net/ How-to Webinar https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8770611117950449153 IC&RC Home page http://internationalcredentialing.org/ Colorado Providers Association http://coprovidersassociation.org/ ADA.gov Home page https://www.ada.gov/
Contacts: Board Contacts: copacert@gmail.com (303) 551-7339