LSF Health Systems, the second largest Managing Entity serving the state of Florida, in partnership with Jacksonville University (JU), will implement and evaluate a 40-hour Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CPRS) training program that addresses the Northeast region’s shortage of paraprofessionals with the skills and competencies to work with children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth at risk for behavioral health disorders. The CPRS program at Jacksonville University will train 60 students, who will commit to a field and job placement, working with the target population mentioned above.
The CPRS training will provide a new track for students and community members interested in gaining the advocacy, mentoring and recovery support skills to effectively work with youth and families at risk of mental illness, substance abuse, or suicide. The CPRS designation demonstrates competency in the field of peer-to-peer recovery support, enhances students’ marketability, and introduces paraprofessionals to a recovery-oriented and multicultural perspective on behavioral health care for children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth.
Christine Cauffield, Vice President of LSF Health Systems, said, “We are proud to partner with the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program and Jacksonville University (JU) to ensure that we build a future workforce of well-trained mental health professionals. We are very excited about building this strong training program and serving more children and families in need.”
