Peer Certification Trainings Available at PARC

The Peer Recovery Professional is one of the fastest-growing career tracks in the state. And, PARC (Peer Alliance Recovery Center) has been ahead of the curve. The program runs a selection of peer certification trainings (for a fee) and manages paid internships at the Queens and Bronx locations.

Peers are individuals who use their “lived experience” with substance use disorder either personally or through a family member to support others in their recovery journey. They provide non-clinical support and are integral members of the treatment team.

Peer Recovery courses at PARC are approved by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB). They also require a professional signature on the NYCB’s code of conduct and ethics.

PARC trainers are members of the ASAP-NYCB Trainer Registry. They are approved by the NYCB to deliver the following trainings for credit toward certification in the Peer Recovery profession.

Trainings include:

• Recovery Coach training, which is available to individuals who want to help “recoverees” determine their personal recovery needs and goals. Recovery Coaches are focused on helping individuals maintain recovery, as well as access resources such as benefits, health care, and social services. They also assist clients as they develop and fulfill their treatment and post-treatment recovery plans. The role provides one-on-one guidance and mentoring while following a code of conduct and ethics.
  
  
• Ethics for Peer Recovery Professionals
  
  
• Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) training, which is offered to students who want to support clients during and following treatment. CRPAs help individuals navigate and clear the common hurdles of recovery. They may assist with the development of a recovery plan, and also provide a host of resources and workshops to avoid relapse by sharing effective strategies to maintain recovery such as effective coping habits and life skills.
  
  
• Additional courses, such as Recovery Wellness Through Self-Care and Peer Professional Supervision, provide additional credit hours toward maintaining peer certification.

Trainings are available throughout the year. Following is a list of classes and credit hours offered by PARC:

• Recovery Coach Academy
  30 credit hours; CRPA, CARC
  $250 fee

• Recovery Wellness Through Self-Care
  7 credit hours; CRPA, CARC
  $75 fee

• Ethics for Peer Recovery Professionals
  16 credit hours; CRPA, CARC
  $150 fee
  
  
• Peer Professional Supervision
  12 credit hours; CRPA
  $350 fee

PARC received funding this year from the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund, raising their operating budget from $335,500 to $535,000 for each location in Queens and the Bronx. A portion of the funds were earmarked for scholarships to PARC’s Recovery Coach Academy courses. However, due to the program’s popularity, including the list of former clients seeking a career as a Recovery Coach, all available funds have already been awarded.

To learn more about PARC’s services, visit the Recovery Services page.

To register for an upcoming certification course, contact PARC at (929) 244-1445 or (929) 244-1500.