Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS)
The CRPS credential is built for professionals utilizing their lived experience to support, mentor, and advocate for individuals navigating the recovery journey from substance use and mental health conditions. Our CRPS training covers the core performance domains of the role, including advocacy, mentoring, recovery support, and professional responsibility. In accordance with Florida Certification Board (FCB) standards, our training is delivered exclusively via compliant self-paced online courses; "homestudy" formats are no longer accepted. To successfully verify learning and earn a certificate of completion, participants must pass a post-test with a minimum score of 70% and complete a Level One evaluation (attitude questionnaire).
Trauma Informed Care Principles and Practice (6 Contact Hours)
Master the core principles of trauma-informed care to enhance client safety and therapeutic engagement.
Analyze the neurological and behavioral impacts of trauma to better conceptualize client presentation.
Implement evidence-based strategies to avoid re-traumatizing clients within the behavioral health system.
Managing Behavioral Crises and Suicide Prevention (6 Contact Hours)
Learn to execute comprehensive suicide risk assessments using validated tools like the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.
Master verbal de-escalation techniques to safely manage agitated clients and prevent physical behavioral emergencies.
Formulate collaborative safety plans that empower clients and restrict access to lethal means.
The Peer's Power: Practical Trauma-Informed Care for the Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) (4 CE Hours)
Trauma Paradigm Shift: Moving from a deficit-based model to a strengths-based model by focusing on the underlying trauma rather than the symptom.
SAMHSA Six Principles: Integrating the principles of TIC—especially Safety, Trustworthiness, and Empowerment, Voice, & Choice—to create a collaborative, non-hierarchical, and corrective relationship.
Neurobiology and SUD: Understanding the Self-Medication Hypothesis and recognizing challenging behaviors as primitive survival responses (Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn) rather than defiance or resistance.
Motivational Interviewing for Peer Support: Honoring Autonomy and Inspiring Change (4 CE Hours)
The Spirit of MI (PACE): Establishing the foundational philosophy of Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion, and Evocation.
OARS Toolkit Mastery: Fluently using Open-ended Questions, Affirmations, Reflections (especially complex reflections), and Summaries to deepen listening and operationalize the MI spirit.
Evoking Change Talk: Learning to elicit and reinforce Preparatory Change Talk (DARN: Desire, Ability, Reasons, Need) and Mobilizing Change Talk (CAT: Commitment, Activation, Taking Steps).
The Peer Professional: Ethical and Legal Responsibilities for the Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) in Florda (4 CE Hours)
Confidentiality Framework: Differentiating between the legal protections of HIPAA and the strict requirements of 42 CFR Part 2 for SUD records, and understanding the impact of the 2024 Final Rule on sharing records for integrated care.
Mandatory Reporting: Applying Florida Statutes that legally require the CRPS to report suspected child abuse/neglect and vulnerable adult abuse/exploitation, which supersedes confidentiality rules
Boundary Integrity: Maintaining a non-clinical Scope of Practice, avoiding strictly prohibited dual relationships (financial/sexual), and using self-disclosure ethically (Relevant, Brief, Purposeful)