Dear Applicant:

Congratulations! You have chosen to take the first step in embarking on a career in Family Peer Support. Family Peer Support Specialists are an extremely important part of the Behavioral Health System of Care, and your application is the first step in becoming a part of that.

Before applying for Family Peer Support Specialist training, please know that the Family Peer Support Specialist training is a minimum of five days. You will be expected to participate fully in class, and there are several hours of homework each night. It is a very intensive training and requires a large amount of effort and dedication in order to complete. Please consider this carefully before applying.  I will be completing this training alongside you and will be getting recognized as a Louisiana Recognized Family Peer Support Specialist (RFPSS), meeting the eligibility criteria mentioned in the paragraph below.

In order to be eligible for the training, applicants must meet minimum eligibility criteria, which include:

• 24 years of age;
• High school diploma or GED; and
• One year of experience as the parent or caregiver of a child with complex needs inclusive of social, emotional, mental health, and/or substance use concerns, and/or involvement with child welfare or juvenile justice systems

Please read all questions carefully, and answer fully. Do not leave any questions unanswered. We will not accept incomplete applications. Completed applications should be submitted to The Extra Mile Region IV at [email protected]. 

There is a $500 registration fee for Family Peers selected to attend this training. The registration fee supplements the overall training costs, cost for the instructors and training materials. The registration fee and a copy of a high school diploma or high school diploma equivalent must be submitted before the Family Peer Support Specialist is allowed to attend the training. A limited number of scholarships are available and must be applied for by the individual. Contact The Extra Mile Region IV at [email protected] or (office) 337-237-2090 for more information on how to apply for a scholarship or if you have any questions about the training.

Applications will be scored by committee. Those who are already employed as Family Peer Support Specialists will have priority. If you are accepted, you will have 5 days from notification to notify us whether or not you will be able to attend. If you have not notified us within 5 days of your acceptance, your slot will be awarded to someone else.

Thank you in advance for your interest in the Louisiana Recognized Family Peer Support Specialist (RFPSS) program and for your commitment to a future focused on recovery, resiliency and wellness for Louisiana.  Once again, Congratulations in taking the first step on becoming a Family Peer Support Specialist.

Sincerely,

 Amanda L. Holmes, Ph.D., RPSS

[email protected]
Office of Behavioral Health
Louisiana Department of Health