Dear Applicant:

Congratulations! You have chosen to take the first step in embarking on a career in Peer Support. 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 Peer Support Specialist training, please know that the Peer Support Specialist training is a maximum of two weeks. 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.

In order to be eligible for the training, applicants must meet minimum eligibility criteria, which include: being at least 18 years of age, having at least a high school diploma or GED, have a lived experience with behavioral health challenges, and must have at least twelve (12) months of continuous demonstrated recovery. Please read all questions carefully, and answer fully. Please do not leave any questions unanswered. We will not accept incomplete applications. Completed applications should be submitted to George Mills at [email protected].

There is a $500 registration fee for Peers 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 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 George Mills with the Extra Mile at [email protected] or 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 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 Peer Support Specialist program and for your commitment to a future focused on recovery, resiliency and wellness for Louisiana.

Sincerely,

Jamie S. Tindle, RPSS
State Coordinator, Peer Recovery Support Programs
[email protected]
Office of Behavioral Health
Louisiana Department of Health