The Wisconsin Parent Peer Specialist trainer certification is valid for two years. In this two-year period, 16 total hours of continuing education hours (CEH) and/or continuing education units (CEU) must be obtained to qualify for recertification. Recertification documents and the $55.00 fee are due by January 31st every two years from the year you were certified as a CPPS trainer.
A minimum of 3 hours is required in the following three categories: Cultural Humility, Trauma-Informed Care, and Facilitation Skill-Building. Additionally, a minimum of 1 hour is required in the category of Demonstration Facilitation. The remaining 3 hours may be in any category of your choosing as it relates to the parent peer specialist trainer role. The conversion rate for CEU/CEH is: .1 CEU = 1 CEH.
Independent reading does not qualify as continuing education. Organized study groups with specific learning objectives, and facilitated by trained individuals with direct knowledge of the content discussed may count for continuing education hours. In this case, it is recommended that the curriculum and trainer biography be submitted to the Wisconsin Certified Peer Specialist Program Manager for approval.
As a Certified Parent Peer Specialist Trainer, continuing education in the Cultural Humility and Child/adolescent Development or Parenting categories cannot be duplicated for Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Parent Peer Specialist recertification.
- Cultural Humility: To acquire the knowledge and skills to set aside individual cultural expectations and honor the fact that there are multiple cultures. Gaining knowledge and skills to better interact effectively with people of all classes, abilities, ethnic backgrounds, gender identities, languages, races, religions, sexual orientations, and other diverse factors. A continued commitment to self- evaluation of individual beliefs, the understanding that people are experts in their own culture, and being open to the idea that learning people’s individual cultures is a continuous process. This may also be known as cultural competence, cultural responsiveness, cultural awareness, cultural curiosity, and cultural sensitivity.
- Trauma-Informed Care: To acquire knowledge and skills in supporting people with histories of trauma that recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role that trauma played in their lives.
- Facilitation Skill-Building: To acquire knowledge and skills in understanding the material to set goals for training days, keeping the group on the agenda and moving forward, navigating difficult and challenging conversations, involving everyone in a group setting, and making sure decisions are made collectively and in a productive direction. This knowledge and skills development can include learning new virtual or in-person tools to create a more accessible training, time management, energizing the environment, and exploring and understanding various communication styles.
- Child/adolescent development or parenting: Child/adolescent development or parenting builds awareness and skills that may assist families as they engage with peer support services. Skills can be gained from an understanding of the physical, social, psychological, and cognitive development of young people and successful parenting strategies involved with each state.
- Demonstration Facilitation (1.5 hour): To continuously demonstrate the ability to provide meaningful facilitation and an understanding of the concepts and skills of a Certified Parent Peer Specialist trainer. A trainer must complete a 1.5 hour Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative Community of Practice, either individually or with a co-facilitator.
- For non-WIPSEI related facilitation hours, verification must be provided and approved by Wisconsin Peer Specialist Program Manager. Verification must include facilitation description, event information, and any form or letter from the agency confirming the trainer facilitation.
The recertification form is available at: www.sce-peerspecialist.uwm.edu or www.wicps.org. Send the form to the address listed on the first page.
Certified Parent Peer Specialists Trainers are solely responsible for maintaining their continuing education hours and providing documentation of completion to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). Random audits may occur within the year of recertification. It is recommended that documentation of attendance and training materials be available for the year following the recertification application.
For further information on the recertification process, contact:
Gaochi Vang
Peer Specialist Program Manager
608-716-7335
gaochiv@accesstoind.org
www.wicps.org
(Last updated: September 2023)