Series Description: The North Carolina Peer Support Specialist (NCCPSS) Program, in collaboration with the Community Engagement and Empowerment team at the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMH/DD/SUS) and Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) is pleased to offer free training to CPSS. These webinars will focus on a variety of topics related to Peer Support. The contact hours can be used for the additional training required for recertification.
Modality: These series consist of monthly webinars. Each webinar will be a 1-hour & 30-minute lecture. These webinars will be live virtual training via Zoom.
Registration: Registration is free, but participants must pre-register for this training. We will confirm your registration by email.
Target Audience: NC Certified Peer Support Specialists seeking additional training hours for certification or re-certification.
All training sessions will occur from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
| Webinar | Date | Presenter |
| Self-Determination and the Dignity of Risk | Thurs. April, 17th, 2025 | Wes Rider |
| Effective Documentation and Notetaking in Peer Support | Thurs. May 15th, 2025 | Diane Yarber |
| Ethics 102: Applying the Code of Ethics in Peer Support Practice | Thurs. June 12th, 2025 | Patty Schaeffer |
Inclement Weather Policy:
Any announcements regarding changes to the schedule due to inclement weather will be posted on https://bhs.unc.edu. Registered participants will also be notified by email.
ADA Statement:
Registrants requiring any auxiliary aids or services identified in the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in our training programs, please contact us by email at bhs-support@unc.edu after completing registration to ensure we have enough time to secure the requested services.
Contact for Questions:
For questions, further information, or concerns, contact nccpssprogram@unc.edu
Or call (919) 843-3018
Confirmation Notices and Certificates of Completion:
After the training concludes, participants will receive an email notifying them of the process and the manner in which they will gain access to the evaluation and the certificate of completion for the training. The Certificate of Completion email will go within 5 business days after the training concludes to participants who met the time requirement listed in the continuing education policy based on the length of the training.
Use login block on the left side.
| Starts | Modality | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04-17-25 |
 |
Self-Determination and the Dignity of Risk
|
Register for the Webinar! |
| 05-15-25 |
|
Effective Documentation and Notetaking in Peer Support
|
Register for the Webinar! |
| 06-12-25 |
|
Ethics 102: Applying the Code of Ethics in Peer Support Practice
|
Register for the Webinar! |
| Training | Date & Time | Description |
| Self-Determination and the Dignity of Risk | April 17th, 2025 |
This session will delve into how individuals with lived experience can make informed decisions about their own lives, exercise control over their choices, and embrace the risks that come with those decisions—all while maintaining their autonomy and dignity. Attendees will gain valuable insights on how to champion the rights of individuals to shape their own lives and make their own decisions—while ensuring that risks are understood, respected, and managed. |
| Effective Documentation and Notetaking in Peer Support | May 15th, 2025 | This webinar instructs and guides those in the profession of peer support with the much-needed skill set of ethical and accurate record-keeping. In line with the service definition of peer support, documentation skills remain a vital responsibility of Certified Peer Support Specialists and this training will provide a brief teaching on how to take notes effectively. |
| Ethics 102: Applying the Code of Ethics in Peer Support Practice | June 12th, 2025 | This session is designed to help peer supporters understand how to put ethical principles into action in real-life situations, ensuring that their support remains respectful, empowering, and in line with the core values of the peer support profession. |
Rosemary Weaver
Rosemary has been a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist since 2008. She also achieved the Advanced Level National Peer Support Certification in 2018. Additional certifications include Work Incentives Practitioner for SSI/SSDI beneficiaries, Digital Peer Support, Digital Peer Support Supervision, Supporting Older Adults Remotely, and Wellness Recovery Action Plan Facilitator. Rosemary trained peer support specialists under 2 different NC curriculums from 2013-2017. She is a former Chair of the SCFAC and served on two legislative committees (“Blue Ribbon Commission on Transitions to Community Living Initiative” and “LME/MCO Governance.”) Rosemary has 7 years of experience working as an Independent Living Specialist, 6 years of working as a Forensic Peer Specialist in a state hospital and a forensic treatment center and 5 years experience providing online peer support services.
Wes Rider
Wes Rider recently retired, after a thirty-year career in the field of social work. After graduating from East Carolina University with a BSW in 1993, Wes worked in a variety of social work roles, most of which focused on supporting people to gain or maintain employment. Early in his career, Wes served on one of the first teams to implement person centered planning in NC. Wes has been a long-time recovery champion and advocate for recovery-oriented supports and consumer run service programs.
Patty Schaeffer
As a person with long term sustainable recovery Patty Schaeffer has learned to embrace her life completely. She has been active in recovery and wellness for over half her lifetime. She identifies with MH, SUD and TBI challenges. Along with incarceration and institutionalization in her past, her goal is to help others on this journey to live changed lives that they decide. Patty has been a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist since 2011, a PSS Certified Trainer for two state approved curriculums, Advanced Level Facilitator of the Wellness and Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)©, and an instructor of seven other wellness curriculums. In 2016 she became the Executive Director of WellSurgent, a peer owned and peer-run nonprofit.
Diane Yarber
Diana Yarber is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS), and Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS). She currently serves as the Clinical Director for Creative Directions Inc. in Graham, North Carolina. As one of North Carolina's first certified Peer Support Specialists, Diana has been working in the field since 2004. She holds an associate in applied science (AAS) in Human Services from Guilford Technical Community College, a bachelor’s in social work from Winston-Salem State University, and a master’s in social work from Fordham University in New York City. With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, Diana has worked in various roles such as Peer Support Specialist, Case Manager, Peer Support Specialist Trainer, WRAP Facilitator, and Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Her professional journey has taken her through universities, mental health agencies, veteran services, and high and middle schools. In addition to her direct service roles, Diana is a seasoned conference presenter and recovery speaker. Diana lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina with her two dogs and two turtles. She has been in recovery herself for 20 years from both mental illness and substance use disorder, making her a powerful advocate for recovery and peer support.