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 |
| The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Overview With Emphasis on Title I - Employment and Reasonable Accommodations | POSTPONED to January 23rd, 2025 | Rosemary Weaver |
| Advocacy & Engagement | February 20th, 2025 | Wes Rider |
| Harm Reduction | March 20th, 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01-23-25 |
 |
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Overview With Emphasis on Title I - Employment and Reasonable Accommodations
|
Register for the Webinar! |
| 02-20-25 |
|
Advocacy & Engagement
|
Register for the Webinar! |
| 03-20-25 |
|
Harm Reduction
|
Register for the Webinar! |
| Training | Date & Time | Description |
| The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Overview With Emphasis on Title I - Employment and Reasonable Accommodations | POSTPONED to January 23rd, 2025 |
This webinar covers the accommodations available for those with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Attendees will learn what rights and responsibilities are covered under the ADA and how reasonable accommodations can contribute to your success on the job. |
| Advocacy & Engagement | February 20th, 2025 |
Through this webinar, peer support specialists will have the opportunity to explore strategies in promoting the cause of peer support and learn different ways to encourage action. As a result of this webinar, peers will gain an understanding on mobilizing around peer support to create sustainable change within the profession. |
| Harm Reduction | March 20th, 2025 |
The goal of this webinar is to instruct peer support specialists on the methods available to empower self-direction and community practices that lead to substance use prevention, risk reduction, and health promotion. You will learn the importance of meeting people where they are and help bridge peers in recovery to helpful resources. |
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.