Wisconsin has been a national leader in training and certifying peer specialists and parent peer specialists. Currently, there are two types of certified peer specialists in Wisconsin: • A certified peer specialist or CPS is a professional who uses their personal lived experience of mental health and/or substance use to provide support to others and demonstrate that recovery is possible. A Wisconsin certified peer specialist has taken a state-endorsed training course and passed a state-approved exam. • A certified parent peer specialist or CPPS combines knowledge gained from being a caregiver for a child with social, emotional, behavioral, mental health and/or substance use challenges and training to increase their skills to support other caregivers of children with similar life experiences. A Wisconsin certified parent peer specialist has taken a state-endorsed training course and passed a state-approved exam. DHS has long recognized the benefit of peer support. • As of January 2023, there is a network of 11 state-funded peer recovery drop-in centers with eight locations focused on mental health and three locations focused on substance use. • As of January 2023, there are six state-funded peer-run respites, including the only one in the nation that serves veterans. State supported peer-run organizations work with people on ways to increase independence, employment options, and educational opportunities.
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