Peer Support, Doula & CHW Add On Training
Certified Peer Support Peer Add-On Training
This maternal mental health ‘add-on’ virtual training for peer support specialists is now available to peers who have completed their state certification in peer support (or are enrolled in a forthcoming state-certified peer support training and, therefore, on the path to becoming certified).
Due to the sensitive nature of this training it will not be recorded. Attendees must attend live.
Cost: $395
There are no scholarships for this training at this time. However, The Policy Center is happy to support you in seeking coverage of this expense with a letter acknowledging the cost of training and that you meet the qualifications for training, once we review your application.
We require a minimum number of ten (10) fully registered participants to run this training.
Who Qualifies?
You must be in recovery from the maternal mental health complications you experienced for at least 12 months.
You must be or become a state-certified peer support specialist or doula.
You must submit documentation of enrollment in an upcoming state-certified peer support training or a letter from a reference that they will be enrolling in the future. Because space in this training program is limited, we will prioritize those who have already completed their state certification.
Once we confirm you meet the requirements and whether there is space in the training. we will notify you with the information to complete the registration and provide your payment of $395 to enroll (price is subject to change).
If you have questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected]
Background
The training is hosted by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health and presented by the POEM perinatal mental health of Mental Health America of Ohio.
The POEM Program of Mental Health America of Ohio
Perinatal Mental Health Peer Support Training
This course is complementary to the standard peer support training. Much of the content is similar to the education maternal mental health clinicians receive but has been adapted to meet the needs of people delivering peer support in the perinatal time period. Perinatal mental health complications in pregnancy and postpartum look different than at any other time in a person’s life. While clinicians receive this training to diagnose and potentially treat or refer people in pregnancy and postpartum, peers need a full understanding of perinatal mental health conditions to provide support, address myths and stigma, and connect people to appropriate treatment services.
The course includes:
- Inclusive Care and Language
- Understanding the Spectrum of Maternal Mental Health Complications
- Barriers to Care
- Screening and Referral
- Components of Care and Recovery
Why do we need specialized perinatal mental health peer supporters (PMH peers) as part of the continuum of care? Decisions that profoundly affect mothers* lives shouldn’t be made without mothers at the decision-making table. Moms and birthing persons with perinatal mental health conditions benefit from the kind of support that accounts for their individual needs and fits within the framework of their life experience. A specialized PMH peer should strive to develop an ongoing perspective on their own personal experiences and qualities in order to determine in what ways those factors help them to serve as an effective and balanced supporter. One of the aims of quality support is to encourage moms and birthing persons to pursue treatment/care options and make decisions that make sense for them rather than shaping which choices are appropriate.
*Mothering is a gender-neutral term that describes a certain type of care. Any person can provide the care of a mother, regardless of gender identity.
Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement for Moms (POEM) at Mental Health America of Ohio bridges mental health gaps by acting as a touchpoint, advocate, and resource for mothers and birthing persons. Through care navigation layered with certified peer support, POEM works to provide mental and emotional support through the perinatal period.
© Copyright 2023 by Mental Health America of Ohio. All rights reserved. No portion may be shared or duplicated.
Those who complete the training receive a certificate of completion for this 9-hour course.
The training is a culmination of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health and our partner organizations’ research, which illustrated that the use of state-certified peer support training, in addition to maternal mental health training in peer mental health recovery support, is a beneficial model to increase availability services for pregnant and postpartum mothers/people and provide those who have experienced maternal distress/MMH disorders have professional pathways for providing services.