CPRS Family Endorsement

CERTIFIED PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST- Family ENDORSEMENT (CPRS-F)

The Maryland Addiction and Behavioral-health Professionals Certification Board is pleased to announce the launch of the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Family Endorsement (CPRS-F). Effective July 1, 2019, CPRS’ and family members will be offered specialized training to become certified as a Family Peer Recovery Specialist. Required training will be a total of 21 hours specific to family peer work. For more information, please visit http://www.mapbcb.wordpress.com or email at admin@mapcb.com.

Family recovery is a highly-individualized journey that provides a unique perspective regarding the recovery process. A CPRS-F understands the stigma associated with behavioral health disorders and its impact on the family. This recovery journey is a voluntarily maintained lifestyle that includes the pursuit of spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical well-being that is often supported by others but is not contingent upon the recovery of our loved one(s).

Definition of Family: A Family is defined as a meaningful relationship of people connected by bonds.

The CPRS-F endorsement is for adults who have been directly impacted by another person’s behavioral health condition.

CPRS-F’s are trained to use their lived experience to assist individuals and families to access recovery support services for themselves, their family member or loved one. (including but not limited to information, education, advocacy and services) As a CPRSF, an individual accepts and agrees that his/her personal experience will be known by their colleagues, persons served, and others with whom he/she may share that they have achieved this endorsement. Additionally, a CPRS-F will follow, at a minimum the Code of Ethical Conduct established by the IC&RC guidelines.

Peer Recovery Lunch & Learn Series – RPS Process

New Registered Peer Supervisor Guidelines & Application

New Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS) Application

Effective July 1, 2017, all Peer Supervisors are required to meet the new MABPCB Guidelines to become a Registered Peer Supervisor.  Please review the new guidelines carefully before submitting your application RPS 2017 Revised Application

CPRS Study Guide

A free IC&RC study guide has been added to the CPRS page

Changes to Peer Supervisor Requirements

Attention Peer Supervisors,

 Beginning January 1, 2017, Approved Peer Supervisors will be required to become a “Registered” Peer Supervisor (RPS).  This entails submitting a Registered Peer Supervisor (RPS) application, a copy of your certificate of attendance for the peer supervisor training, and a $25 application fee.  Please visit the CPRS page to access the registered peer supervisor application.  

If registration is not received by June 30, 2017, your “approval” status to supervise peers will be deactivated.

Beginning July 1, 2017, the one-time registration fee will increase to $50.00, and all Peer Supervisors will be required to attend a 6-hour continuing education peer supervisor refresher course every 2-years.

Again, please note with your “approved” status, you are only required to pay a $25 application fee until June 30, 2017.  Beginning July 1, 2017, the application fee will increase to $50 and the refresher course will be required for “ALL” peer supervisors, including those who transitioned from the “Approved” status to the “Registered” status.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Maryland Addiction and Behavioral-health Professionals Certification Board at (866)537-5340 or admin@mapcb.com.

Sincerely,

LaToya Nkongolo, LCSW-C, LCADC, CCDP, RPS

Studying for the CAC Exam? Read This!

IC&RC   IC&RC, the world leader in addiction-related credentialing, is making changes to the Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) examination. Since June of 2008, the ADC examination has included a written case presentation where candidates were provided with a case overview of a hypothetical client and asked 13 associated questions about the case. This long case study will be eliminated from the ADC examination effective February 1, 2017. The long case will be replaced with multiple smaller vignettes approximately 1-2 paragraphs in length with 3-5 associated examination question. Candidates currently scheduled for an examination on or after February 1, 2017 will be taking the examination with multiple small vignettes. The change from long to small case studies will not affect the scoring of examinations. As per usual, there will be 150 items on the ADC examination and the score range will be 200-800 with a 500 passing. An updated Candidate Guide is available reflecting this change here. More information on IC&RC’s ADC credential and examination can be found at this link: http://www.internationalcredentialing.org/creds/adc. Thank you. IC&RC

How a CAC-AD Becomes a CCDC

Some of you have expressed interest in obtaining the CCDC to add to your CAC-AD so you will have reciprocity outside of Maryland. Forms mentioned are on the Certification page. Here is the simple process:

Method for a CAC-AD obtaining the CCDC

• Fill out 2-page application form
• Sign CCDC code of ethical conduct
• Fill out and have notarized the Release form
• Send in a copy of current CAC-AD and resume
• Pay $150 certification fee

College Addiction Studies Programs via @NIDAnews

Source: College Addiction Studies Programs via @NIDAnews

Look here for studies in Maryland!

A Reminder!

Applications for any credential this board offers only stay open for two years. No renewals. If you are nearing the end of the two year period and have yet to take and pass the exam, please contact the Administrator at mapcbboss@outlook.com to see what you need to do. If your application passes the two year mark and you have not passed the exam you will need to submit a new application and pay the fee.

Addiction versus Peer Credential

Several people have written in recently inquiring about the state’s peer recovery specialist credential, but then go on to ask how their addiction- or psychology-specific training can fit into the credential requirements. The truth is, they can’t, except for some hours in ethics. The credential is designed to support peer recovery standards found in the current literature (William White, SAMHSA, iNAPS, etc.) and not any other discipline.

I believe one reason that is happening is well-meaning people are directing these others toward the peer credential because it may be more attainable for them. The peer recovery specialist credential is not an “easy A” credential and should not be looked at this way. It is by far not that easy to obtain and does require some hard work for those who strive for it. It is also insulting for those who hold it to insinuate that they are less intelligent or industrious than those who strive for another discipline. Far from it. When the CPRS was first introduced several social workers and addiction counselors wanted to know how to receive the credential. They saw it as something worthwhile to supplement their practice. Many of these did go on to become peer supervisors because of their interest in and knowledge of the work.

To those who are accumulating credit hours in addiction or another discipline, I say go on and get a credential in that area. You will still help people, if that’s why you chose that career path in the first place. If you sincerely want to be a peer recovery specialist, take the class work and get the experience that sets the CPRS holder apart from every other discipline.