Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the RAMS/SFSU Fall 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week intensive program that offers training and education for individuals, and family members of individuals, that have accessed behavioral health services & who are interested in (or are currently) providing peer counseling, advocacy and support services in the behavioral health field in San Francisco. Having already successfully completed 16 cohort cycles, the Entry Course has graduated over 230 participants, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED,
• Are interested in helping people in a behavioral health setting, and
• Are able to attend 12 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10AM-2PM).
• The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program is funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health with Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63) funds. As such, the course is designed for individuals (or family members) with personal experience with behavioral health services.

Application and Course Timeline:

• Monday, July 16th: Application Release
• Wednesday, July 25th & Tuesday, July 31st: Informational Program Open Houses @ 835 Market
• Friday, August 3rd: Optional Application Help Workshop @ Peer Wellness Center, 1282 Market
• Tuesday, August 21st @ 5PM: Application Submission Deadline
• Week of September 3rd: Notification of Application Status
• Tuesday, September 18th, 2018: First Day of Instruction

Please feel free to contact Program Manager, Kristin Snell, at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Fall 2018 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course

RAMS is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is NOW accepting applications for its 8-week Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course Summer 2018 Cohort, with classes set to begin on Tuesday, June 19th, 2018!

Funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health with Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) funds, the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program (part of the Division of Peer-Based Services at RAMS) offers training and education opportunities for individuals and family members of individuals that have accessed behavioral health services, who are providing--or are interested in providing--peer counseling, advocacy and support services in the community behavioral health field in San Francisco.

In addition to the flagship Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course that has been offered in partnership with San Francisco State University Department of Counseling since 2010, RAMS has designed its Advanced Course to empower and educate individuals who are currently providing counseling, support services and/or advocacy in the community--or possess relevant training, volunteer and/or educational experience--who would like to obtain specialized training and professional development opportunities in a collaborative learning environment.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED
• Are able to attend 8 weeks of classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays (3PM-6PM) from June 19th - August 9th, 2018 @ SFSU Downtown Campus, 835 Market St
• This program is funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health with Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) funds. As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members of individuals) that have experience with and/or have accessed behavioral health services.
• Individuals with current or past work experience, education, and/or training (including volunteer and advocacy work) in peer counseling and the behavioral health services field are highly encouraged to apply!

Application and Course Timeline:

Monday, April 23rd, 2018: Application Release
Friday, May 4th @ 10AM-12PM: Informational Program Open House
Tuesday, May 29th @ 5PM: Application Submission Deadline
Wednesday, June 6th: Notification of Application Status
Tuesday, June 19th, 2018: First Day of Instruction

Attached are the RAMS Summer 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course Brochure, Application Form, and Informational Open House Flyer.

Please feel free to contact Program Manager, Kristin Snell, at (415) 579-3021 x102, or via email at kristinsnell@ramsinc.org should you have any questions or would like any additional information. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

 We look forward to receiving applications for the Summer 2018 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Spring 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the RAMS/SFSU Spring 2018 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week intensive program that offers training and education for individuals, and family members of individuals, that have accessed behavioral health services & who are interested in (or are currently) providing peer counseling, advocacy and support services in the behavioral health field in San Francisco. Having already successfully completed 15 cohort cycles, the Entry Course has graduated 200+ participants, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED,
• Are interested in helping people in a behavioral health setting, and
• Are able to attend 12 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10AM-2PM).
• The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program is funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health with Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63) funds. As such, the course is designed for individuals (or family members) with personal experience with behavioral health services.

Application and Course Timeline:

·         Thursday, January 11, 2018 - Application Release 

·         Wednesday, January 24^th & Tuesday, January 30^th- Informational Open Houses

·         Tuesday, February 6^th, 10AM-2PM – Optional Application Help Workshop

·         Tuesday, February 20^th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline 

·         Week of March 5^th - Notification of Application Status 

·         Tuesday, March 20^th – First Day of Class 

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Spring 2018 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2017 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the RAMS/SFSU Fall 2017 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

 

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week intensive program that offers training and education for individuals and family members of individuals that have accessed behavioral health services, who are interested in (or are currently) providing peer counseling, advocacy and support services in the behavioral health field in San Francisco. Having already successfully completed 14 cohort cycles, the Entry Course has graduated 190 participants, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

 

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED,
• Are interested in helping people in a behavioral health setting, and
• Are able to attend 12 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10AM-2PM).
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services. As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members) with personal experience with behavioral health services. 

 

Application and Course Timeline:

• Thursday, July 6, 2017 - Application Release 
• Wednesday, July 19th & Tuesday, July 25th- Optional Informational Open Houses 
• Thursday, July 27th, 10AM-2PM – Optional Application Help Workshop
• Wednesday, August 16th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline
• Week of August 28th - Notification of Application Status
• Tuesday, September 12th – First Day of Class

 

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

 

We look forward to receiving applications for the Fall 2017 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Spring 2017 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2017 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. Having already successfully completed 13 cohort cycles, this course has had over 175 graduates, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco, 
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED, and 
• Are able to attend 12 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.). 
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services. As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members) with personal experience with behavioral health services.

Application and Course Timeline:

• Thursday, January 12th - Application Release 
• Wednesday, January 25th & Tuesday, January 31st - Optional Informational Open Houses (see Flyer Here for details)
• Wednesday, February 1st, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. – Optional Application Help Workshop
• Tuesday, February 21st @ 5:00 p.m. - Application Deadline 
• Week of March 1st - Notification of Application Status 
• Tuesday, March 22nd – First Day of Class 
• Thursday, June 8th - Graduation Ceremony

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Spring 2017 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2016 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2016 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. Having already successfully completed 12 cohort cycles, this course has had over 160 graduates, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED, and
• Are able to attend 12 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10am-2pm).
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services.  As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members) with personal experience with behavioral health services.

Application and Course Timeline:

•          Wednesday, July 6th - Application Release 
•          Tuesday, July 19th & Thursday, July 21^st, 10am-12pm -                                                     Optional Informational Open Houses (see Flyer Here for details)
•          Wednesday, August 10th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline 
•          Week of August 22nd - Notification of Application Status 
•          Tuesday, September 6th - Registration Forms Due for Accepted Applicants 
•          Tuesday, September 13th – First Day of Class 
•          Thursday, December 8th - Graduation Ceremony 

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Fall 2016 class, and beginning another great cohort!

To view the flyers below, right-click and select any option to "Open".

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate ADVANCED COURSE -- Now Accepting Applications for the Summer 2016 Cohort!

RAMS is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is now accepting applications for its 8-week Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course, with classes set to begin on Tuesday, June 14th, 2016!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program (part of the Division of Peer-Based Services at RAMS) provides training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. In addition to the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Level Course that is currently offered, RAMS has designed its Advanced Course to support and educate individuals who are providing, or have recently provided peer-based services to clients in the community (or possess relevant training, volunteer and/or educational experience), and would like to obtain more specialized peer counseling training and professional development opportunities.

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco,
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED, and
• Are able to attend 8 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (3PM-6PM).
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services. As such, the course is targeted to individuals (or family members) with personal experience with receiving behavioral health services.
• Individuals with current or past work experience, education, and/or training (including volunteer and advocacy work) in the peer counseling field are highly encouraged to apply

Application and Course Timeline:

• Friday, April 22nd: Application Release
• Tuesday, May 3rd & Friday, May 6th: Optional Informational Open Houses
• Wednesday, May 25th @ 5PM: Application Submission Deadline
• Week of June 1st, 2016: Notification of Application Status
• Tuesday, June 14th, 2016: First Day of Class
• Thursday, August 4th, 2016: Last Day of Class & Graduation

Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php. Please feel free to contact Program Coordinator, Kristin Snell, at (415) 579-3021 x102, or via email at kristinsnell@ramsinc.org should you have any questions or would like any additional information.

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Spring 2016 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University (SFSU) Department of Counseling, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2016 Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Course provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. Having already successfully completed 11 cohort cycles, this course has had 150 graduates, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course. This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend is provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:
• are at least 18 years old residents of San Francisco
• have completed at least a high school level education or GED
• are current or past consumers of behavioral health services and/or family members of consumers
• are interested in helping others in the community behavioral health setting

Application and course timeline is as follows:
• Thursday, January 14th - Application Release (click HERE for the application)
• Wednesday, January 27th & Monday, February 1st 10am-12pm - Optional Informational Open Houses (see FLYER HERE for details)
• Friday, February 19th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline 
• Week of March 1st - Notification of Application Status
• Friday, March 11th - Registration Forms Due for Accepted Applicants
• Tuesday, March 22nd – First Day of Class
• Thursday, June 9th - Graduation Ceremony

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Spring 2016 class, and beginning another great cohort!

To view the flyers below, right-click and select any option to "Open".

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate ADVANCED COURSE -- Now Accepting Applications for the Winter 2015-2016 Cohort

RAMS is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is now accepting applications for its NEW 8-week Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Advanced Course, with classes set to begin on Tuesday, January 26th, 2016!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program (part of the Division of Peer-Based Services at RAMS) provides training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health. In addition to the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Entry Level Course that is currently offered, RAMS has designed its Advanced Course to support and educate individuals who are providing, or have recently provided peer-based services to clients in the community (or possess relevant training, volunteer and/or educational experience), and would like to obtain more specialized peer counseling training and professional development opportunities.

We are looking for individuals who: 

• Are at least 18 years of age and a resident of San Francisco, 
• Have successfully completed at least a High School education or GED, and 
• Are able to attend 8 weeks of classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (3PM-6PM). 
• This program is funded by MHSA through San Francisco Behavioral Health Services. As such, the course is targeted to individuals with personal experience with the Community Behavioral Health System of Care and family members. 
• Individuals with current or past work experience, education, and/or training (including volunteer and advocacy work) in the peer counseling field are highly encouraged to apply 

 Application and Course Timeline: 

• Friday, November 13th: Application Release 
• Thursday, November 19th & Tuesday, December 1st: Optional Program Open Houses 
• Wednesday, December 16th @ 5PM: Application Submission Deadline 
• Week of January 4th, 2016: Notification of Application Status 
• Friday, January 15th, 2016: Registration Forms Due for Accepted Applicants 
• Tuesday, January 26th, 2016: First Day of Class 
• Thursday, March 17th, 2016: Last Day of Class & Graduation 

Materials are available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

Please feel free to contact Program Coordinator, Kristin Snell, at (415) 579-3021 x102, or via email at kristinsnell@ramsinc.org should you have any questions or would like any additional information.

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2015 Class

RAMS, in collaboration with SFSU, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2015 Class!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or their family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health.  Having already successfully completed 10 cohort cycles, this program has had over 130 graduates, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course.  This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included, and a modest stipend provided upon completion of the course.

We are looking for individuals who:
•    are at least 18 years old residents of San Francisco
•    have completed at least a high school level education or GED
•    are current or past consumers of behavioral health services and/or family members of consumers
•    are interested in helping others in the community behavioral health setting

Application and course timeline is as follows:
•    Monday, July 6th - Application Release
•    Tuesday, July 21st & Thursday, July 23rd - Optional Program Open Houses (see Flyer HERE for details)
•    Friday, August 7th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline
•    Week of August 24th - Notification of Application Status
•    Friday, September 4th - Registration Forms Due for Accepted Applicants
•    Tuesday, September 15th - 1st Day of Class
•    Thursday, December 17th - Graduation Ceremony

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 579-3021 x102 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php.

We look forward to receiving applications for the Fall 2015 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Spring 2015 Class

RAMS, in collaboration with SFSU, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2015 Class!

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health.  Already in its 5th year of operation, this program has had around 120 graduates, the majority of whom are actively engaging in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course.  This program is free of cost for the attendee, with books and materials included.

We are looking for individuals who:

are at least 18 years old residents of San Francisco 

have completed at least a high school level education or GED

are current or past consumers of behavioral health services and/or family members 

are interested in helping others in the community behavioral health setting

Application and course timeline is as follows:

Wednesday, January 7th - Application Release 

Tuesday, January 20th & Thursday, January 22nd - Optional Program Open Houses (see Flyer HERE for details) 

Friday, February 13th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline 

Week of March 9th - Notification of Application Status 

Friday, March 27th - Registration Forms Due for Accepted Applicants 

Tuesday, April 7th - 1st Day of Class 

Tuesday, June 30th - Graduation Ceremony 

Click HERE for the program brochure


Click HERE for the application form

Please feel free to contact us at (415) 668-5955 x386 or certificate@ramsinc.org should you have any questions. Materials are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php

We look forward to receiving applications for the Spring 2015 class, and beginning another great cohort!

Photo credit: The Sanguine Bee on Flickr

Reflections on a Milestone: 100 Peer Specialist Graduates, and Counting!

Today's guest post is from Shana Averbach, LMFT, Coordinator of the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program being offered by RAMS and San Francisco State University Dept. of Counseling. Started in Fall 2010, the Certificate Program's goal is "to prepare consumers and/or family members with the basic skills & knowledge for entry-level employment in the behavioral health system of care and with academic/career planning that supports success in institutions of higher learning". 

*************************

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce a major milestone for the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program: With the recent graduation of 13 students from the program’s eighth cohort, our total number of graduates from the course has passed 100! This is no small feat for the program that was constructed from the ground up in 2010 and has continued to grow and flourish over the following four years.

The most recent cohort graduated June 19th at the San Francisco State University Downtown Campus, the same location where it spent the prior 12 weeks learning about the basic tenets of community behavioral health treatment. Equipped with new knowledge to add to their already valuable lived experience with mental health and/or substance use treatment and recovery, many are already exploring job and volunteer opportunities in the peer professional community.

Joining in the celebration were students’ direct supporters – friends, family members, social workers, neighbors, and bosses (to name a few!). Also in attendance were many of the course’s guest lecturers, and representatives from agencies who continually invite students to shadow their work as part of the course’s 8-hour required field observation assignment. And of course, a number of the 100+ alumni from previous cohorts were present – proudly sporting ribbons of gold and purple to indicate their status as members of this pioneering course. Everyone was invited to write one personal “wellness ingredient,” and these flavors of wellness adorned the room for all to share.

* * * * *

Dr. Rob Williams, Chair of SF State Dept. of Counseling

As is often the case with milestones, having 100+ graduates evokes a time of reflection on what makes this program successful. There are certainly outcomes that the program can point to – such as knowing that the majority of its graduates actively engage in work, volunteer, and educational opportunities as a direct result of taking the course – that are good indicators that the program is successfully meeting its objectives. But it’s the overall integrity of the program that stands out as a success; In other words, on any given day, the program is truly abiding by the principles on which it was founded.

Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is proudly rooted in its guiding principles, which include the following:

Community Collaboration: Every aspect of the course – from outreach to curriculum development and delivery to quality control - is immersed in collaboration between community behavioral health agencies and peer input. The spirit of togetherness is felt in ongoing networking events, professional development, and celebrations such as the graduation described above. The success of the program hinges on the success of the collaboration.

Cultural Competence: Course curriculum includes a cultural competency focus from day one, and program participants – and later direct peer service providers - represent cultures and languages as diverse as the city we serve. Cultural competence isn’t a side note; it’s center stage.

Focus on Wellness: In this course as in the field of peer professionals, the Wellness and Recovery Model leads the way. Whether addressing stigma and inviting hope by sharing lived experience or rejoining and rebuilding life in the community by engaging in the course and/or the workforce, participants in this program live and breathe the empowering message “I did it and so can you.” This message grows exponentially each and every time it’s delivered, and it is delivered often.

* * * * *

So, in saluting our most recent graduates and our vibrant community of alumni, we acknowledge each and every person who has helped along the way. Here’s to the next 100!

Are you or someone you know interested in being trained as a peer professional? 

Applications for the Fall 2014 term will be released soon in July! 

Go to www.ramsinc.org/peer.php to stay in the loop!

Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate -- Now Accepting Applications for Spring 2014 Class

RAMS, in collaboration with SFSU, is excited to announce that the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is currently accepting applications for the Spring 2014 Class!
 
Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program provides a 12-week long training for consumers of behavioral health services or family members who are interested in becoming peer counselors/peer specialists in the field of community behavioral health.

We are looking for individuals who are:

• at least 18 years old
• residents of San Francisco
• have completed at least a high school level education or GED
• current or past consumers of behavioral health services and/or family members
• interested in helping others in the community behavioral health setting

Application and course timeline is as follows:

• Tuesday, January 7th - Application Release
• Tuesday, January 21st - Optional Program Open House (see image below for details)
• Friday, February 14th @ 5:00pm - Application Deadline
• Week of March 10th - Notification of Application Status
• Friday, March 21st - Registration Forms Due for accepted applicants
• Tuesday, April 1st - 1st Day of Class
• Thursday, June 19th - Graduation Ceremony

 

OPEN HOUSE FLYER (Right-click and select any option to "Open")

Kindly distribute this to those in your network and your consumer community, as applicable.

Please feel free to contact Program Coordinator, Shana Averbach, LMFT at (415) 668-5955 x386 or shanaaverbach@ramsinc.org should you have any questions.
Program brochures & application forms are also available for download at: http://www.ramsinc.org/peer.php

We look forward to receiving the applications, Spring 2014 class, and beginning of another great cohort!

New Beginnings, Whichever Way You See It…

The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is proud to announce yet another wonderful cohort has graduated from the program. Over a dozen students from the Fall 2012 cohort celebrated their great accomplishments and received their certificates of completion at their graduation ceremony in December of 2012. These students put in a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment throughout the duration of this 12-weeks long intensive training program, where they learned techniques and skills on becoming peer counselors in the field of community behavioral health. We were especially honored at this graduation ceremony to have the full Executive Management Team of San Francisco Department of Public Health, Community Behavioral Health Services in addition to many community members attend the wonderful even. To date, 5 cohorts have completed the program, bringing our total number of graduates to 68! Congratulations again, class of Fall 2012!

We are also happy to announce that we are currently accepting applications for the Spring 2013 term of the program. Applications and program information are available online HERE at the RAMS website's Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program webpage. Applications are due on Friday, February 15 at 5:00pm. Classes start Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013. Please feel free to contact Program Coordinator, Christine Tam at christinetam@ramsinc.org for more information.

 Photo Credit: h.koppdelaney via Compfight cc

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS for the Peer Specialist Certificate Program

RAMS, in collaboration with San Francisco State University, is pleased & very excited to announce the start of Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program for the Spring 2012. The Brochure, Application, and Open House information is posted on the RAMS website (click HERE).

We are accepting applications through March 2, 2012, at 5:00pm.

About the Program: Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. and San Francisco State University Department of Counseling jointly developed and are offering the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program. Funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), the primary goal of the Certificate program is to prepare consumers of community behavioral health services or family members with the basic skills and knowledge for entry-level peer specialist/counseling roles in the community behavioral health system or to further their career in the field.

For more information, you can also contact Christine Tam, Program Coordinator, with any questions at christinehtam@ramsinc.org or by phone (415) 668-5955 x386.  You can also join us at our Open House - click on the flyer above for more details.

We look forward to the Spring 2012 class in April and continue training the next generation of Peer Specialists/Counselors.

Graduation Day - Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program Fall 2011

We are so excited to announce the graduation of the Fall 2011 Cohort of the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program on Thursday, December 8th, 2011. This is the third graduating cohort of the program. Friends, family, and members of the behavioral health community gathered on that day to support and celebrate this special occasion with our graduates at the San Francisco State University downtown campus.

Kavoos Bassiri, RAMS CEO, along with Dr. Rob Williams, Chair of the Counseling Department at San Francisco State University, Dr. Mya Vaughn, Assistant Professor at San Francisco State University, and Christine Tam, Program Coordinator, conducted the ceremony to recognize the hard work, dedication, and commitment of the graduates that led them to successfully complete the program.

Throughout the past 12 weeks, students went through an intensive training that taught them the skills and knowledge of being a peer counselor in the field of community behavioral health. They devoted themselves to attending eight hours of lectures each week on topics related to counseling individuals with mental health conditions and/or substance use related issues. In addition to attending class regularly, the program demanded students to spend time outside of class to review lecture materials, complete reading assignments, and work on class projects. Many of the graduates from this cohort faced personal challenges outside of the course throughout these 12 weeks, yet, they continued their hard work and dedication in spite of these challenges to meet the demands the program. Their resilience and ability stay committed are highly commendable.

At this time, graduates are looking for opportunities to continue their pursuit in the field of community behavioral health. Several of them have already expressed interest in further education in the field while others have started the process of looking for employment and internship opportunities. We look forward to hearing from them as they continue to develop professionally. We anticipate hearing many future contributions to the community by this graduating class. .

The next cohort for the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program will begin in April 2012. Details about how to apply for the next cohort will become available in January 2012. Please contact Program Coordinator, Christine Tam at (415) 668 – 5955 x386 or christinehtam@ramsinc.org for additional information.

Graduation Day - Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program

Today's guest post is from Christine Tam, Coordinator of the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program being offered by RAMS and San Francisco State University. Started in Fall 2010, the Certificate Program's goal is "to prepare consumers and/or family members with the basic skills & knowledge for entry-level employment in the behavioral health system of care and with academic/career planning that supports success in institutions of higher learning". 

*************************

 The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program is excited to announce the successful completion of the Spring 2011 Cohort!  Twelve graduates proudly marched to the music of Pomp and Circumstance on Thursday, May 26^th at the graduation ceremony held at the San Francisco State University Downtown Campus.  Over fifty guests, including friends and family of the graduates, guest instructors of the course, and members from the behavioral health community, attended the graduation ceremony to celebrate this momentous event.

The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program, a collaboration between RAMS, inc. and San Francisco State University’s Department of Counseling, offers a university level course that prepares individuals to enter into the field of community behavioral health as direct service providers. 

For twelve weeks, each graduate devoted eight hours each week to attend lectures on topics related to developing counseling skills in working with individuals with a mental health diagnoses and/or substance abuse issues.  In addition to the in-class lectures, students spent hours outside of the classroom to review lecture materials, complete reading assignments, and work on class projects.  Students’ understanding of the materials was rigorously tested throughout the course through quizzes, exams, written assignments, and in-class presentations.  The twelve graduates from this cohort committed a tremendous amount of hard work over these weeks, many of whom exceeded the expectations and demands of the course. 

Robert Williams, PhD, Department of Counseling Chair at SFSU, addresses the Graduates and their guests at the Graduation Ceremony.

At this time, our spring graduates are actively seeking employment and volunteer opportunities to utilize the knowledge and skills they have learned from the course.  In fact, one graduate has already been offered a full-time position as a Peer Counselor at an agency in the East Bay! 

Congratulations Spring 2011 Cohort!  We look forward to hearing more of your future successes and the many ways you will be contributing to the communities across the San Francisco Bay Area. 

The next cohort for the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program will begin in September of 2011.  Applications will be accepted starting July of 2011.  Please contact Program Coordinator, Christine Tam at (415) 668 – 5955 x386 or christinehtam@ramsinc.org for additional details.   

Peer Leadership & Support

RAMS Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program was invited to present at the Mayor's Disability Council meeting which took place on Friday May 20.  The topics discussed at the meeting were on Mental Health Issues, Peer Leadership, and Peer Support.  Christine Tam, Program Coordinator, gave an overview of the program's history and how it was created, student demographics, the current status of the program, and the successes experienced by the students in the program during their class experience and after graduation.

Christine Tam speaks in front of the Mayor's Disability Council

Update for the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program

It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of Christine Tam, MA as the Coordinator of the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program, which is jointly operated by Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS) and San Francisco State University’s Department of Counseling. This 12-week course is designed to equip students with the basic counseling and case management skills and knowledge for entry-level or advancement in peer counselor/specialist roles in the behavioral health systems of care. The program is funded by the Mental Health Services Act.

We would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to Mia Veroy who is transitioning from this Coordinator position and leaving RAMS at the end of February 2011. Ms. Veroy successfully spearheaded the start-up and implementation of the Certificate program as well as effectively served as the Vocational & Employee Development Coordinator at RAMS Hire-Ability Vocational Services. She has clearly exemplified what amazing things can be accomplished through teamwork, empowering consumers, and offering innovative opportunities to our consumers leading to self sufficiency. We value all that she has done at RAMS and for the San Francisco community for the past six years and wish her all the best.

Starting February 2011, Christine Tam is assuming the Coordinator role. She is a bilingual & bicultural clinical social worker with many years of experience providing dedicated & culturally competent services to underserved communities as well as demonstrating exceptional organizational skills. Ms. Tam has been working in the social service field for nearly ten years at various local community settings, and is also currently at the RAMS Wellness Centers Program as a Behavioral Health Counselor. She has unique expertise in working in school settings and with immigrant communities, including the Asian & Pacific Islander American population. Ms. Tam received a Masters of Art in Clinical Social Work from University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and earned her undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Economics from the University of Chicago.

We congratulate Christine Tam on her new appointment as the Coordinator of the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program.

Guest Post - Mia Veroy, Program Coordinator

Today's guest post is from Mia Veroy, Program Coordinator at both the RAMS Hire-Ability Vocational Services Employee Development Program as well as the new Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate program being offered by RAMS and San Francisco State University. Started in Fall 2010, the Certificate Program's goal is "to prepare consumers and/or family members with the basic skills & knowledge for entry-level employment in the behavioral health system of care and with academic/career planning that supports success in institutions of higher learning".

******************************************************************

The Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program - a collaboration between Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. and San Francisco State University’s Department of Counseling - is proud to announce its first cohort of graduates from the Fall Cohort of 2010.

This unique class offering, funded by the Mental Health Services Act, allowed both agencies to create a pioneering curriculum designed to prepare individuals for employment into the behavioral health system. After 12 weeks of intensive and rigorous training, the students are ready to increase the workforce and let their voices be heard. Engagement and retention was high, with 18 students successfully completing the course out of the 20 that were selected for the initial class offering. The program included weekly classes, quizzes & exams, job shadowing and volunteer experiences that each individual had to complete in order to pass this course.

The success of this program would not have been possible without the amazing support that was received from the San Francisco community that came in various forms, such as the contributions of valuable hours from our panel of guest lecturers who agreed to share their knowledge and expertise free of charge, as well as donations of food and supplies.

The Certificate Program had the opportunity to acknowledge all these contributions and honor the students’ accomplishments during the graduation ceremony held in December 2010. The presence of family members from as far as Alaska and Utah as well as having representatives from three generations truly made this event memorable. It was a fitting way to honor the level of commitment, focus, and determination of all the students who plowed through all obstacles imaginable just to finish this course.

Many of the graduates are now in the process of getting registered with the Employment Services of RAMS Hire-Ability as well as the State Department of Rehabilitation to begin the job search. For some students, it is a matter of following up on the job leads or offers already received from their job shadow sites as well as contacts from the Job Fair hosted by the program. Organized activities such as alumni events as well as advisory committees are in the pipeline and ready for implementation in the coming months to ensure that the graduates receive continued support and guidance. In fact, several of the graduates came to the recent Open House for the Spring 2011 cohort to show support for the program, but more importantly, to provide assistance to the new applicants, a testament to how they have eased into their roles as peer counselors.

With the amount of work that has been accomplished in the past year, there is still a lot more to be done, yet RAMS is filled with an overwhelming sense of renewed hope and faith in the future. The best is yet to come!

Meet the folks behind the Peer Specialist Mental Health Certificate Program (L-R): Angela Tang, MSW, RAMS Operations Manager; Mya Vaughn, PhD, Assistant Professor, SFSU; Robert Williams, PhD, Department of Counseling Chair, SFSU; Mia Veroy, RAMS Program Coordinator; Kavoos G. Bassiri, LMFT, CGP, President & CEO, RAMS.

******************************************************************

RAMS is now accepting applications for the Spring 2011 session! Click HERE for more information and for application forms & instructions.

Photo (at top) credit from jpellgen on Flickr