Peer Mentor Employment and Training Program

House of Hope’s Award Winning Peer Mentoring Program

The House of Hope CDC Peer Mentor Employment and Training Program offers a unique approach to employment training with a focus on providing the education and skills necessary for program participants to succeed in positions within the field of Peer-Based Recovery Support .  The curriculum was designed by House of Hope CDC staff from the ground up with the intention of helping graduates obtain the Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential offered through the Rhode Island Certification Board (RICB), as well as to obtain employment positions within House of Hope CDC and other recovery-oriented agencies.

The current training program consists of 112 classroom hours over seven weeks, followed by an internship component designed to offer program graduates an opportunity to practice and enhance their skills in a real world setting.  The curriculum established by House of Hope CDC is considered to be one of the most comprehensive in its scope, while maintaining the core focus on issues specific to those experiencing homelessness.  Additionally, the curriculum is regularly complemented for presenting a high level educational opportunity in a manner that is approachable and accessible to individuals with a wide range of experience and educational backgrounds.

The current classrooms curriculum consists of the following educational components:

• Foundations of the Helping Professions
  • Part 1 (Boundaries; confidentiality; dual relationships; Duty to Report)
• Foundations of the Helping Professions
  • Part 2 (Person-Centered Interventions; Balancing Rights and Responsibility; Emphasizing Choice; Solution-Focused Responses)
• Foundations of the Helping Professions
  • Part 3 (Strength-based Perspective; Trauma-Informed Care; Harm Reduction; Housing First Model)
• Advocacy Issues
• CPR
• Narcan Administration
• Recovery Topics
• CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training
• LGBTQ Cultural Competency
• Screening, Assessment, and Documentation
• Mental Health First Aid
• Sex/Human Trafficking
• Motivational Interviewing
• Outreach 101
• Securing Permanent Housing
• Housing Eligibility, Referrals, and Resources
• Group dynamics

Following the completion of the classroom training, program graduates may be selected for six-week internships.  During this six-week period, participants will have the opportunity to apply new skills, receive direct supervision, and work with other homeless service providers as well as the community at large. Internship selection is based on demonstrated competency in classroom materials, and desire for ongoing employment in related fields.  House of Hope CDC works to match students with a placement that supports their interests and career goals.

This Peer Mentoring Program continues to grow in success. With the continued support of our funders and the community, we know we are putting the men and women faced with homelessness in Rhode Island on a path to success and permanent housing.

In 2016 House of Hope CDC’s Peer Mentoring Program was awarded The Rhode Island Foundation Nonprofit Excellence 2016 Best Practice Award for Volunteer Engagement.

Peer Mentor Outcomes Since Inception