PARENT, CAREGIVER & FAMILY MEMBER PEER — SPECIALIZATION TRAIning

•  Open to individuals holding an active Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist (CMPSS) credential from CalMHSA. The 80-hour core training and state certification are prerequisites. This is an area-of-specialization training — not a standalone or entry-level course — and builds on the foundation you already hold. 

•   Professional Responsibilities — ethics, confidentiality (HIPAA/PHI and 42 CFR Part 2), boundaries, cultural humility, and the Family Peer role
• Systems Knowledge & Navigation — LA County behavioral health, special education (IEP/504), child welfare (DCFS), juvenile justice, and crisis & safety planning
• Resources & Natural Supports — strengths-based family support, a South/East LA community resource directory, and family-centered goal setting
• Wellness & Resiliency — trauma-informed care, grief and loss, caregiver burnout, and maternal & postpartum wellness
• Effecting Change — family advocacy, stigma reduction, strategic storytelling, and systems change 

 Woven throughout: real LA County case scenarios, crisis and goal-setting role-plays, culturally responsive examples across Black, LGBTQ+, immigrant/undocumented, veteran, and IDD families, and a capstone Family Peer Action Plan. 

 - Format: Online and primarily self-paced via Canvas LMS, with optional live cohort sessions

- Length: 40 instructional hours

- Completion window: 8 weeks · rolling, year-round enrollment

- Assessment: Module knowledge checks (70% to pass) + capstone Family Peer Action Plan

- Class size: 15 active participants at a time

- Tuition: $1,900 per participant

- Launch: Fall 2026 (pending CalMHSA approval)

- Lead Instructor: Jasmine Salas, RN · Co-Facilitator: Melanie L. Del Rosario, RN