Peer Support Specialist Program

Peer Support Specialist Program

The Southern Counties Regional Partnership (SCRP) has initiated the Peer Support Specialist Program to promote trained peer specialists in its public mental health delivery systems. Member counties of SCRP are Imperial, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tri-Cities (Claremont, La Verne and Pomona) and Ventura. The Peer Support Specialist Program is funded through a state grant the southern counties have received to pursue the objectives of the MHSA.

The Peer Support Specialist Program intends to award stipends to individuals participating in a training to become peer counselors for peer personnel preparation and serve as peer counselors in a treatment facility operated by a county-run or county-contracted behavioral health agency.

Stipend Amount and Number of Stipends Awarded

The Peer Support Specialist Program is funded for four fiscal years: 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. 100 stipends of $500 will be awarded each year.

Eligibility Requirements – Fiscal Year 2021-22

Individuals participating in a peer support specialist training program; or, in a peer support specialist internship approved by the nominating SCRP county. In addition, they need to complete peer support specialist training by June 30, 2022.

Application Deadline for FY 2021-22: TBA 

Application Information

Each SCRP county will nominate individuals for the stipends who fulfill that county’s requirements. For information on each county’s requirements and the number of stipends awarded by each county, see (insert link here). Nominated individuals must complete the state application on OSHPD’s website (insert link here). OSHPD will process the applications and submit eligible individuals to Phillips’ Stipend Program for issuance of the stipend checks by Campbellsville University; completion of the IRS W-9 federal form will be required.

The Stipend Program will have additional information for interested individuals on the website of Campbellsville University: https://phillips.campbellsville.edu/ca-consortium/.
Updated September 14, 2021