Are you a parent or caregiver raising or raising a child aged 0-21 who has mental health or behavioral health challenges? Would you like to use your lived experience to help another parent who is on the same journey? 

Then being a parent peer supporter may be for you!

What is Parent Peer Support? Parent peer support is a parent/caregiver or using their lived experience to support another parent/caregiver who is going through similar experiences.

Who Can Be a Parent Peer Supporter? A parent peer supporter is a biological parent, adoptive parent, or caregiver with legal custody who is currently raising or has raised a child with these characteristics:

• The child is currently between the ages of 0-21, or was when they first began having challenges.
• The child has an emotional, social, behavioral or substance use disability.
•  The child received services in or navigated the mental health or a related system (for example, a child with an IEP related to behavior issues at school).

How Do I Become a Parent Peer Supporter? The Department of Mental Health certifies parent peer supporters in the mental health system. Families as Allies conducts virtual training for the certification. These are the dates of upcoming trainings:

• September 12-16, 2022  – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: August 15, 2022)
• November 14-18, 2022 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: October 17, 2022)
• January 9-13, 2023 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: December 5, 2022)
• March 20-24, 2023 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: February 17, 2023)
• May 15-19, 2023 – Virtual Training (Application Deadline: April 14, 2023)

Click here for the application packet.

Who Should Take the Training?

Any parent or caregiver who is raising a child who has challenges and:

• Is interested in working for a community mental health center or another agency certified by the Department of Mental Health. Completing the training does not guarantee you a job, but it helps ensure you’ll be ready for one.
• Is interested in doing part-time contractual work for Families as Allies. We are building our pool of contractual employees.
• Supports parents in any system. This training will strengthen your skills and help you network with other parent peer supporters.
• Would like to learn how to support other parents in the same shoes in any child-serving system. We currently have funds to pay training stipends to parents who are—or have been—involved in the youth court system and would like to learn how to support other parents going through the same thing. Contact us at 601-355-0915 or info@faams.org to learn more.