Family Peer Support Specialists
Keep reading to learn more about who we are, where we work, trainings, and how to sign up for a training.
Who are FPSS?
Family Peer Support Specialists (FPSS) have the opportunity to positively impact families through support and education. Family Peer Support Specialists draw on their own experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a child with an emotional, behavioral or mental health need. They work to empower families by teaching skills that assist them in finding their own voice. A FPSS has current knowledge of the mental health system and most importantly, recognizes the life experience of raising a child with a mental health diagnosis.
Family Peer Support Specialists (FPSS) provide a variety of services to families. These include sharing expertise by providing information, teaching coping skills, providing emotional support and helping parents become advocates. Family Peer Support Specialists often help families navigate the child serving systems and help them understand available options for their child. FPSSs may accompany parents to meetings to ensure the parents’ voices are heard. They are able to assist families by modeling good communication skills and sharing their own experiences in a positive manner.
Where do FPSS work?
Family Peer Support Specialists may be employed at social service agencies, clinics, residential programs and other community based organizations. Family Peer Support Specialists may also serve on a variety of advisory boards and committees at local, state, and national levels.
FPSS Trainings
Future Training Information
Application Open
TBD
Phase 1: Online Training
TBD
Phase 2: Virtual Training
TBD
Location
TBD
Training Details
Two Part Training
Training for Family Peer Support Specialists is in two parts: Phase 1: Online Training and Phase 2: In-
person training. Participants must complete online training to be admitted into In-Person training, and
participants must complete both phases in order to be certified.
Offering online training allows flexibility; new hires can start training immediately rather than wait for a
scheduled in-person session. Because time away from work is reduced to only 4 days, the program
expects participants will be given at-work time to complete online training.
Phase 1
Online training offers a knowledge base and content for practice as an FPSS. Online training consists of 14 courses which typically takes 15-25 hours to complete.
Phase 2
In-Person training provides the setting for participants to practice skills in a safe learning environment.
These four days of In-Person training require 32 hours.
Content
The 48-hour training requires successful completion of online and in-person training, which includes the following topics and skills
- System of Care & Shared-Decision Making
- Role of the Family Peer Support Specialist
- Ethics & Boundaries
- Laws & Regulations affecting families
- Professionalism: Supervision, Documentation,
- Reimbursement and Funding
- Cultural Competency
- Understanding Mental Illness
- Special Education
- Wellness & Self-care
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Parenting
- Communication Skills (active listening, sharing
- personal resiliency story, conflict management)
- Advocacy Skills (coaching and goal-setting, offering
- resources)
- Assisting the Family (offering resiliency and hope,
- problem-solving, crisis planning)
Grounded in adult learning theory, this training:
- Covers competencies set by the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
- Trains to the Iowa Peer Support Specialist Scope of Practice
- Meets quality training standards
- Prepares participants for certification by the Iowa Board of Certification
Phase 2 Details: In-Person Training
4 Days
You must commit to attending the entire 4-day training. Training begins promptly at 9AM each day and ends at 5PM. Training will break each day around noon for lunch.
Lodging Information
You must arrange and pay for your own lodging (if applicable).
Cost
This training is FREE, however, trainees must pay for their own lodging, food and travel costs. If you are currently employed as a Family Peer Support Specialist, check with your employer about covering these expenses.
Meals
You must make arrangements for your own food. You will have an hour for lunch and there are many food options near the training site. Most training locations do not allow outside food to be brought in.
Accommodations
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this training, please contact us at 319-356-8637 or 319-356-7020 or email us at IowaPeerSupportTraining@
healthcare.uiowa.edu.
Stipends
If you are not currently employed as a FPSS (and will not have your costs paid by your employer), you may be eligible for a stipend that would reimburse you for part of your training related expenses. You would be required to pay the initial costs of you hotel, gas and meals and submit a form for reimbursement upon completion of the training. You must submit the stipend application 2 weeks before the first day of training. Stipends must be applied for, processed and approved BEFORE the training. If you would like more information about applying for a stipend please email: IowaPeerSupportTraining@
healthcare.uiowa.edu.
Application FAQs
You must have a high school diploma or GED.
The training will provide you with in-depth knowledge and skills. However, in general the FPSS role involves the ability to:
Be a parent or caregiver of a child with a mental health diagnosis
Willing to share your own personal story of caring for a child with a mental illness
Provide support for families as one who has been there
Assist families with finding community and natural supports
Advocate for a family’s’ needs and model self-advocacy
Model effective self-care and coping techniques
Work with families from diverse socio economic and cultural backgrounds
Ability to maintain a part-time or full-time work schedule
Work as a member of a team
Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
Adhere to confidentiality and understand protected health information
Maintain records and provide accurate documentation
Use computers (email, web searches, word processing)
You must be 21 years of age to take the training.
- To apply send an email request to: IowaPeerSupportTraining@healthcare.uiowa.edu
- You will receive an email response within 48 hours with a link to the online application.
- Applications will be screened when the application process closes. See date listed under specific trainings for closing dates. Training spaces are limited, so apply early.
- You will be asked to provide contact information for 2 references.
- Once your application is received, you may be contacted with information regarding a phone interview.
- After the screening interview, you will be notified about whether or not you will be accepted for training.
