Peer Support/Recovery Coaching
Certified Peer Supporters (Recovery Coaches) help to establish a recovery plan to identify and manage relapse warning signs and other issues critical to success in early recovery while considering a person’s stage of recovery. Peer Supporters often work with persons after completion of addiction treatment to assist with a positive experience in early recovery and connect persons with additional resources if needed. Recovery coaches or Certified Peer Supporters are persons who have experienced stable recovery from mental illnesses and/or addictions, and are trained to model a healthy recovery lifestyle. Because their roles differ, a person may have both a sponsor and a recovery coach, since their roles are different and cannot be spanned by any single person.
Peer Supporters are found in addiction treatment agencies, recovery housing agencies, recovery support agencies, and in special docket drug court programs in Summit County. If you are interested in working with a recovery coach, please indicate this to a treatment counselor or court staff, and they can assist you in connecting with a local recovery coach.
Becoming a OhioMHAS Certified Peer Supporter
How to register for the 40 hour in-person training
If you are interested in becoming an Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Certified Peer Supporter, you must complete 40 hours of in-person training. In order to complete the training, you will need to submit an application to the County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board and be assigned to a scheduled training date. The training application can be mailed or delivered in person to 1867 W. Market St., Suite B2, Akron, OH 44313 or scanned and emailed to grantapplications@admboard.org.
Applicants will be required to complete the 16 hours of eBased Academy training as a prerequisite to be eligible for the 40 hour in-person training, After the eBased Academy training is completed, certifications of completion from the eBased training must be submitted 14 days prior to the scheduled training date.
Register for your free eBased Academy account at www.ebasedacademy.org/learn. For questions regarding eBased Academy, email the OhioMHAS IT Helpdesk at MHAhelpdesk@mha.ohio.gov.
Required eBased Training Modules:
- Introduction to Peer Recovery Support
- History of Addiction for Peer Recovery Supporters
- Ethics and Boundaries for Peer Recovery Supporters
- History of the CSX Movement for Peer Recovery Supporters
- Helpful Tips for Peer Recovery Supporters Entering the Workforce
- Health and Wellness in Peer Recovery Support
- Cultural Competence in Mental Health and Addiction Recovery
- Human Trafficking Training for Peer Recovery Supporters
- Supervision for Peer Recovery Supporters
- Trauma Informed Care in Peer Recovery Support
- Ohio S-BIRT 101: An Introduction to S-BIRT and Motivational Interviewing
Both the application and the eBased Academy training certificates of completion MUST be received 14 days prior to the scheduled training or you will not be eligible to begin on your scheduled training date.
Upon successful completion of the 40 hour in-person training, each participant will be issued a Certificate of Completion.
Recovery Housing
The County of Summit Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADM) Services Board provides financial support for local recovery housing that provides a transitional living environment that promotes sobriety and independent living during the early stages of recovery. The ADM Board contracts with Community Action Akron Summit Inc. to manage referrals and coordinate placements to participating recovery providers in accordance with ADM Board priorities. Providers are certified through Ohio Recovery Housing. Interested in starting a recovery house? Find more information about the certification process and training opportunities at Ohio Recovery Housing.
ADM Board funded recovery housing providers include:
For additional information about recovery housing services, please contact the ADM Addiction Helpline at 330-940-1133.
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities St. John's Recovery Outreach Center in Akron offers recovery-oriented recovery supports including peer recovery coaching, case management, counseling and psychiatry.
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SAMHSA’s Recovery Support Efforts
For additional information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) provides a listing of available recovery support resources.