On May 10, OhioMHAS and Governor Mike DeWine’s RecoveryOhio initiative announced that recent rule changes have created two new types of certified peer supporters: Certified Youth Peer Supporters, who specialize in youth and young adults, and Certified Family Peer Supporters, who specialize in helping families navigate Ohio’s treatment and recovery support services systems. The new categories are designed to help provide guidance to those recovering from mental illness and substance use disorders. The new categories do not affect the existing Adult Certified Peer Recovery Supporter category. Click here to read the full media release, here for a fact sheet about peer services in Ohio.

The new Youth and Family classifications are the result of a change in Ohio Administrative Code rules governing peer support staff. OhioMHAS also announced that Ohio has streamlined the certification process by moving the application process to a digital e-Licensure platform to expedite the process for applicants and allow state officials to better manage, analyze and track Ohio’s peer workforce.

Supporting and expanding the role of peer support specialists was a key recommendation in the RecoveryOhio Advisory Council’s Initial Report published in March 2019. Since 2016, more than 3,000 Ohioans have successfully completed training to become peer supporters. In addition, OhioMHAS has hosted nearly 150 trainings since SFY 2019.