FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Kristy Stonehill, Nami Rappahannock
Website: https://www.namirapp.org/
NAMI Rappahannock Launches Peer Recovery Specialist Volunteer Program to Strengthen Local Recovery Workforce. New initiative made possible by the Mary Washington and Stafford Hospital Community Benefit Fund.
NAMI Rappahannock is launching a new Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) Program to help individuals complete the required service hours to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and to expand access to recovery support services across the region. The program is funded by a grant from the Mary Washington and Stafford Hospital Foundation Community Benefit Fund and addresses the most pressing issues raised in the Community Health Assessment (CHA) for Planning District 16 (PD16): mental health and substance use challenges.
Peers trained as a PRS or as a Family Support Partner (FSP) are individuals with lived experience in recovery or family members who have supported loved ones through recovery. They provide non-clinical, recovery-oriented support to help individuals and families build hope, resilience, and wellness. The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) recognizes peer recovery services as an important component of the state’s behavioral health system.
In Virginia, individuals who complete a DBHDS-approved 72-hour Peer Recovery Specialist training must also complete 500 hours of service across 4 specific domains, including 25 hours of supervision, before applying for certification through the Virginia Certification Board and sitting for the certification exam. Many trained peers local to our region struggle to find opportunities to complete these required hours.
The NAMI Rappahannock PRS Intern Program was created to address this gap by connecting trained peers with volunteer opportunities through partner organizations across PD16. By creating pathways for peers to gain experience and work toward their certification requirements, NAMI Rappahannock aims to strengthen the recovery community and increase access to peer-led support services throughout the region.
For more information about the PRS Program or how to get involved, contact NAMI Rappahannock.
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