The CARES Toolkit — the Essential Peer Support Skills Training Program
CARES Toolkit – Individual
Individual access to the entire CARES Toolkit
Group/Corporate Access
The struggle is real…
Being a peer supporter is a tough role to navigate alone. The system is based on clinical principles and hasn’t completely caught up to the need for people like us who have lived recovery and know what it takes to get well.
Peer Supporters provide a unique service and point of view that has been previously missing in the clinical environment. We have lived through the treatment experience and are in active recovery. We know what our clients are going through in a way that clinical experts cannot. Unfortunately, many of us are working in isolation and may not have received comprehensive training in all the skills required to successfully manage the many unique situations we face.
Because we are on the front lines supporting our peers, it is essential that we have a proven set of skills and techniques we can rely on to help our clients succeed.
Why It Works
The CARES toolkit was created by two Washintgon state Certified Peer Counselors who also happen to be expert trainers specializing in Peer Support basic and on-going education. The toolkit relies heavily on studies of peer support services conducted by the University of Washington .
The 5 Categories of Peer Support Work
Five general categories were identified in the studies and we worked with specialists in these areas to create twelve training modules that fit into these 5 categories essential to every Peer Supporter. They include:
- Communication Skills
- Advocacy Skills
- Recovery & Resiliency Skills
- Empowerment Skills
- Skills Specific To Working In A Professional Environment
The CARES Toolkit Modules
Inside each module are 1-hour training sessions complete with supporting resources and materials. The specific topics include:
- Advocacy For Peers You Support
- Strengths Based Peer Support
- Ethics & Boundaries
- Group Facilitation
- Culturally Informed Peer Support
- Relationship Building
- Suicide Safe Peer Support
- Advocating For Yourself At Work
- Documentation
- Wellness & Balance For You & The Peers You Support
- Trauma Informed Peer Support
- Telling Your Story
See full details on each of the training modules and see the bios of the trainers
Course Details
Each of the 12 modules covers the hard and soft skills training specific to recovery coaching and support. They include:
- A purpose statement as to why the skill is essential to the Peer/Coach relationship
- An overview of terms to deepen your understanding and insure clear communication
- A 60-minute training video with a subject matter expert who has tested these techniques in the field with specific information on:
- How this topic plays a role in relapse prevention
- How to use an approach that is accessible and works with existing substance use disorder and mental health issues
- Including a Youth and Youth in Transition perspective when possible
- Use of culturally and linguistically inclusive language
- Tools to transmit the information to the peer you are supporting or coaching
- Exercises for skill-building practice
- Quick tips
- Relevant literature or apps for further learning