Human Services – Peer Support
Program Description
The Peer Support Program prepares students for careers in the helping professions. We train students to work in Social Services Agencies; helping others overcome social barriers, such as poverty, abuse, addiction, oppression and mental health challenges. The Peer Support program supports the development of relationship-building skills and recovery support that benefits anyone on their personal recovery journey from mental health and substance use disorders. It is for those with lived experience, or who have a family member with lived experience. The program teaches the 13 domains of the Peer Support level of care.
The Peer Support Certificate prepares individuals to apply to the State of Nebraska to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist (C.P.S.S.). CPSS use their lived experience to offer hope to others who are working on recovery. The State certification, along with your knowledge and lived experience, will open opportunities for employment at addiction and/or mental health treatment agencies, recovery community organizations, recovery homes, drug courts, hospitals, and other support agencies.
There are a number of options available for those wanting to pursue attainment of the Peer Support Specialist Certification from the State of Nebraska. The program can be taken as:
- Option 1: A 16-credit hour academic certificate, that can be completed in one year.
- Option 2: The 16-credit hour Peer Support Certificate courses can be taken alongside the Human Services Associates Degree. This empowers students to graduate with both the Peer Support Certificate, as well as the Human Services Associates of Arts Degree at the same time.
- Option 3: An accelerated non-credit course that includes 90 hours of instruction as well as 135 hours of on-site practicum experience.
Scholarships and financial support may be available after acceptance into the Peer Support Certificate classes.
This project and webpage are supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $575,788 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
You can start the Peer Support Certificate FOR CREDIT in the Fall or Spring terms.
The Peer Support Certificate FOR NON-CREDIT is offered in the summer.
Follow these steps to finish your application:
- Want to learn more about SCC? Come see how SCC will help you achieve Your Path to Possible! Schedule a campus visit!
- Need help exploring career opportunities or navigating the admissions process? Schedule an appointment with an Admissions Counselor.
- Ready to apply? Complete an Application for Admission.
- Submit ACT, SAT, Next Generation Accuplacer, or Accuplacer test scores (reading and math) or official college transcripts showing completion of post-secondary coursework in English and math to the Admissions Office at any SCC location.
Special Program Requirements
Students are accepted once they complete program requirements listed on the Peer Support Get Started Checklist. Financial assistance may be available to those meeting all the requirements. Information on applying for scholarships will be shared upon acceptance to the program.
- Complete online application to the program during the designated time periods.
- Complete program Get Started checklist (PDF).
- High School or GED® transcripts.
- Submit a copy of a current American Heart Association CPR card.
- Submit a completed Health Statement to the Health Sciences Division.
- Submit completed 2-Step Tuberculosis Skin Test.
- Submit flu vaccination.
- A criminal background check will be required of each student in this program. Based on the background check, a student may be prevented from taking certain courses, accessing certain practicum experiences, or completing the program. A non-refundable fee of $45 will be accessed for this CBC. Misdemeanor or felony convictions may prevent a graduate from acquiring a state license.
- Students admitted to a Health Sciences program at SCC requiring a practicum rotation at a contracted healthcare facility will submit to initial drug and alcohol testing prior to the first clinical rotation. A non-refundable fee of $35 will be accessed for the drug screen.
*Please note: Students need to obtain CPR AED and TB for acceptance into the program. Any cost associated with this will be the student's expense.
Please contact the Program Coordinator:
Michelle Hawco
mhawco@southeast.edu
402-437-2746
You’re a Good Fit
You are a good fit for Peer Support if you:
- have lived experience as someone who has received behavioral health services or have a family member who has. (Behavioral health services may include mental health or substance use counseling, treatment, or medication management.)
- have experience with helping yourself or others overcome mental health or addiction challenges.
- want to offer hope to people
- want to assist others in overcoming recovery barriers
- are a good listener
- care about people and what happens to them
Careers
Certified Peer Support Specialist within:
- Addiction Treatment Agencies
- Mental Health Treatment Agencies
- Recovery Community Organizations
- Recovery Homes
- Drug Courts
- Hospitals
- Support Agencies
Recent Peer Support Certificate program graduates report an average starting salary of $37,586.
Accreditation
Curriculum approved by the State of Nebraska, Department of Behavior Health, Office of Consumer Affairs.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution:
Southeast Community College is a State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Institution (NC-SARA) institution. As such, SCC is unable to offer online or distance courses to students in the following areas at this time: American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.