Organizations with peer support programs

What support does the Operationalizing Peer Support (OPS) program offer?

The OPS program provides free technical assistance to agencies, organizations, or individual providers through:

• OPS training: This training consists of evidence-based knowledge that is essential for peer supervision and administration. It also provides opportunities for an open dialogue, in a supportive and judgment-free environment.
• Monthly webinars: Webinars explore topics relevant to organizations that provide peer support services in both Medicaid-reimbursed and non-Medicaid settings.
• Weekly office hours: Office hours are drop-in meetings for providers who supervise peer specialists or administer peer support services.

Sign up for our peer mailing list to receive information on these opportunities or contact the OPS program for individual support.

OPS training

This virtual training consists of evidence-based knowledge and leading practices that are essential for peer support supervision and administration. It also provides opportunities for an open dialogue, in a safe environment.

Attendance will be tracked for those required to complete the OPS training and those who would like to receive a certificate of completion. To sign up, email HCA OPS.

Monthly training schedule

Dates	Time
May 13 and 20	8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (with a 30-minute lunch)
May 7, 14, 21, and 28	1 to 4 p.m.
June 3 and 10	8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (with a 30-minute lunch

Quarterly training schedule

Date	Time	Title
April 7	8 to 10 a.m.	1: Peer support in Washington
April 28	2:30 to 4:30 p.m.	2: The peer support role: what it is and isn't
May 5	8 to 10 a.m.	3: How to create a culture of recovery and resilience
May 27	2:30 to 4:30 p.m.	4: Supervision of peer specialists
June 2	8 to 10 a.m.	5: The five functions of supervision and documentation
June 23	2:30 to 4:30 p.m.	6: Ethics and boundaries

Monthly webinars

OPS offers an engaging and interactive monthly webinar series that combines the best of a book club with professional development starting April 2025. Each month, current Administrators and Supervisors of Peer Specialists will read one module from the new 80-hour Certified Peer Specialist training before our live session.

During each webinar, we will come together for discussions, breakout room activities, and group shares to explore the content. This is your opportunity to connect, share insights, and enhance your understanding of the principles and leading practices that are central to the work of Certified Peer Specialists. Whether you’re just starting your journey as a supervisor or looking to refine your skills, this series offers a supportive and collaborative space to learn and grow together.

* Pre-registration for the webinars is required.

Dates	Topic	Time	Webinar registration
April 30	Module 1: The certified peer specialist role	11 a.m. to noon	Register (04/30/2025)
May 27	Module 2: Trauma-informed care in peer support	11 a.m. to noon	Register (05/27/2025)
June 25	Module 3: Bringing the hope – creating peer partnerships	11 a.m. to noon	Register (06/25/2025)
July 30	Module 4: Ethics and boundaries in peer support	11 a.m. to noon	Register (07/30/2025)
August 27	Module 5: Creating cross-cultural partnerships	11 a.m. to noon	Register (08/27/2025)
September 24	Module 6.1: Generational recovery – youth voice and choice	11 a.m. to noon	Register (09/24/2025)
October 22	Module 6.2: Generational recovery – family peer support	11 a.m. to noon	Register (10/22/2025)
November 19	Module 6.3: Generational Recovery – Peer support and older adults	11 a.m. to noon	Register (11/19/2025)
December 17	Module 7: Behavioral health recovery	2 to 3 p.m.	Register (12/17/2025)

Weekly office hours

Office hours are drop-in meetings for providers who supervise peer specialists or administer peer support services.

Dates	Time	How to join
Every Monday	1 to 2 p.m.	Microsoft teams meeting link

Resources for operating a peer support program

Billing

• Service Encounter Reporting Instructions (SERI)
• Behavioral health agencies billing and information technology toolkit
• ProviderOne billing and resource guide
• Provider billing guides and fee schedules webpage
• Email the MC program team for help with billing

Toolkits

• City of Philadelphia peer support toolkit
• Provider's handbook on developing and implementing peer roles
• American Mental Health Counselors Association peer services toolkit
• World Health Organization one-to-one peer support guidance
• Trauma-informed organizational toolkit for homeless services

Ethics

• Ethical guidelines for the delivery of peer-based recovery support services
• National practice guidelines for peer specialists and supervisors
• National practice guidelines for peer supporters

Supervision of peers

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) guidelines for supervision of peer workers
• SAMHSA supervisor of peer workers self-assessment
• Substance use disorder peer supervision competencies
• The peer role: what supervisors and administrators need to know (video)
• Important practices in providing peer supervision (video)
• National practice guidelines: putting values into practice (video)
• SAMHSA report on addressing burnout in the behavioral health workforce

Peer workforce resources

• Mental Health America peer workforce resources
• SAMHSA peer support workers for those in recovery resources
• Aspects of running a peer workforce (video)

Laws related to peer service in Washington

• Behavioral health agency licensing and certification requirements (WAC 246-341-0700)
• Certified peer counselor (WAC 182-115)
• Medicaid State Plan amendment for substance use disorder and peer support
• Agency affiliated counselor practicing as peer counselor—No automatic denial of applicant with past conviction for certain offenses (RCW 18.19.095)
• Licensed or certified behavioral health agencies and providers—Minimum standards (RCW 71.24.037)
• Behavioral health outpatient crisis outreach, observation and intervention services—Certification standards (WAC 246-341-0901)

OPS program training recordings

The OPS program holds training for peer supervisors and organizations with existing peer programs or those interested in offering peer services. Training recordings include:

• OPS program introduction
• Peers in Washington State and contracting for services
• The peer role
• Preparing the organization for peer services
• Supervision of peers
• Documentation for peers
• Important practices in providing peer supervision
• Ethics and boundaries
• Reasonable accommodations and supervising protected class employees
• Common concerns of supervisors of peers

View a list of all OPS recordings on our OPS YouTube playlist.