Peer Support Professional Development Groups
Peer Support Professional Development Groups meet throughout Pennsylvania. These groups encourage the professional growth of peer support specialists by providing networking, mentoring, information sharing, and group support. Some groups also provide continuing education opportunities.
Some groups are open only to Certified Peer Specialists (CPS's), while others may be open to broader membership.
The following is a list of professional development groups meeting in Pennsylvania. We do our best to keep the information here current, but please note that dates, times, and locations sometimes change.
To have your group listed here, to make changes to your group's information, or for more information about a particular group, contact the Coalition Coordinator.
Southeast Region
Region-wide
The Southeast Regional PA Peer Support Coalition Meetings occur every other month. These meetings are open to anyone who provides mental health-related peer support to others. Meeting locations and times vary, because the meeting is held in a different southeast county each time. Join us for a chance to network with others outside your county, learn what's happening with the Coalition, and get support from others.
Bucks County
The Bucks County Certified Peer Specialist Professional Development Network (PDN) meets monthly. The first hour of the meeting is for Certified Peer Specialists seeking employment. This is followed by a continuing education training open to all Certified Peer Specialists. The last hour of the meeting is for Certified Peer Specialists currently working. Meetings occur the fourth Tuesday of each month at 600 Louis Drive, Suite 102A, Warminster, PA.
Montgomery County
The Montgomery County Certified Peer Specialist Professional Development and Networking Group meets the third Monday of the month at the Montgomery County Human Services Center, 1430 DeKalb St. Norristown, PA, from 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m.. All peer specialists are encouraged to participate. The mission of this meeting is to assist each other to grow in recovery, grow as peer specialists, and ensure the quality of peer support services through mentoring recovery to our community. In the first hour we share successes and challenges. The second hour consists of trainings on topics suggested by peer specialists.
Philadelphia County
The Philadelphia County Certified Peer Specialist Professional Development, Support and Networking Group meets the third Thursday of every month at Project Home, 1515 Fairmount Ave., Philadelphia, PA from 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Northeast Region
Berks County
The Berks Peer Support Network meets monthly, on or near the third Wednesday of each month. Exact dates and the location vary.
The BHARP service area
The Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania (BHARP) hosts regular teleconference networking calls for Certified Peer Specialists in northern rural Pennsylvania. The following counties are included: Bradford/Sullivan, Cameron/Elk/McKean, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield/Jefferson, Columbia/Montour/Snyder/Union, Forest/Warren, Huntingdon/Mifflin/Juniata, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Tioga, Potter, and Wayne. The calls usually include an educational component, and certificates are available for continuing education. More information can be found at BHARP's Web site.
Lehigh / Northampton Counties
The Lehigh Valley Peer Networking Meeting is held monthly at NHS Human Services, 3864 Adler Place, Suite 100, Bethlehem, PA. The day of the week varies from month to month. Anyone interested in learning about peer support, working or volunteering in peer support services is welcome to attend. For more info contact Jason H. or Gloria E. at 610-866-8331 ext. 265 or email Jason jhalley@nhsonline.org.
Schuylkill County
Schuylkill County Peer Coalition is a professional development group for Certified Peer Specialists. The group meets the third Friday of every month at 9:00 a.m. at RedCo, 16 South Center Street in Pottsville, PA. For more information, contact Eddie Perhonitch at 570-628-5234 ext. 137.
South Central Region
Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Lancaster, Lebanon, York, and Adams Counties
The Capital Area Certified Peer Specialist Professional Development Group meets once a month at Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative, 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 206, in Harrisburg, PA. Meetings usually occur on a Monday morning from 10:00-11:30 a.m., but the date varies each month. The group welcomes any Certified Peer Specialist within driving distance. Group members come from Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Lebanon, Lancaster, York, and Adams counties.
The Capital Area Professional Development Group for Direct Supervisors meets the first Wednesday of every month. The meeting is held from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative (CABHC). CABHC is located at 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 206 (second floor), Harrisburg, PA 17110. For more information, contact Kim Maldonado, at 717-221-9610 or kmaldonado@philhaven.org.
North Central Region
The BHARP service area
The Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania (BHARP) hosts regular teleconference networking calls for Certified Peer Specialists in northern rural Pennsylvania, including the following counties: Bradford/Sullivan, Cameron/Elk/McKean, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield/Jefferson, Columbia/Montour/Snyder/Union, Forest/Warren, Huntingdon/Mifflin/Juniata, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Tioga, Potter, and Wayne. The calls usually include an educational component, and certificates are available for continuing education. More information can be found at BHARP's Web site.
Southwest Region
Region-wide
Peer Power Network is a professional development group that is open to anyone with an interest in peer support. Meetings regularly include presenters and workshops. The group meets monthly. Location varies. Group members come from counties throughout the southwest region of Pennsylvania.
Northwest Region
The BHARP service area
The Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania (BHARP) hosts regular teleconference networking calls for Certified Peer Specialists in northern rural Pennsylvania The following counties are included: Bradford/Sullivan, Cameron/Elk/McKean, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield/Jefferson, Columbia/Montour/Snyder/Union, Forest/Warren, Huntingdon/Mifflin/Juniata, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Tioga, Potter, and Wayne. The calls usually include an educational component, and certificates are available for continuing education. More information can be found at BHARP's Web site.
Erie County
The Erie County Professional Development Group meets the second Wednesday of every month at the Mental Health Association of Northwestern PA, 1101 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16501. Professional trainings are provided with CEUs available. We wish to welcome any Certified Peer Specialists in the area and beyond to join us to further our understanding about recovery and support each other in our own recovery. Call 814-452-4462 Ext. 132 for further information. Erie County Certified Peer Specialists also meet for a "Meal and Support" the 4th Tuesday of every month. All Certified Peer Specialists are welcome.
