Responder Peer Specialists are everyday people with “lived experience” in mental health and or substance use issues and emergency response culture. Peers are people “that get it”, have “been there,” have demonstrated recovery and resilience which can be shared with others to inspire hope and encourage recovery. They go through specific training to learn how to use their experience to help others early in recovery and are clinically supervised by a licensed mental health professional. Responder Peer Specialist training is geared to meet International Practice Standards for peer support, Mental Health America and NAADAC peer competencies, International Association of Chiefs of Police Peer Support Guidelines, several state peer specialist standards, and meant to exceed the National Fallen Firefighter Life Safety Initiative 13 recommendations. Peers that complete the Responder Peer Specialist training may choose to seek state or national certification and apply for employment with Building Warriors or other organizations that hire nationally certified peer specialists. The Responder Peer Specialist curriculum includes two separate training academies and quarterly 3-4 hour continuing education sessions in-person or via video conference. All peers are assigned to a licensed mental health clinician skilled in peer competencies for clinical supervision. Peers are required to participate in 2 hours (minimum) of supervision each month via in-person, individually, in a group, by video conference, or by phone. Peers without an employer Annual Peer Clinical Supervision and Consultation agreement will be charged per month for supervision. If you work in an agency with a peer support team or in the process of developing one, please contact us for a detailed supervision proposal.