DBHDS-Approved 72-Hour Training
The 72-Hour Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) Training is the foundational course required by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS). It was created from years of collaboration between people with lived experience, behavioral health professionals, and peer support leaders. The result is a unified, Virginia-specific curriculum that prepares participants to offer effective, ethical, and recovery-oriented peer support in diverse settings.
Objectives
Core Competencies developed by DBHDS and shaped by national and Virginia-based best practices.
Trauma-Informed, Recovery-Focused Principles that apply to both mental health and substance use recovery.
Practical Skills in communication, engagement, and crisis intervention.
Ethics & Boundaries for professional peer support roles.
Cultural Sensitivity & Inclusion in all aspects of support.
Navigating Systems & Resources within the Virginia behavioral health framework.
Wellness & Resilience Strategies for yourself and those you serve.
You will learn
Recommended preparation
No specific prior competencies recommended.
