Courage to Caregivers is a Peer-Run Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Peer Recovery Services Certified nonprofit organization, and is committed to the ongoing support of caregivers to those living with behavioral health needs. We are peer support professionals ourselves with lived experience caring for a family member living with behavioral health needs.
We have received a grant from OhioMHAS to provide eighteen virtual one and a half hour workshops focused on Ohio Certified Peer Specialists - CPRS, FYPS, and CFPS - and their Supervisors. Each workshop will provide 1 .5 hours of continuing education for peer supporters.
You may register via links for each individual session below - note, space is limited! Once you register, you will receive the Zoom link and access to a calendar invite for each session. Please be courteous and don’t register if you can’t attend and remember to cancel if your schedule changes! All trainings are led by the Courage to Caregivers team unless otherwise noted below.
This Leadership Training Series includes these trainings:
(1) Thursday, February 20 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Coaching with Compassion - Register Here
Leading with compassion takes courage and has become more essential than ever in order to reduce burnout and retain talent. Understanding that compassion starts with you, your self-compassion, this workshop will guide participants through increasing their self-awareness, and better understanding their emotional intelligence (EQ). We’ll focus on active listening, and creating a safe space for communicating with care. Leaders are asked to balance the care and concern for their teams while maintaining productivity and success measures. It is possible to have both!
(2) Thursday, March 6 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Trauma-Informed Care-giving - Register Here
As Peer Supporters, understanding trauma and resilience are essential to supporting others - both for ourselves, and the peers that we support. Recognizing that post-traumatic growth IS possible is important to mapping the journey ahead.
(3) Thursday, March 20 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Cultural Sensitivity for Peer Supporters - Register Here
Join Jody Bell, CPRS, CFPS, CPRS-S, for this presentation that will discuss various aspects of culturally sensitive principles related to Peer Support workers.
(4) Thursday, April 3 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Supporting the Peer Supporters to Better Understand Their Role in Suicide Prevention - Register Here
Peer supporters play a vital role in suicide prevention by providing hope, connection, and compassionate support to those in crisis. This presentation will help peer supporters better understand their role in recognizing warning signs, engaging in open and supportive conversations, and connecting individuals to appropriate resources.
Attendees will explore key suicide prevention strategies, including active listening, safety planning, and reducing stigma around mental health struggles. The session will also highlight self-care techniques to help peer supporters manage emotional challenges and maintain resilience while supporting others. By strengthening their knowledge and confidence, peer supporters can be a crucial lifeline for individuals in distress, fostering a culture of empathy, support, and prevention.
(5) Thursday, April 17 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Spreading Hope and Healing - Register Here
This workshop focuses on the science of hope and resilience. We believe that hope is an essential component to building resilience. Hope is so much more than “just a wish” - hope is a mindset, an action. Hope can be taught/learned and can become a resilience super-power! Our workshop covers the evidence-based research and science that leads to finding hope and building resilience as well as how to model hope and resilience for our families, clients and colleagues. We share strategies on setting realistic expectations, creating SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-sensitive) goals, and empowering our clients’, colleagues’ and our own motivation. All this leads to greater personal growth and well-being.
(6) Thursday, May 1 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Gender and Pronouns: Beyond the Binary - Register Here
Why do gender and pronouns matter? Join K Pepera, LPCC-S and Co-Founder of Colors+ Counseling in learning more about the importance of gender and pronouns and how to be better advocates for those in the gender expansive community and beyond the binary both as peer supports and as community members.
(7) Thursday, May 15 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Motivational Interviewing 101 - Register Here
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a powerful, person-centered communication approach designed to strengthen an individual’s motivation and commitment to change. This interactive session will introduce peer supporters to the core principles and techniques of MI, including active listening, open-ended questioning, affirmations, reflective responses, and empowerment strategies.
Attendees will learn how to foster meaningful conversations that promote self-discovery, reduce resistance, and enhance an individual’s confidence in making positive life changes. Whether supporting peers in recovery, health behavior change, or personal growth, this session will equip participants with practical MI skills to build trust, encourage autonomy, and create a supportive environment for transformation.
(8) Thursday, May 29 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - How To Engage SMVF In Peer Services: An Introduction To Military Culture - Register Here
Join Michael Werner, CPRS-S and Army Veteran, co-founder of the PAWSitive Support program, and Executive Director of Taking Back Ohio, Inc. for this presentation designed to help peer recovery supporters develop a basic understanding of military customs and culture. It aims to provide comfort with the organization, structure, branches, and subcultures of the military. The presentation also focuses on understanding elements that identify a service member as part of the military culture and becoming familiar with military language and terminology.
(9) Thursday, June 5 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Meeting Diverse Peer Needs - Social Determinants of Health Across the Lifespan - Register Here
Understanding and addressing the diverse needs of individuals requires a comprehensive approach that considers the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)—the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. This presentation will explore how factors such as economic stability, education, healthcare access, social support, and environmental influences shape health outcomes across different life stages.
Through an inclusive and peer-centered lens, we will discuss strategies to identify and respond to these determinants, ensuring equitable support for individuals from childhood to older adulthood. Attendees will gain insight into how social, economic, and environmental factors impact well-being and discover best practices for fostering resilience, accessibility, and holistic care in diverse communities.
(10) Thursday, June 19 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - How to Support Your LGBTQIA+ Youth and You - Register Here
Want to know more specifics about how to support LGBTQ+ youth and yourself at the same time? Have you been at a loss at figuring out how to best support your LGBTQ+ youth and have time for self-care? Join K Pepera, LPCC-S and Co-Founder of Colors+ Counseling for your chance to learn more about LGBTQ+ youth as a whole and how to advocate and support them to be their wonderful and authentic selves.
(11) Thursday, June 26 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Finding Joy, Meaning, and Purpose Through Effective Note Taking - Register Here
For peer supporters, note-taking is more than just a routine task—it’s a meaningful practice that helps capture progress, reflect on strengths, and reinforce the impact of support. This presentation will explore how effective and intentional note-taking can enhance the peer support relationship, ensuring clarity, continuity, and purpose-driven care.
Attendees will learn practical strategies for writing strengths-based, person-centered notes that honor the peer’s journey while maintaining authenticity and compassion. By reframing note-taking as a tool for self-reflection, connection, and advocacy, peer supporters can find joy and fulfillment in their work, strengthen their impact, and ensure the voices of those they support are heard and valued.
(12) Thursday, July 10 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Fundamentals of Human Trafficking - Register Here
Join Carolyn Arny, MA, Director of Education And Training at Collaborative to End Human Trafficking as she takes us through a case study while learning what human trafficking is, how does it happen, how does it impact individuals/families/communities, and what they can do to help prevent human trafficking.
(13) Thursday, July 23 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Care Navigation Needs of Peers in Rural Area - Register Here
Navigating healthcare and support services in rural areas presents unique challenges, including limited access to providers, transportation barriers, and social isolation. This presentation will explore the specific care navigation needs of peers in rural communities and discuss strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
Attendees will gain insights into rural health disparities, resource accessibility, and innovative solutions such as telehealth, community-based partnerships, and advocacy efforts. By understanding these challenges and leveraging strengths-based approaches, peer supporters can play a crucial role in connecting individuals to essential services, reducing barriers to care, and fostering a sense of support and belonging in rural communities.
(14) Thursday, August 7 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - LGBTQIA+ Adults and Mental Health - Register Here
Want to know how to better support LGBTQ+ Adults and loved ones? Join K Pepera, LPCC-S and Co-Founder of Colors+ Counseling in learning more about the mental and physical health disparities for LGBTQ+ adults and how to break down the barriers to seeking help. We will also discuss how to better advocate and support LGBTQ+ adults.
(15) Thursday, August 21 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Navigating Systems of Care with Peers with Co-occurring Conditions - Register Here
Peers with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions often face complex challenges when accessing care, requiring navigation across multiple systems, including behavioral health, medical care, housing, and social services. This presentation will equip peer supporters with the knowledge and skills to effectively guide individuals through these interconnected systems, ensuring they receive comprehensive and coordinated support.
Attendees will explore common barriers to care, strategies for advocacy, and person-centered approaches that empower peers to take an active role in their recovery journey. By strengthening care navigation skills, peer supporters can help individuals overcome obstacles, build resilience, and connect to the services they need to thrive.
(16) Thursday, September 4 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Ethics and Boundaries for Healthy Peer Relationships - Register Here
Establishing and maintaining ethical boundaries is essential for building trusting, supportive, and effective peer relationships. This presentation will explore the core ethical principles in peer support, including confidentiality, dual relationships, and professional boundaries, while maintaining authenticity and empathy.
Attendees will learn practical strategies for setting and upholding healthy boundaries, navigating challenges, and ensuring that peer relationships remain mutually respectful and empowering. By strengthening ethical awareness and boundary-setting skills, peer supporters can create safe, sustainable, and impactful connections that foster recovery, resilience, and well-being.
(17) Thursday, September 18 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Supporting LGBTQIA+ Community Members in the Workplace - Register Here
Do you want to know how to better support your LGBTQ+ coworkers/colleagues? Join K Pepera, LPCC-S and Co-Founder of Colors+ Counseling in discussing ways to encourage an affirming workspace as well as how to be a better advocate for LGBTQ+ and intersectional minority coworkers/colleagues.
(18) Thursday, September 25 from 11 am to 12:30 pm - Using Mindfulness to Cope and Manage Stress - Register Here
Providing peer support can be deeply rewarding, but it also comes with emotional challenges that can lead to stress and burnout. This presentation will introduce mindfulness-based strategies to help peer supporters cope with stress, enhance self-awareness, and build emotional resilience.
Attendees will explore practical mindfulness techniques, such as breathing exercises, grounding practices, and mindful reflection, that can be easily integrated into daily life and peer support work. By cultivating presence, self-compassion, and stress management skills, peer supporters can maintain their well-being while continuing to provide effective and empathetic support to others.