Peer Training & Continuing Education
NAMI Multnomah offers Oregon Health Authority-approved Peer Support Specialist (PSS) Trainings several times each year.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
Veteran Cohort PSS Training: Late May through June (now accepting applications)
Next General PSS Training: Late Summer / Early Fall (anticipated, sign up for application updates here)
For questions about our peer training programming, please contact us at peertraining@namimultnomah.org. For training and CE opportunities offered by other organizations, please check out OHA’s THW Training Program database here.
Veteran Cohort Training
Status: Now accepting applications on a rolling admissions basis. Apply here.
Our next Veteran and Military Service Member Cohort Peer Support Specialist Training will be an extended training schedule from the last week of May through the last week of June, with five-hour learning sessions on Thursdays and Fridays, and two-hour practical sessions on Tuesday evenings.
This virtual training, sponsored by OHA, is offered for Veterans and Military Service Members who live, work, or volunteer in the state of Oregon, and it is offered at no cost to participants.
We are now accepting applications to review on a rolling admissions basis. If you are reading this, then the application is still open.
See training requirements and scheduling details below. All scheduling is in Pacific Standard Time, and the virtual sessions are held via Zoom.
Training Requirements
Identify as a peer (a person with lived experience of mental health conditions/challenges)
Identify as a Veteran or Military Service Member
Live, work, or volunteer in the state of Oregon
Be able to attend entire training (see training schedule below).
Be at least 18 years of age.
Not be listed on the Medicare provider exclusion list
Training Schedule
Thursday, May 28th: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (five-hour learning session)
Friday, May 29th: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (five-hour learning session)
Tuesday, June 2nd: 6 to 8 p.m. (two-hour practical session)
*No Thursday and Friday sessions this week*
Tuesday, June 9th: 6 to 8 p.m. (two-hour practical session)
Thursday, June 11th: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (five-hour learning session)
Friday, June 12th: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (five-hour learning session)
Tuesday, June 16th: 6 to 8 p.m. (two-hour practical session)
*No Thursday and Friday sessions this week*
Tuesday, June 23rd: 6 to 8 p.m. (two-hour practical session)
Thursday, June 25th: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (five-hour learning session)
Friday, June 26th: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (five-hour learning session)
Tuesday, June 30th: 6 to 8 p.m. (final presentations, assessment)
May 2SLGBTQIA+ PSS Training
Status: Applications have been reviewed, and all applicants have been notified via email. If you applied to this training and have not received your decision email, please contact us at peertraining@namimultnomah.org for assistance.
Training Program Overview
Our 40-hour job training program is an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) approved PSS training for Adults in Mental Health. NAMI Multnomah developed our peer training curriculum in collaboration with Cascadia Health and other peer collaborators. Peers who complete the training can apply to become OHA Traditional Health Workers (THW) as Peer Support Specialists for Adult Mental Health. Find the OHA’s Traditional Health Worker FAQs here.
Training Requirements for NAMI Multnomah’s PSS Training:
Identify as a peer (a self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services).
Be at least 18 years of age.
Not be listed on the Medicare provider exclusion list.
Other requirements may apply, depending on training; see below for additional information.
Program costs and Additional Eligibility REQUIREMENTS
Our training programs are offered at no cost to participants, thanks to funding from county and state funders.
Our general training, sponsored by Multnomah County, is offered for peers who live, work, or volunteer in Multnomah County.
Our Veteran training, sponsored by OHA, is offered for Veterans and Military Service Members who live, work, or volunteer in the state of Oregon.
Our 2SLGBTQIA+ training, sponsored by Multnomah County, is offered for peers who live, work, or volunteer in Multnomah County.
Continuing Education (CE), Certification, and Recertifcation Information
We offer ongoing Continuing Education (CE) courses, including our Evening with the Experts series. Please sign up here to be notified about upcoming CE courses.
Resources for Training Graduates
OHA has an online portal where PSST graduates can submit their THW applications. Click here to access the portal. For applications in languages other than English, applicants make requests for and submit applications to thw.program@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
Need to earn recertify? Find information here on the recertification process. To find Continuing Education opportunities, you can use the OHA’s database here.
For more information, please visit the Oregon Health Authority’s website here.