The Learning Objectives:

• Define what it means to be a Forensic Peer Specialist.
• To recognize and recall the core competencies of Forensic Peer Support Specialists who work with the forensic population and people who cope with mental illness.
• To identify the core competences to attain the National Certified Peer Specialist credential.
• To distinguish the different steps and detect the gaps that need to be filled in the Sequential Intercept Model.

The Learning Objectives

• To understand and become familiar with the continuum of Forensic Peer interventions. 
• To understand how to Empower Clients to Negotiate and Minimize Criminal Sanctions.
• To understand how clients can advocate for themselves. 
• To identify strategies for educating stakeholders in the community.
• To develop and use tools and strategies to overcome the obstacles of the criminal justice system.

The Learning Objectives:

• To define advocacy in a clinical setting
  
   
• Understand the coach’s role as an individual and community advocate
  
   
• Develop collaborative abilities in order to sustain an appropriate relationship with one’s clients
  
   
• Analyze and Understand the meaning of advocacy
  
   
• Teach one’s clients to develop skills in self-advocacy
  
   

Empower one’s clients to use appropriate methods in self-advocacy

The Learning Objectives:

• To identify the barriers to housing for people in the forensic population.
  
   
• To identify the barriers to employment for people in the forensic population. 
  
   
• Resources and strategies in housing and employment for people in the forensic population.

The Learning Objectives:

• To understand the Forensic Peer’s role in inspiring hope and change.
• To understand the concepts of hope and change as they relate to people in the forensic community.
• To develop tools and strategies to work with clients from the forensics community.

The Learning Objectives:

• Identify the skills needed to apply goal-setting steps in each of the five Life-Spheres.

• Learn to apply online training in “real life” when dealing with actual clients in a professional setting.

• Develop and increase your skill levels in the following areas -motivational interviewing, intense listening, advanced communication and assessment techniques.

• Learn to apply coaching skills learned in this course and apply them to your client work.

• How to apply coaching skills learned in this course to eCoaching with your clients.

The Learning Objectives:

• To understand how lifestyle choices impact upon a person’s long-term commitment to recovery. 
• To understand how lifestyle choices impact upon a person’s mental health and coping with mental illness. 
• To identify strategies for making positive lifestyle choices to support a client’s long-term commitment to recovery and mental health. 
• To develop and use tools and strategies with one’s lifestyle that support relapse prevention. 
• To understand and become familiar with the continuum of criminal justice involvement.

A Working Definition[1]

Motivational interviewinghas evolved to become the standard theoretical model to utilize to assist clients on their journey of change. It has become widely accepted since first introduced in 1983, proving especially productive with clients who have histories of or are actively using substances. 

[1] http://www.motivationalinterview.org/Documents/1%20A%20MI%20Definition%20Principles%20&%20Approach%20V4%20012911.pdf

One of the most important elements in the world of Forensic Peers is that of professional ethics. As a Peer, one is responsible for people who are highly vulnerable and possibly in danger of relapse.  The work of all Peers must be based in an ethical foundation. The question is: what are the ethics of a Forensic Peer and how can one adhere to them? In this course the focus will be on the following objectives: 

• A Definition of Ethics in CJS
• Modern Communications and Ethical Behavior
• Definition of Telehealth Services and the Ethics of Provision 
• Understanding Your Area of Expertise 

The Learning Objectives:

• To understand the concepts and principles of the Person-Centered Trauma Informed Approach to Care
• To understand trauma and the ways in which it impacts upon a person’s well-being
• To identify the cross-cultural issues related to trauma 
• To define the strategies of creating a ‘safe space’ in care for people in the forensic community