As someone who has spent the better part of the last eight years implementing peer support teams in corrections and first responder agencies, I’ve seen various types of curricula that get the job done. However, I recently had the opportunity to experience Desert Waters’ 40-hour Peer Supporter Training™ from multiple perspectives—as an observer of a team completing it, an instructor delivering it, and a staff wellness program administrator always seeking ways to improve peer support team training.
What truly sets Desert Waters’ Peer Supporter Training™ (PST) apart is its comprehensive approach. It weaves together all the essential elements needed to effectively train a peer support team. No box is left unchecked. PST addresses policy, practice, skill-building, and engaging and realistic role-play scenarios and role plays. PST also includes a substantial focus on correctional staff mental health research data, and on the always anxiety-provoking and painful subject of staff being a threat to themselves and possibly also to others. The curriculum brings everything together through interactive discussions that allow agencies to think critically about building their programs, while also offering peer supporter teams ample opportunities to apply the skills in simulated environments.
Throughout the training, participants remain engaged and, in fact, often express a desire for the training to be extended. Most importantly, unlike other training programs, I didn’t leave this one asking, “Now what?” Instead, teams can start planning their next steps during the course itself, ensuring they leave with momentum and a clear path forward.
I highly recommend Desert Waters Peer Supporter Training™—even if your team has already gone through another program. This is truly next-level peer support for correctional agencies.
