Congratulations to the 2023 Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) class! These newly certified CRPAs will go on to make a difference in someone’s life by supporting individuals living with substance use disorder. As part of the program, they will become employed at one of Staten Island PPS’s partner organizations.

The primary function of a CRPA is doing outreach with people currently in a program or considering treatment. Using their recovery experience, professional training and lived experience, peers boost individuals’ engagement in treatment and commitment to recovery.

Thank you to special guest speaker, Stephen Nico, Peer Supervisor at Richmond University Medical Center for sharing his perspective with the class as a peer counselor and for screening this cohort!

The CRPA program is one of four free apprenticeship programs sponsored by Staten Island PPS. To learn more about the program and how to become a CRPA, visit statenislandpps.org/certified-recovery-peer-advocate.