What is CRPA-Youth?
ASAP-NYCB's CRPA-Youth is a new peer specialty certification (CRPA-parenthetic) for professionals interested in offering specialized peer support to youth. The certification and associated role-specific training have been developed in response to opportunities presented for individuals who currently hold a full CRPA certification to offer Medicaid-billing eligible services under Children's & Family Support Services provisions.
Candidates for CRPA-Youth certification must:
- Be aged between at time of application
- Be already certified as full CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate), not CRPA-Provisional, when undertaking approved role training (see sidebar for details)
- Complete 20 hours of designated role training (see sidebar for training instructions and access)
- Submit a formal application for certification, per instructions on the ASAP-NYCB homepage at https://www.asapnys.org/ny-certification-board/
- Attest to, and follow, the CRPA-Youth ethical standards in addition to maintaining fidelity to the ASAP-NYCB Code of Ethical Conduct governing CRPA - downloadable on the ASAP-NYCB homepage
What is the CRPA-Youth training program?
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The ASAP-Peer Workforce Initiative (PWI), working with Families Together and youth recovery subject matter experts, has developed the required training for CRPA-Youth candidates.
Training is offered to participants interested in:
- Expanding their peer recovery knowledge base
- Preparing for certification as CRPA-Youth, or
- Earning approved continuing education hours for renewal of ASAP-NYCB peer recovery certifications - https://www.asapnys.org/ny-certification-board/renewal-program/
- Learning how to effectively navigate the challenges of supporting a Youth with Substance Use Disorder
See details on ASAP-PWI sidebar (at right).
What are settings where CRPA-Youth Professionals are likely to work?
Like other peer professionals, CRPA-Youth professionals work in a wide variety of settings. They work in community-based substance use programs, recovery centers and recovery-oriented clubhouses, community mental health agencies, hospitals and emergency rooms, community-based vocational training programs, etc. Simply stated, CRPA-Youth work wherever Youth are served, but especially in Medicaid-billing programs and services.
Who is eligible for CRPA-Youth certification?
ASAP-New York Certification Board has determined that VSR candidates must meet the following standards:
Prerequisites:
In good standing as one/more of the following:
- Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC);
- Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA);
- NY Certified Peer Specialist (NYCPS) (Mental Health);
- Equivalent initial peer recovery credential
VSR Certification Standards:
- Eligible candidates for VSR certification must be:
- A Veteran who is a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard and National Guard) who served on active duty and was discharged under conditions which were other than dishonorable. OR
- A non-Veteran may qualify if s/he satisfactorily completes the additional 5-hour ASAP-NYCB authorized VSR Orientation training program to demonstrate competency and fluency in military culture as well as instill effective strategies for building trust in the Veteran relationship.
- All candidates must complete an ASAP-NYCB approved VSR competency-based training program totaling 20 hours and covering the four identified performance domains of: advocacy; recovery for Veterans; military culture & resources; and ethical responsibility.
- All candidates must also acknowledge and attest to adhering to the professional ASAP-NYCB Code of Ethical Conduct, including its VSR-specific addendum.
- Every three years, VSR certificants must demonstrate completion of at least three (3) hours of continuing education in NYCB-approved courses related to any of the four performance domains of the Veteran Supported Recovery certification. These domains are: Advocacy, Recovery for Veterans, Military Culture & Resources, Ethical Responsibility. This standard is satisfied by the selection of approved trainings posted to the dedicated ASAP-NYCB Certification Renewal Program page at https://www.asapnys.org/renewal-program/. Lists of approved trainings are updated every month.
Are there scholarships for VSR training and/or certification fees?
VSR is not currently eligible for publicly-funded scholarships. Privately-funded scholarship opportunities may be available.
How do I apply for the Veteran Supported Recovery (VSR) certification?
The VSR application form is now available. Please see full details and instructions at the ASAP-NYCB homepage - https://www.asapnys.org/ny-certification-board/.
A note of thanks
ASAP-NYCB gratefully acknowledges the support of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for invaluable seed funding - https://cabrinihealth.org/.
Contact:
Ruth Riddick
ASAP-PWI Administrator
rriddick@asapnys.org

CRPA-Youth Training Program
CRPA-Youth Training - Online only
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Curriculum Development Convener, Jason Page, describes the process of building a competence-based training from the VSR Role Delineation Study here.
The Veteran Supported Recovery training developed by ASAP-PWI consists of two modules which may be taken separately or consecutively:
- Orientation-5 hrs: now available online at https://asapnys.digitalchalk.com/learn/orientation-veteran-supported-recovery-vsr. Recommended, but not required, for Veterans seeking certification as VSR Professional. Required for non-Veterans interested in VSR certification. Closed captioning.
- VSR Core Training-20 hrs: now available online at https://asapnys.digitalchalk.com/learn/veteran-supported-recovery-vsr. Required for all VSR certification applicants (non-Veterans and Veterans). Closed captioning.
The VSR training program consists of content specifically designed to meet the role knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) required to perform competently as a VSR professional. These KSAs were identified in the VSR Role Delineation Study-Job Task Analysis, which stipulates 4 domains (or content headings) and 21 itemized KSAs (presented below - click here to open).
The VSR Role Delineation Study-Job Task Analysis was commissioned by ASAP with funding from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and validated by community survey. The study was published in September 2020.

ASAP would like to thank members of the VSR Training Development and Production team (pictured above) for their service.
Veteran Supported Recovery contact:
Ruth Riddick
ASAP-PWI Administrator
rriddick@asapnys.org