In addition to being funded by the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute as a Regional Training Center (RTC), the Center for Public Health Education (CPHE) at Stony Brook University is the Peer Certification Academic Center (PCAC) for the NYS Peer Worker Certification Program in HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV), Harm Reduction, PrEP, and Criminal Justice.
There is widespread recognition that peer-delivered engagements can play a significant role in improving health and wellness, especially for those living with complex chronic health or behavioral health conditions. Peers reflect the diversity of the people they serve and help to ensure that a person-centered approach is used to help navigate various healthcare systems. Peer professionals have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide services that can inspire, empower, and support others through the lens of their commonalities, most often as a shared "lived experience." When two people have something in common, it creates a bond between them allowing for meaningful discussions about their mutual experiences.
For this certification program, a "peer" is defined as someone living with HIV, living with HCV or has been successfully treated for HCV, has experience accessing harm reduction services (such as syringe exchange or opioid overdose prevention programs), or has used/are currently using Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Criminal Justice: incarceration in a federal or state prison or county jail, or being on parole or probation, or being charged with a felony offense, including legal proceedings in drug court.
Peer-delivered services bring unique value to individuals. Learning to grow and thrive while facing similar challenges allows Peer Workers to have a deep level of understanding and insight into the experience of those they serve and provides the basis for the helping relationship. By strategically sharing their stories, peers have the ability to share meaningful lessons learned on their wellness journey in a way that individuals can view as highly credible. As a member of a multi-disciplinary team, the distinct role of the Peer Worker is deemed critical to meeting New York State's goal of ending the AIDS epidemic.
Certification of HIV, HCV, Harm Reduction, PrEP, and Criminal Justice Peer Workers standardizes training requirements and is intended to support employment opportunities for people with these certifications which will increase recognition of the important work that these certified Peers perform.
For more information, please visit https://www.hivtrainingny.org/Home/PeerCertification or call the Center for Public Health Education at Stony Brook University at (631) 444-3209.
In memory of our beloved staff person and good friend Robert Santamaria
1962-2023
