StarkMHAR Trainings
About StarkMHAR Trainings
Working in partnership with clients, families, healthcare, and behavioral health providers, local county systems such as education, criminal justice, law enforcement, health and human services, elected officials, businesses, faith-based organizations, and community members, StarkMHAR strives to offer a full curriculum of educational events to inspire innovation and to ensure accountability and effectiveness in our local system of client care.
Registration
While most StarkMHAR trainings are free of charge, registration is necessary to be admitted on the training date(s).
Registration Information
Attendance Policy
Cancellations
If you are unable to attend a scheduled training, please notify the Training Coordinator by email at least (2) two business days prior to the training to avoid any applicable fees. For full details regarding cancellations, substitutions, and fees, please refer to the Attendance Policy.
Continuing Education Units
Continuing Education Units (CEU) Information
Training Newsletter
Sign Up For Our Training Newsletter
Questions
For training questions, please contact the Training Coordinator or 330-455-6644
JUNE 2026
Advanced CIT: Safety on the Spectrum
June 30 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM @StarkMHAR
The Safety on the Spectrum Law Enforcement training is a nationwide effort by the Autism Society of America and participating affiliates, including the Autism Society of Greater Akron (ASGA). This training is essential due to the growing prevalence of Autism, the increased risk of Autistic individuals becoming victims of crime, and the rising frequency of interactions between people with Autism and law enforcement.
JULY 2026
QPR – Question. Persuade. Refer.
July 13 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM @ Stark County Library | Not CEU Eligible
QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer.) is an evidence-based training that teaches three simple steps anyone can learn to help prevent suicide. Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives. QPR is the most widely taught Gatekeeper training in the world.
SEPTEMBER 2026
Cultural Competency Training
Sept 30 | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM @ StarkMHAR | CEU Eligible
The Cultural Competency Training (CCT) provides foundational knowledge related to cultural competence, cultural humility, and person‑centered care. The training supports understanding and implementation of the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care and builds practical skills for working effectively with individuals, families, and communities from varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds within behavioral health settings.
OCTOBER 2026
Peer Recovery Supporter Training
October 5 – 9 | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM @ StarkMHAR
The DBH 40-hour PRS Training is a live, interactive training that teaches prospective Certified Peer Recovery Supporters (CPRS) who self-identify as being in recovery from a mental health or substance use disorder to use their experience to help their Peers with the same lived experience. Prospective CPRS will engage in role-play activities and learn the skills necessary to offer high quality Peer Support. Upon successful completion of PRS training, prospective CPRS will be eligible to apply for Adult Peer Recovery Supporter Certification in Ohio. To attend training, you must be personally in recovery from a mental health and/or substance use disorder and be willing to share your personal story appropriately in a group setting. Having a friend or family member in recovery will not qualify you to attend this training.
NOVEMBER 2026
Overview of Hoarding and Ways to Help
Nov 9 | 1:00 PM – 4:15 PM @ Virtual | CEU Eligible
Hoarding disorder is the persistent acquisition and failure to discard a large number of possessions due to urges to save. Attempts to limit acquisition or discarding of possessions results in intense distress. These acquiring and saving behaviors result in highly cluttered and often unsafe living environments. Hoarding disorder is a significant problem for 2.6% of the general population with higher rates for people over 60 years old. The risk inherent in many hoarding situations is high not only because the living environment is cluttered and often dilapidated but because individuals, particularly older individuals, lack the physical, psychological, and social capacity to live safely and comfortably in highly cluttered environments. Hoarding disorder is a serious and growing problem that can lead to eviction, homelessness, and death. Those with the problem often have other psychiatric disorders as well as little awareness of the consequences they face living in a hoarding environment. Overview of Hoarding Disorder and Ways to Help is a 3-hour course that presents the essential features of hoarding disorder, an overview of helping options, as well specific skills that clinicians can teach individuals to manage the problem.
Department of Behavioral Health Peer Support Trainings
Certified Peer Recovery Supporter (Adult)
The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) 40-hour Peer Recovery Supporter (PRS) Training is a live, interactive training that teaches prospective Certified Peer Recovery Supporters (CPRS) who self-identify as being in recovery from a mental health or substance use disorder to use their experience to help their Peers with the same lived experience. Prospective CPRS will engage in role-play activities and learn the skills necessary to offer high quality Peer Support. Upon successful completion of PRS training, prospective CPRS will be eligible to apply for Adult Peer Recovery Supporter Certification in Ohio. To attend training, you must be personally in recovery from a mental health and/or substance use disorder and be willing to share your personal story appropriately in a group setting. Having a friend or family member in recovery will not qualify you to attend this training. Trainings are offered both online and in person. There is no cost to register for PRS training. All training registration is coordinated through our community partner, Ohio Peer Recovery Organizations (OhioPRO).
Certified Youth Peer Support
The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health Youth Peer Support Training is a 40-hour training curriculum that is the only approved training for Certified Youth Peer Supporters in the state of Ohio. This training provides participants with an understanding of youth peer support and equips them with tools and supports that can be used when working with peers in a provider setting. All interested participants of this training must submit a training application. Once DBH has reviewed your application, you will be sent a confirmation email of your training attendance and will be provided with further training details.
Contact DBH: youthandfamilypeersupport@dbh.ohio.gov
Certified Family Peer Support
A Certified Family Peer Supporter (CFPS) is someone who self-identifies as the caregiver of an individual with behavioral health challenges (mental health/substance use disorder); and who has navigated service systems for at least one year on behalf of the individual.
A caregiver may include a birth parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, legal guardian/custodian, or a person chosen by the family or youth to have the role of primary caregiver. A CFPS supports an individual’s or family’s ability to address needs, navigate systems and promote recovery, resiliency, and wellness. They promote services that are family driven, youth guided, trauma-informed, and culturally competent. A CFPS can provide both basic and intensive family support services and participate as an active member of treatment teams in a variety of settings.
Family Peer Support Supervisor Training
Supervision is a key component in the success of Family Peer Support. Supervisors must employ a developmental approach that promotes the unique lived experience of the Family Peer Supporters and encourage ongoing professional development. This curriculum addresses supervisory skills that will support the work of the Family Peer Support role, workplace wellness, and opportunities for growth and development. Suggested strategies, best practices, and tools are provided for individual supervision.