Youth and Family Peer Advocates
Peer Credentials
YOUTH PEER ADVOCATE CREDENTIAL
Thank you for your interest in joining “A Workforce That Makes a Difference”! A Youth Peer Advocate is someone 18-30 years old who self-identifies as a person who has first-hand experience with social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges. Youth Peer Advocates must be able to use their lived experience with a disability, mental health challenge, substance use disorder, and experience in New York State systems such as juvenile justice, special education, and/or foster care to assist in supporting young people in their resiliency/recovery and wellness. YPAs provide a service called Youth Peer Support.
An individual seeking a Youth Peer Advocate Credential will typically start with a Provisional (temporary) Credential. Click on the button below to download the “6 Steps to a YPA Professional Credential” for an overview of the training and credential pathway.
Ready to Get Started?
Click on the button below for steps 1 through 3.
Do you already hold a YPA-P?
Click on the button below for steps 4 through 6.
Do you need to renew your YPA-C?
Click on the button below to learn more about the renewal pathway.
FAMILY PEER ADVOCATE CREDENTIAL
Thank you for your interest in joining “A Workforce That Makes a Difference”! Family Peer Advocates have lived experience as the parent (biological, foster, adoptive) or primary caregiver of a child/young person with significant social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use and/or behavioral needs. FPAs provide a service called Family Peer Support.
An individual seeking a Family Peer Advocate Credential will typically start with a Provisional (temporary) Credential. Click on the button below to download the “6 Steps to a FPA Professional Credential” for an overview of the training and credential pathway.
Ready to Get Started?
Click on the button below for steps 1 through 3.
Do you already hold a FPA-P?
Click on the button below for steps 4 through 6.
Do you need to renew your FPA-C?
Click on the button below to learn more about the renewal pathway.

