The Department of Workforce Development oversees all training and credentialing activities for Family Peer Advocates and Youth Peer Advocates. Technical assistance is available to agencies who currently provide or are interested in providing Family Peer support and/or Youth Peer support. Since New York State transitioned to Medicaid Managed Care, the FPA and YPA Credentials have taken on an increasingly important role in the service system. We are committed to expanding the family and youth peer advocate workforce across New York State. Over the past 3 years, we have seen much progress toward that goal. 

Families Together in NYS, Inc. has managed the Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) Training since 2009. The PEP training was revamped in 2018 and to date, over 800 advocates have completed this requirement for a FPA Credential. The Family Peer Advocate Credential launched in 2011 and currently there are over 400 FPAs credentialed statewide.*

The Youth Power network of FTNYS has supported the training  and credentialing of Youth Peer Advocates (YPAs) in New York State since 2015. The YPA training was updated in 2018 and to date, over 200 advocates have completed this requirement  for the YPA Credential. The number of credentialed Youth Peer Advocates has surpassed 100 statewide!*

*active and in good standing