Providing a SPARK: Program Empowers Youth to Become Certified Peer Counselors
SPARK Peer Learning Center is a youth-centered and youth-led program that trains certified peer counselors (CPCs) across Washington State. The center provides youth and young adults ages 17-30 with opportunities to discover more about peer counseling and social services career paths, while also teaching social and emotional skills. The SPARK program is a testament to the importance of young people’s lived experience and how it can be harnessed to address growing mental health needs.
SPARK is the vision of Executive Director Carolyn Cox, who was inspired to help more youth become peer counselors when working at an alternative high school in Pasco, WA. She noticed a common thread among many students who had lived through challenging experiences was a desire to help other young people in similar positions. Peer counseling struck Carolyn as a natural pathway toward gaining professional skills in the social services sector and channeling life’s challenges into something positive.
SPARK’s work is aligned with Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services Peer Support Program, which was implemented to bolster comprehensive mental health care throughout Washington. The state’s program focuses on providing services to underserved communities such as veterans and those with limited access to healthcare.
“I wish people knew that Peer Counseling is for everyone…I wish people knew that the lived experience piece of our lives actually matters and that’s what this job is all about. ”
A recent report by the Washington State Health Care Authority cites a lack of available providers as one cause of limited access to mental health services, and that shortage impacts child and adolescent mental health services in particular. SPARK’s work helps address this by providing a pathway for youth who meet the state requirements to become certified peer counselors. Those requirements include being at least 18 years of age, having experience with behavioral health challenges, and completing educational modules among others. The full list of requirements can be found on the Health Care Authority’s Peer Support Program page.
SPARK works with youth who have lived experience with behavioral health challenges and also works to support career paths for people within the Juvenile Rehabilitation system. They advocate for youth at conferences and events throughout the state, some of which have included the Peer Pathways Conference and the WISe Symposium.
At its heart, SPARK is a program where young people who are passionate about helping others can overcome traditional barriers, find self-empowerment, and learn how to draw from their own challenges to lift up others across our state.
CoLab and the CARE for Kids & Families team are honored to partner with the SPARK team to make culturally responsive care more prevalent and accessible in Washington! We extend our gratitude to the SPARK team, and particularly, Executive Director Carolyn Cox and Youth Peer Specialist Gabriel Hamilton, for working with us on this piece.
To explore more about SPARK, visit the organization’s Facebook page or check out their brochure. To get involved, contact Executive Director, Carolyn Cox, at ccox@wayouth.us.
To learn more about becoming a Certified Peer Counselor, visit hca.wa.gov.
To learn more about CARE for Kids & Families, visit uwcolab.org/CARE.